The St. Mary banner., 1921-08-27
FARMERS AID fcnESiEnS
HuL0 BID IickTsKG


mem! eri Of tha Florida Parishes
Woods lire Control Association were
en- eItaiEcd as guests &C the Louisiana
Summer Forest Camp here. The for.
est gcno5l is he first Of its kind in the
South, beng or mated and main
tanned by the Department of Conser-
yation. through it: commits ioner, Nj.
l.. Alexander and solonel T. u. Boyd
Pres ident of the Louisiana State Uni
yer=pty. vi h Major J. e. Lee, Dept. OF
For land Hort. l., S. L., as Director.
About 80 men and women from TIL"
various Florida Parishes attended this
forestry meeting. bringing wt,h them
large ba kets filled with lunch and
other od things to eat. The forestry
camp ftn nished them with barbecued
beef anG goat and coffee, and everyone
had plenty. This meeting was very in
formal and the subjects of how to pre-
ven: fire. and the results that can be
obtained from reforestration were dis
cussed
Mr.. J.. X Johnson of Bogalusa pre-
,ided as Chairman. Mr.. Geo. c. Knight,
school Board. opened the meeting with
prayer. Professor j. G. Lee made the
ADDRESS of welcome. In his address
ne einpha sized the fact that forestry
and farming go hand in hand and
made a special plea that all idle acres
should produce either farm or timber
crops. An important point brought
out was the fact that the lumbermen
OF Louisiana are gladly cooperating
with forestry, as once upon q time
heir ideas were all destructive log
gng but through the rapid depletion
of timber realize that now plan
OF constructive forestry is essential
for the future. On the subject OF fire.
Major Lee emphasized the fact that
they not only kill young timber but
ruin the succulent grasses OF the range.
the fertility of the soil. and endanger
the improvements OF farms adjacent to
the cut-over lands. He closed his ad-
dress with the plea that the farmers
have more such meetings not only for
their social benefit but also to inter-
change ideas for successful farming
and forestry.
Mr. J. K Johnson made the response
to the address Of welcome in behalf Of
the citizens Of Washington Parish. He
described briefly the demonstration
plans OF the Great Southern Lumber
Company and asked for the coopera-
ton Of all citizens. He wound up with
a statement that If this company's ex-
periments were successful, not only
would the Great Southern Lumber
Company benefit by them but also ev-
cry citizen in that community would
gain either directly or indirectly. He
also offered free range to the local cit.
liens on the fenced-in areas Of the
latest tract to be reforested.
The Hon. NJ. J. Sylvest, member
OF the Legislature, then followed and
laid stress on the fact that the great
est factor In successful undertakings
is public opinion, therefore the public
must interest itself and help cooperate
in the enforcement OF the existing for.
eStry laws. The meeting then ad-
journed for dinner
After dinner Mr.. Dan Sheridan, local
timber and cattle man, stated how he
had for years fired the woods. About
a year ago he suddenly realized the
heavy loss he had inflicted upon both
the range and young timber; since
then he has fought all fires and has CO.
operated with the Department OF Con-
servation. He then asked the members
present if they believed in fire protec-
ton. and II SO. to stand up and pledge
their full support and cooperation. The
pledge was made by every male mem
Der present. Mr.. H. ]. Stahl, Farm
Forester c. The Department Of Conser-
gave a brief outline OF his
work and how this would benefit the
farmers individually He also asked
for their cooperation in the boys for
estry club work.
Mr.. V. II. Sonderegger, Acting Su-
perintendent OF Forestry Of the De-
partment Of Conservation, gave com.
parative analysis OF the European and
American forestry conditions, making
special emphasis Of the fact that pine,
II given only half a chance, could re-
produce saw logs in 35 years as shown
IN a demonstration plot at the camp.
Various questions were discussed and
and in conclusion the meet
ng adjourned.
This gathering was the first success
'ul local forestry meeting ever held In
he State OF Louisiana, 1t being the
meeting Of the farmers. for the farm
srs. and in the interest Of fire preven-
ion and forestry, and the general opin-
on was expressed that active steps
must be taken to protect the range