ARBORICULTURE. 



145 



Plantinor Needed to Avert Danorer. 



Destruction of l^egetation Due to Absence of Trees Cut Dozvn by Woodmen — Arboriculturists 

 Urge Propagation of Catalpa, a Rapid Groiver, to Remedy Grave Situation. 



Fortunatel}- the interest of many who 

 can be of great service has in late years 

 turned toward the art of arboriculture ; 

 in simpler language, the art of growing 

 trees. 



The necessities of the situation have 

 prompted this new interest, as the rapidly 

 disappearing forests have told of many 

 perils besides that of the scarcity of tim- 

 ber for various purposes. 



This situation justifies the issue of a 

 handsome work, entitled "Practical Ar- 

 boriculture'' by John P. Brown. C.E., of 

 Connersville, Ind. 



"Practical Arboriculture" comes before 

 the public just when such a work is most 

 needed. It not only tells of the vast harm 

 which has resulted from the destruction 

 of forests, but tells in a clear wav the 

 steps which should be taken toward the 

 re-creation of what has been destroyed. 



He shows that some of the great rail- 

 road interests have taken up the matter, 

 as they are vitally interested, and that 

 trees by countless thousands have been 

 already planted, and are making excellent 

 progress. 



SOIL IS SHIFTED. 



xA.n important feature of the work of 

 Mr. Brown is found in the treatise upon 

 the bearing of forests, or, rather, the ab- 

 sence of forests, on the great floods which 

 cover the country at times. He says : 



"With this radical change in clearing 

 up so vast an area of timber there have 

 come several evil results. 



"Lands which were rich and mellow 

 with accumulated vegetable mold have 

 been washed by beating rains, the soil 



transported to the delta of the Missis- 

 sippi, leaving rocks, stiff and hard clay 

 for the husbandman to waste his labor 

 upon, with scant remuneration. 



"Springs and rivulets have long since 

 ceased to flow, except for a few hours 

 (luring a heavy rainfall. Rivers rise with 

 great rapidity and as quickly return to 

 their low-water stage. 



"The Ohio becomes so low that wagons 

 cross with»farm produce along the usual 

 channel for steamboats, and again it rises 

 to the height of seventy-one feet, spread- 

 ing for miles over cultivated lands and 

 submerging cities along its banks. 



"The soil no longer absorbs sufficient 

 moisture during the season of rains to 

 support vegetation in the time o£ 

 drought." 



SITUATION CRITICAL. 



In reality, the situation is somewhat 

 critical. Some nurserymen have planted 

 trees, and farmers in a few cases have 

 taken up the work. 



The national government has done 

 something, but nothing commensurate 

 with the magnitude of the problem. 



In a number of States something has 

 been done in encouraging the work un- 

 dertaken by the nation, by the States and 

 bv individuals, but not near enough. 

 This book by ]\Ir. Brown deserves a wide 

 circulation simply because it will interest 

 where none exists at present. If that is 

 done, it will help much toward proper 

 and liberal legislation. 



Of all the trees mentioned by Mr. 

 Brown, it is plainly to be seen that he 

 strongly favors the Catalpa speciosa. 



