Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-05

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 great be-
lever in this tree, which Will go far
to help meet the serious problems of
afforcStatlOn.
"The Belgian Ministry of Waters
and Forests once boosted of several
fine small plantations of Douglas Fir
in the Ardennes Mountab1s bordering
on the old Duchy of Luxembourg
where most of the Belgian forests
we're formerly located, and this is the
area which will be repl2 nted with
patches of American Douglas fir
mixed with European pine and
spruce.
1.-THE policy Of intermingling of
kinds and planting in small groups
common to both France and Belgium
is intended as an assurance against
serious loss from insect or other pests
which might be particularly likely to
attack foreign species. Also it must
be recognized that even if a good av-
erage crop of seedlings from the
twenty-five million seeds presented
by the Association to each of our for
mer allies were to be planted in
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 inter-
est because of it's CONNECTION with
Great Britain's new forest policy.
Here again the favorite American
species is the Douglas fir, although
Sitke Spruce. (the spruce of Alaska
and our northern Pacific coGsD, is
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 Amer
lean seed were allocated by the Brit
ish Forestry Commission to the in
teresting 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 TINS, since that
canal was the route by which large
number of American submarine chas-
ers were modified at will either in
the Irish Sea or the North Sea. AL
most within sight of one of these
future American tree plantations lie
today row upon row of chasers. now
the property of the British govern
nent and awaiting sale or demolition.
Douglas Fir is being planted in
almost every section of the British
Isles. but by far the larger portion
of the seeds which come from the
American Forestry Association were
dispatched by the Commission to Ire
land. These were planted in nurse-
ries in County Tyrone about eighteen
months age and have shown a sur
prisingly rapid and healthy growth.
1t is in fact one of the very best
nursery showings that may be seen
anywhere, and the local foresters
may we'll be proud thereof.
This disposition of the seeds was
made quite without any suggestion
from the American Forestry Associa-
ton, and in view of the unendng
Irish problems can only hope that
here too their. dedication as seeds of
good will. will bear fruit in helping to
establish the desire for broad minded
cooperation and understanding.
Great Britain's present planting