The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-11-26
FORESTRY PLAYS IMPORTANT
PART in CONSERVATION
OF WILD LIFE
BY E. LIE LeCompte, State Game,
Warden


be produced in necessary quantities
without tree life, therefore, after
water the subject of greatest in
terest to the largest number OF
people is the tree.
; The great volume of timber which
originally grew over the majority
of Maryland had much to do with
purifying the air and naturally was
beneficial to the good health of our
forefathers, however, with the in
crease of population in Maryland,
man has destroyed practically every
thing he could get his hands on and
the forests of Maryland have been
depleted to a very large extent to
the detriment not only of wild
life but public health as we'll Man
has cut nearly all of our forests and
if some are not replaced new
diseases are liable to cut down
human population. Few of us stop
to think what great influence or
good the trees are, and the day has
arrived when we should become
better acquainted with them and
treat our trees with the common
decency accorded neighbor and
friend Our people have cut whole
forests, turning the trees into boards
to build houses and for other pur-
poses, when brick, stone or cement
would answer much better. A vast
amount of our trees is used each
year as railroad ties, telephone
poles, fence posts, bridges, heavy
planking and box lumber. In fact
the uses of our timber would form a
very long list We do not need the
land the forests occupy for we still
have thousands upon thousands OF
acres in each and every county OF
this State with not single resident.
An acre of ground in almost every
county of this State would support
one man. Why should we be SO
short-sighted as to want to kill the
trees Our action is very poor
recommendation for mankind who
considers himself the greatest and
most advanced of all creatures.
Therefore, let us plant trees, not
destroy them and assist the State
Department of Forestry of Maryland
in bringing back to our counties our
forests which have been depleted.
Did you ever have the pleasure OF
walking into a deep forest and
rambling around among the stately |
trees feeling within your soul the
soulitude OF these quiet places ?
If not try it some time by going into
some dense forest, and there are a
few of them left in this State, and If
he wind is blowing take seat and
Wait the effect of the wind ON the
trees. Then, after your visit write
and tell me you do not think we
should not conserve the trees, ii |
you dare |!
The conservation of our wild life
depends more on the conservation OF
our forests. The two work hand in
hand as the forests, which contain as
rule velvety floor on which rain
drops fall is very essential for the
growth OF the trees and afford
underground in which our wild life
finds protection. This especially |
applies during the winter months
when feed and cover are scarce.
When you find a forest which con-
y tains the green running briers and
vines of any kind covering the
ground, you will find that this
affords excellent shelter during
storms for wild life. Tree life needs
of our insectivorous birds are very
beneficial to the trees, and we could
not have forests without having
beneficial birds to destroy the in
sects which are detrimental to tree
life.
The agriculturists of Maryland are
farming so extensively that on a
great part of the land there has not
been left enough cover of any
description in which wild life can
seek protection. Therefore, it is
more essential than ever that our
in the conservation of wild life for
the future generations. In a great
many sections of Maryland the
forests have been cut over and you
will find numerous acres of denuded
land that is absolutely worthless tc
the owners, however, these terri
tories could be made both beneficial
and profitable by reforestation. The
majority of cut-over land, which is
grubbed out and used for agricul-
tural purposes does not show as
large a profit as the same acreage
would if it were replanted with trees
In this State, especially, the pine is
rapid growing tree and if marketed
at the proper time, brings in high
revenue per acre. Every person in
terested in the conservation OF wild
life should be interested in the con-
servation of our forests. The forests
are not only beneficial to our game