278 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION May 



ange trees of the city plaza have dis- Lumber An important statement 

 appeared to make way for more pre- Losses frcm regarding losses by fire 

 tentioiis plants that, unfit for the dim- to the lumber trade for 

 ate and inappropriate for the spot, pre- 1907 is sent out by the Lumber Insur- 

 sent the feeble and insignificant ap- ers' General Agency, of New York, 

 pearance of weazened and sapless compiled from the files of the Journal 

 consumptives." of Commerce. It shows that the num- 

 From the destruction of the fruit ber of fires in which the loss was not 

 orchards to that of the forests is but in excess of $10,000 each in the Unit- 

 a step. The work of the United States ed States and Canada last year was 

 Government in protection is attract- 332, with total losses of $12,623,000. 

 ing attention there. So far, happily. Allowing 15 per cent for small and un- 

 the damage done to the forests is com- reported fires, the average monthly 

 paratively slight. The enormous lum- loss reached $1,209,712 and the total 

 ber resources of the country are with loss $14,516,550. While these figures 

 few exceptions as yet practically un- look large, the year was in reality fa- 

 touched, and Argentina has a splendid vorable to the lumber business, indicat- 

 opportunity to show its wisdom and ing that the better methods of fire pro- 

 foresightedness by taking this action tection prevailing in the lumber indus- 

 before it is too late. try have had their effect. 



THE CRY OF THE PINES 



By Anne McQueen 



Listen! The great trees call to each other: 

 "Is it come your turn to die, my brother?" 

 And through the forest, wailing and moaning, 

 The hearts of the pines, in their branches groaning — 

 "We die, we die!" 



"We, who have watched the centuries dying, 

 The span of years as an arrow flying, 

 Ages seeming a day and a morrow; 

 Lo, we have reached the time of our sorrow — 

 We die, we die! 



"We, who have stood with our ranks unbroken, 

 Breasting the storms, a sign and a token 

 That the gale must cease; and the wild winds staying, 

 Man, we shielded, is come, and is slaying — 

 We die, we die! 



"Flaying the bark, and our bodies baring; 

 Like dim white ghosts in the moonlight staring, 

 Naked we stand, with the life-sap welling — 

 Tears of resin, to gather for selling — 

 We die, we die!" 



All over the land are the forests dying, 

 One piece of silver a tree life buying. 

 Listen! The great trees moan to each other: 

 "The as has scarred me, too, my brother — 

 We die, we die !" 



— Uncle Remus' s Magazine. 



