Disappearing Forests

Forestry Congress met July 8th 1883 at St. Paul Minn. Seven states were represented. President Mr. Geo. B, Loring of Mass' tts, Vice President H. C. Joly Quebec, 2nd Vice Pres't Geo. L. Becker, Minnesota. Correspond'g Secty B. E, Vernon Penns'a., Record'g Sect'y N. H. Eggleston, Dist. of Columbia.

President Loring in his address at the Forestry Congress, July 1883 at St. Paul. devoted himself to the condition of the forests of the country, and to their increase, preservation, and economical use. He stated that the forest acreage of the United States was less than one fourth of the total area, which is a less proportion than that of Eastern, Western, and Northern Europe. This comparison will probably excite considerable surprise. A very large area of the United States, including the prairies and great plains and the extensive vallies vest of the Rocky mountains never had any growth of timber, and that is the reason for the small percentage of forest in the country as a whole, but it is also a reason for guarding against the useless destruction of the timber we have, and for growing trees wherever practicable and convenient. The establishment of Arbor Days for tree planting has operated very favorably. This work is done in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Dakota, as well as in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Kansas; the cultivated woodland has reached 107,633 acres.

A paper was read by Prof. Burrows of Kansas on "Forestry as an investment": by Adolph Louis of Cincinnati on Forestral Experimental Stations. Secretary Rough on "Education on Forestry" in the Schools. The meeting. suggested various ways in which the growth of trees may be fostered and protected by legislation.

A great obstacle to a successful propogandism of the cause of tree planting to replace the timber of the country so rapidly disappearing, is that few farmers will set out trees for the mere Pleasure of the thing, or will plant as public benefactors, or go to any expense for the benefit of posterity. As it cannot be made to appear to land owners, that labour and time devoted to tree planting would produce profit during their lifetime, the obstacles to be overcome are most discouraging; although the future welfare of the country demands that they should occupy our immediate and serious attention. All are agreed that the destruction of our forests means droughts and floods, as well as dear timber so that every citizen in time to come will suffer from it.

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