The mirror., 1921-08-25

5000 acres; and on the 100 acres planted
eighty years ago there would be, at very
moderate estimate, 100000 board feet of
merchantable timber, worth as it stands
if reasonably near means of transportation
-$35,20O.0O.
In addition to its direct financial bene-
fits, the forest affords many indirect bene-
fits. The air of forest, like that of the
sea, is richer in ozone and therefore more
healthful than the air of open country. 1t
is reservoir of moisture and helps to
regulate waterAow in streams. Its humus
fertilizes the soil. 1t is covert for use
full game. It beauties scenery.
A forest is sometimes within ten minu-
tes walk of city: In the so-called Black
Forest in Baden and Wurtemburg, s93
miles in length by about rs miles in width,
are good roads, farms, villages city and
million people. State forests will pro-
mote the development of neighboring agri-
cultural land.
AT the beginning of the World war,
Prussia-not twice as large in area as
Minnesota-from her 100000 acres of
state forest was deriving an annual net
revenue of So per acre.. $18,0 ,000,O00 year,
and trained forester to manage, on an
average, every 10000 acres. Saxony, from
her 44S,000 acres of state forest, a net
annual revenue of $5.32 per acre; Bavaria
from her 100000 acres of state forest, 81
per acre.; and France, from her 100000
acres Of state forest, $3.50 per acre. ssfhe
State Of New York has 1896 acres of
land set. apart as state forest, and by
popular vote of last year is about issuing
$7,500,000 in bonds to purchase more; and
she has planted 9,SsS,45O trees in her state
forest, aggregating about 1000 trees per
acre, at cost of about $3.50 per acre.
Minnesota is 2O,0O0,OOO acres larger than
New York and has more forestry land
than New York. Pennsylvania has a little
over 100000 acres set apart as state for
est and is paying $40 an acre to acquire
more. Its forestry commission estimates
that the state will ultimately have 5,OOO,-
600 acres of state forest. Minnesota is
21,90O,O0o acres larger in area than
Pennsylvania s@ Michigan now has $4,000
acres set apart for state forest, Abs acres
of which have been reforested by plant
ing,-principally Norway and white pine.
She is now beginning to plant at the rate
of about 5000 acres or more annually
with 1,700 trees per acre, having appro-
priated $130,000 per year for this purpose.
Twenty years ago Wisconsin had re-
connaissance made of twenty of her
northern counties, with aggregate area of
1S,500,000 acres, by Filibert Roth, forest
expert,-now and for several years at the
head of the forestry department in the
State University of Michigan-who found
therein nearly 100000 acres which he
reported SHOULD by all means be left to
forest" Minnesota is 1s,S43,20O acres
larger in area than Wisconsin, and has
more land suitable for forest than Wis
consin.
There are in our state two national for
ests, the Minnesota" and the Superior"
aggregating million acres, both owned
and managed by the United States. Min
nesota has planted in all on her state for
est lands about 1000 acres. Our state
now has the Burnside forest of 10000
acres, donated by Congress; 1000 acres,
donated by the late John S. Pillsbury; the
Itasca Park forest of 10000 acres (but
not for revenue); and the last legislature
under the amendment to the constitution
of 1914 set apart about 100000 acres of
the states public land as state forest,
scattered in 140 townships, geological sur
veys having reported it suitable for the
purpose. Our state now holds about
100000 acres of public land, part of
which when examined will probably be
found better adapted for forest than for