The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-08-01
NEWSPAPERS OPINION
THE WESTERN TREE BELT


| Tho new project for planting belt of trees in
+bo section of the semi-arid west, between the
corad;an line and the Texas panhandle, the Rocky
,,oun+ains and the Mississippi river has caught
wide interest 1t will undertake to modify climate,
increase moisture and improve agricultural eondl-
+ions on vast scale, ~
This naturally treeless territory viii be planted
70 +,aes on large scale involving the expenditure
If over $4,000, 900 as part of president Foose-
VOLTS reforestation program. Already Sl5,ooV'ooo
ho. been allocated for beginning the work, put
nIont;no Of the millions of trees will not get well
under way until 1886, while complexion Oh JIG
proiect is not likely until 1914 q.
The area under consideration comprises ABOUT
% 600 900 acres, of which 100000 acres will be
planted to trees. The government proposes to ac-
mire the land through purchase, lease or coop
erative agreement with farmers over each loO-
mile belt wirndbreaks will be planted about one
mile apart and about 100 feet wide, running nortn
and south. Out of each square mile some IA acres
will he planted with trees Of the money spent
obout 90 per cent will be paid to farmers, largely
for work in blowing. fencing planting and caring
for the trees. ..,... 49,,
Chief Federal Forester Silcox is establishing
nurseries for growing the trees in protected BEDS
ice raises YEARLY about S3,OOO0OO trees, will be
o,,,nloved as far as possible Green ash, hack
berry. elm, burr oak, ponderosa vine, red CEDAR
black hills spruce and cottonwood VIII De aiio"s
the varieties to be used.
Studies on a large scale made in Russia, Italy
and Hungary show how useful shelter belts have
nroved over long period of time. Farming has
been rendered more stable, while crops have been
successful in bad seasons, whereas serious losses
have been suffered by farmers in areas not pro
tected by trees.
Experts believe that soil will be kept in place,
moisture will be conserved and shelter places ere
ated for men, birds and beasts, if the surface We
locitv of the wind over large area can be broken
and decreased only slightly. The project looks to
permanent protection of the great plains belt which
has been becoming gradually more arid for several
wears, as well as less productive and insecure for
agriculture.
This great undertaking by the federal govern
ment is a remarkable example of the work of con-{
servation to which we are becoming more and more
committed. 1t fits in we'll with the progress OF a
highly civilized nation which is no longer seeking
to expand into new wild areas. That the era Oh
frontier advance in America is over is well under
stood But it is less well realized that throughout
the United States there are great regions which
are running to waste through unwise farming and
reckless cutting away of timber supplies. Fertile
soil is being washed down hillsides and is choking
up streams in North Carolina and every other state
of the union.
Clearing away of forests contributes much to
this work of destruction. Likewise mineral wealth
is being squandered lavishly But the work of con-
servation is now becoming widespread just as it
is being conducted on an intelligent, comprehen-
sive scale. This will all make America richer
and better place to live in for generations And
the great tree belt project in the Far West is one
of the greatest of these undertakings.
Citizen