24 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



January- 



National Forests, as is pointed out, 

 will not interfere with local industries, 

 but rather it will aid them. Govern- 

 ment protection of the forests would 

 solve the fire problem of the region. 

 It would not hinder mining and pros- 

 pecting, and to farming and fruit 

 growing it would give a material 

 stimulus, since protection of the high- 

 er mountain slopes would greatly in- 

 crease the safety of these industries 

 in the valleys below. Nor would Na- 

 tional Forests interfere in the slight- 

 est degree with settlers who own and 

 cultivate small farms along the moun- 

 tain streams, nor would it stop the use 

 of the mountains for grazing. The 

 many other uses of the mountains 



would be furthered rather than hin- 

 dered, and ten per cent of all revenues 

 which the Government received from 

 the Forests would be given to the 

 counties in which the Forests are sit- 

 uated. The great industries, such as 

 the furniture, cooperage, wagon, etc., 

 which depend upon a supply of hard- 

 woods, would be benefitted incalcul- 

 ably, and the vast capital which de- 

 pends upon water power would be 

 made secure. 



Taken as a whole, the report marks 

 a distinct step forward by outlining a 

 definite program for preserving for 

 continuous use one of the Nation's 

 greatest resources. 



THE HEART OF A TREE 



By H. C. Bunner 



What does he plant wlio plants a tree? 



He plants the friend of sun and sky; 

 He plants the flag of breezes free; 

 The shaft of beauty, towering high; 

 He plants a home to heaven anigh 

 For song and mother-croon of bird 

 In hushed and happy twilight heard, 

 The treble of heaven's harmony — 

 These things he plants who plants a 

 tree. 



What does he plant who plants a tree? 



He plants cool shade and tender rain, 

 And seed and bud of days to be, 



And years that fade and flush again; 

 He plants the glory of the plain; 

 He plants the forest's heritage; 

 The harvest of a coming age; 

 The joy that unborn eyes shall see — 

 These things he plants who plants a 

 tree. 



What does he plant who plants a tree? 



He plants, in sap and leaf and wood, ' 

 In love of home and loyalty 

 And far-cast thought of civic good — 

 His blessing on the neighborhood 

 Who in the hollow of His hand 

 Holds all the growth of all our land. 

 A nation's growth from sea to sea 

 Stirs in his heart who plants a tree. 



From Century Magazine, April, 1893, 45: 844. 

 Printed by permission of Century Co. 



