Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1873 — Forest Culture and Rain. [ARTICLE]

Forest Culture and Rain.

Among the interesting papers read .at the session in Portland of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, was one on the preservation of forests. The -writer discussed the influence of forests on climate, rainfall, etc , and recommended legislation to regulate, promote, and protect the growth of forests: By withholding from sale lands returning to its possession from non-payment of taxes; by exempting from taxation for a limited period and by offering bounties for lands planted and inclosed for the growth of forest trees; by offering rewards far the largest number of trees planted in a year; by requiring railroad and turnpike companies to plant the sides of their roads with trees; by imposing a tree-tax, payable by planting trees; by fixing penalties for the destruction of trees by the wayside, or in public or private grounds; by requiring the elements of forest culture to be taught in our public schools. There was a general discussion of this subject by the Association, aud a committee was appointed to memorialize Congress thereon. The Eagle has on several occasions in the past urged the great importance of forest conservation, not only on account of climatic influences .and effects, but for reasons of political economy as well, looking to the period not far in the future when timber forests will be among the most valuable and needed possessions in this country. The manner in which timber has been wasted and destroyed hitherto, in the course of settlement and improvement of our vast domain, may be fitly descrilud by the single word reckless. Of late, thinking people In all parts of the land begin to realize the fact. There is really no need to diminish any more the area of woodland, certainly not for a century to come. It may be reduced in the thickly-timber-ed parts, but it may be allowed to grow and increase everywhere else. There is room enough and good soil enough, properly managed, to support a population within the boundaries of the United States equal to half the population of the entire globe, and yet leave one-third the surface of the country covered with thrifty timber. And, in fact, one of the most necessary conditions of supporting such a population, and of proper management of the soil for all the purposes of living, is the intelligent culture of forests. For a multitude of uses wood must be superseded by mineral productions; by iron, copper, tin, zinc, etc. But there will still remain the need and the use of wood—at least we cannot conceive of any such change in human needs and'conditions as to do away with such necessity. But we may doubt, after all, the wisdom of some of the measures of the legislation proposed. We have already laws giving land-premiums for a certain amount of tree-culture; but they are not worth the paper on which they are written as an incentive. And, as to some of the methods proposed, the people have their eyes open and are already adopting' them in some localities. Trees are plants of slow growth, however, and the care stimulated by judicious legislation will aid in promoting their culture and guarding against wasteful destruction. Many people doubt that the apparent climatic changes in this country are at all due to the destruction of forests. In the last three years we have experienced unprecedented droughts, and these have been aggravated, as many think, by the cutting away of the forests. But, on the other hand, many deny that there is any material decrease in the average annual amount of rainfall, and they deny that the area of Forest verdure is diminished A little reflection will serve to convince that it is not as much diminished as is often estimated. There are many citizens of Michigan, for instance, who confidently assert that forest growth and leaves actually cover a larger proportion of the State now' than forty or even thirty years ago. The early settlers in this valley well remember that they could drive a carriage over thousands and thousands of. acres of “ openings ” or prairie lands that are now covered with a thick growth of, young trees from five to fifty in height. £ut it does sot follow

from this fact that the amount of forest growth has no influence upon the production of rain clouds and the average rainfall. On the Western plains, and on toward the Pacific, wherever settlement has protected and increased the growth of the verdure, the supply of water has visibly increased. This may be partly due to other causes, but the general current of testimony in this and the old world is in* favor of the the theory that forest supply and abundant moisture are reciprocally related.— Grand Rapids (Mich.) Eagle.