Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1921-08-27
FARMERS AND F0HESTERS
HOLD Bio MEETING

members OF the Florida Parishes
Wood, Fire Control Association were
entertained a. guests Of the Louisiana
Summer Forest Camp here. The for.
est school 10 the first Of its kind in the
South. being originated and main,
tained by the department OF Conser-
walton. through its commissioner, NJ.
President OF the Louisiana S>ate Uni.
versity. with Major J. G. Loo. Dept. Of
For and Hort. L. 8. L., A. Director.
About $50 men and women from the
vahous Florida Parishes attended this
forestry meeting. bringing with them
largo baskets filled with lunch and
other good things to eat. The forestry
camp furnished them With barbecued
beef and goat and coffee, and everyone
had plenty. This meeting was very In.
formal and the subjects OF how to pre-
vent fires and the results that can be
obtained from reforestration were dis
cussed.
Mr.. J. X Johnson OF Bogalusa pre-
sided AZ Chairman. Mr.. Geo. c. knight.
= local farmer and q member OF the
School Board, opened the meeting with
prayer. Professor J. G. Lee made the
address OF welcome In his address
he emphasized 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
their ideas we're all destructive log
ging but through the rapid depletion
OF timber realize that now a 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
change ideas for successful farming
and forestry.
Mr.. J. X. Johnson made the response
to the address OF welcome IN behalf OF
thesoitizens OF Washing on Parish. He
described briefly the reforestration
plans OF the Great Southern Lumber
Company and asked for the coopera.
ton Of oil citizens. He wound up with
q statement that II 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. N. 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 heip 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 an, stated how he
bad for years fire. 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 ked the members
present IL they be.is, ed in fire pro &C.
ton, and II so. 10 stand up and pledge
their full support and cooperation. The
pledge was made by every male mem.
Der present Mr.. II. j. Stahl, Farm
Forester OF the Department OF Conser.
walton, gave a brief outline OF his
work and how this would benefit the
tanners individually. He also asked
for thslr eeoRers jon in the boys for
estry club work
Mr. V. n. SondereSger, Acting Su-
perintendent Of Forestry of the De-
.partment OF Conservation, gave a COM
parative analysis OF the European and
American forestry conditions, making
special emphasis OF the fact that pine,
II given only half chance. could re-
pySduce saw logs in 35 years as shown
IN a dsmsAstration plot at the camp.
Various questions VEGA discussed and
answered. and In conclusion ths meet.
ing adjourned.
This gathering was the first success
ful local forestry meeting ever held In
the state Of Louisiana, It being the
meeting OF the farmers. for the farm.
ers and In the interest Of fire preven-
ticn and forestry. and the general opin.
ion was expressed that active steps
must be taken TO protect the range
against fire 20 as to improve the
grasses and reproduce future crop OF
timber. 2, was Acknowledged that the
greatest enemy TO be combatted WAS
fire.
The by-word Of the Florida Parishes
Woods Fire Control Association IA
Riches not Ashes" frsha all indicA.
tons the season Of 1922. should show
an sppreciab'e diminishing Of woods