The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-05

New York Bird society, and scores Of
! bird houses and feeding stations tes-
/ tify to the manner in which these
Americans are striving to SOW seeds
OF international good will.
Both France and Belgium are
greatly pleased with our American
Douglas fir, which with us is found
in the greatest abundance on the
northern Pacific coast" the report
continues. M Crahay, who has for
some years been the very active head
of forestry in Belgium, is a great be-
lever in this tree, which will go far to
help meet the serious problems Of af-
forestation.
THE Belgian ministry of waters
and forests once boosted of several
fine small plantations Of Douglas fir
in the Ardennes mountains bordering
on the old Duchy Of Luxembourg.
where most of the Belgian forests
were formerly located, and this is the
area which will be replanted with
patches of American Douglas fir
mixed with the European pine and
spruce.
THE policy Of intermingling of
kinds and planting in samI groups
common to both France and Belgium
is intended as an assurance against
serious losses from insect or other
pests which might be particularly
likely to attack foreign species. Also
it must be recognized that even If a
good average crop Of seedlings from
the twenty five million seeds pre-
sented by the association to each of
our former allies were to be planted
in a single block, the resulting forest
would not be likely to cover in all
more than five or six thousand acres,
while France. for example, is con-
fronted with the necessity Of re-af-
foresting not less than two million
acres.
Across the channel the use OF our
seeds is of more than ordinary in
terest because of its connection with
Great Britain's new forest policy.
Here again the favorite American
species Is the Douglas fir, although
sitka spruce (the spruce of Alaska
much desired As a moisture loving
tree it would seem to be especially
suited to the British climate. About
a hundred pounds of American seed
were suited to the British climate
About a hundred pounds of Ameri-
can seed were alIocated by the British
forestry commission to the interest
ing work of afforestation along the
route Of the Caledonian canal in
Scotland. From the point of view of
sentiment few better places could
have been found than this, since the
canal was the route by which large
number of American submarine chas-
ers We're mobilized at will either in
the Irish Sea or the North Sea.
Almost within sight of one of these
future American tree plantations lie
today row upon row Of chasers, now
the property of the British govern
ment and awaiting sale or demolition.
Douglas fir is being planted in all
most every section of the British isles,
but by far the larger proportion OF
the seeds which come from the Amer |
lean Forestry association were dis
patched by the commission to Ireland |
These were planted in nurseries in !
GCA4AN1 ASA OAAC ApQ0A 10 AlQAlAS ago q
and have shown a surprisingly rapid |
and healthy growth. It is in fact one /
Of the very best nursery showings 4
that may be seen anywhere, and the I
local foresters may well be proud /
thereof.
.iThis disposition of the seeds was /
made quite without any suggestion
from the American Forestry associa- +
lion. and in view Of the amending 1
irish problems can only hope that
here, too. their dedication as seeds
IF good will, will bear fruit in help
ng to establish the desire for broad
minded cooperation and understand
ng.
Great Britain's present planting
program calls for not less than 1900 |