CfflNESE FORESTRY IN 1919-1920 



JOHN H. REISNER, DEAN 



CoUefe of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Nanking, Nanking, China 



PROGRESS denotes correctly the present condition 

 of forestry in China, this country so long used as 

 an illustration of the dire results that follow the deple- 

 tion of forests, and undoubtedly in 

 greater need of scientitic forestry 

 than any other large country in the 

 world. The year ending with the 

 spring planting, 1920, showed niucii 

 progress over the previous year, 

 which was described in the author's 

 previous article under a similar title. 

 The outstanding developments of 

 the year were the organization of a. 

 provincial forestry service for Shan- 

 tung Province ; the enlarging of the 

 forestry organizations in a number 

 of provinces; the increased activity 

 and services rendered by the Kiang- 

 su Provincial Forest Station at 

 Nanking, established in 1916; the 

 extension of the forestry work be- 

 ing undertaken by three govern- 

 ment railways, namely, Lung Hai, 

 Peking Hankow, and Tientsin Pu- 

 kow Railroad ; increased education- 

 al interest in forestry particularly as 

 part of the curricula of government 

 agricultural schools ; the increased 

 production of forest nursery stock ; 

 and the greatly increased number 

 of district magistrates, agricultural 

 societies, small companies, and indi- 

 viduals undertaking forestry work. Although a nu- 

 merical exjjression of this progress is open to criticism. 

 it is fairly safe to estimate a conservative expenditure 

 for various forestry enterprises, mainly nursery work 

 and forest planting, at from $200,000 to a quartL-r n^iliion 



THE CHIXESE PRIESTS HAVE PRE- 

 SERVED MANY TREE SPECIES IN 

 THE TEMPLE AREAS WHICH OTH- 

 ERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN DE- 

 STROYED 



dollars, the ])ioduction of 100 million trees in over one 

 thousand nurseries, and the planting of twenty-five to 

 thirty million trees on 100,000 acres of land. This may 

 seem small when compared with 

 some other countries, but large 

 when one considers the back- 

 tipround and the fact that China's in- 

 terest in forestry is only a very few 

 years old. 



As indicated previously forestry 

 is not developing in China as it has 

 in western countries, with the Cen- 

 tral government assuming a very 

 large share of financial and adminis- 

 trative control, but by individuals, 

 societies, or companies, districts 

 and provinces. And this condition 

 may be expected to continue even in 

 face of a marked activity on the 

 part of the Central government. 

 Individuals, companies, and small 

 political units in China wilj have 

 from the outset a much more im- 

 portant place in reforestation pro- 

 jects than similar bodies have had 

 in the West. This is an important 

 fact, and argues well for the future 

 of forestry in China. 



The observance of Arbor Day is 

 spreading widely and rapidly and is 

 becoming of increasing significance. 

 It is a national holiday. It is ob- 

 served by high officials as well as the school children. 

 With the develo])ment of the School Nursery idea, that 

 is, for the secondary schools to have their own school 

 nurseries, as many western schools have their school 

 gardens, and the children get to raising their own trees, 



A GENERATION OF PROTECTION WOULD GIVE TO 

 CHINA MILLIONS OF ACRES OF GOOD SECOND- 

 GROWTH TIMBER 



FUEL FOR THE CITY TO BE "TRADED IN" FOR 

 OIL AND RICE AND OTHER NECESSITIES BY THE 

 COUNTRYMAN 



