726 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



and the soldier seems to have been perceived in England 

 and Australia. Hon. Col. W. Fitzpatrick, C. M. G., of 

 Australia, struck by the alarming condition of affairs in 

 the United States caused by the wholesale destruction of 

 timber, has pointed out in a report on conditions in 

 Australia, that the same disastrous condition must be 

 inevitable there, unless the lesson taught by American 

 recklessness in stripping our timber acreage without 

 replenishment, for mines, railroads, and what not, be 

 learned. He is an authority who places himself flatly 

 on record of uniting the required program of afforesta- 

 tion in Australia with the re-education of disabled 

 soldiers, an authority whose word should have con- 

 siderable weight. From Australia's investigation in this 

 field we should receive valuable hints for use in our 

 own work of rehabilitation. For, in truth, our forests 

 need rehabilitating quite as much as our permanently 

 disabled soldiers. It may be that the twin objectives 

 will be reached together. 



Australia, despite the 

 protests of experts, has 

 muddled into a deplorable 

 condition, in respect of its 

 wood-bearing acreage. In 

 this is seen an opportunity 

 for the returned soldier. 

 Australia's denuded for- 

 est acreage provides a 

 great source of remunera- 

 tive employment for thou- 

 sands of properly edu- 

 cated Australian disabled 

 soldiers. Along the coast 

 of New South Wales, 

 Victoria, South Australia 

 and Tasmania there are 

 nearly 2,000,000 acres of 

 waste Crown lands now 

 unproductive, await ing 

 the hand of the forester 

 and tree planter. In Vic- 

 toria alone there are 300,- 

 000 acres of such land, 

 stretching from the mouth 

 of the Glenelg River, near 

 the South Austral ian 

 border, and extending 

 eastward through the 

 Portland, Port Campbell, 

 Otway, South Gippsland and East Gippsland districts. 



These lands, lying behind the sea dunes, consist of 

 long wide tracts of gently undulating country, the sur- 

 face composed of pure sand, or sandy loam, and covered 

 with rough vegetation, such as heather, and at intervals 

 ragged belts of low scrubby timber. 



Much of it, however, is treeless, and the first cost of 

 preparing the ground would be light, concerned with 

 fencing and burning off the heath. 



These coastal lands also have the advantage of an 

 ample rainfall, from 30 to 45 inches annually, and have 

 the coolness which is essential to the growth of coni- 

 fers. Owing to the mildness of the Australian winters, 

 furthermore, there is but a short period of rest in tree 

 growth, and pines and firs which are native to North 

 America mature and yield timber in that climate in three- 

 fourths of the time required for harvesting the timber 

 crop on their original habitat. The cost of planting 

 those lands, including enclosure, preparation of surface. 

 raising of tree plants and planting it is estimated to be 

 only about five pounds per acre. Including all charges 

 of upkeep and maintenance and allowing compound in- 



terest at 5 per cent per year the total cost throughout 

 the growth period is estimated at but 17 to 20 pounds 

 per acre. 



Thinnings are obtained from the 16th year onwards, 

 and the final crop is harvested from the 25th to the 30th 

 year according to the stem girth and size of the trees. 



The actual net yield obtained in Victoria from medium 

 class pine ranged from 100 to 120 pounds an acre. The 

 work connected with this cultivation is, in that climate, 

 pleasant and healthful, an additional source of benefit 

 to the re-educated soldier. 



In the same State of Victoria, a good illustration of 

 conditions in the others, the utilization of the poor 

 coastal lands described would easily provide employment 

 for 2,000 men all the year round (for a large acreage 

 must be prepared each year in advance). An additional 

 1,000 men would be required during the three months 

 of the planting season, and at least the same number 



could be usefully employ- 

 ed throughout the year in 



THE FORESTS OF FRANCE 



(Rondeau) 

 By Henry L. Sweinhart 



The Forests of France with beauteous grace, 

 From sun-kissed mountain's top to base, 



Waved in the winds of Heaven free 



And birds sang in their ecstasy 

 Among this soft, rich, branch-made lace, 



Until the hordes of Hunnish race, 

 Mad in their vengeance to efface 



All sacred things, tore ravishly 



The Forests of France. 



Brave stood, brave fell these trees, strong place 



In battle held. Come, Freemen, trace 

 Your joy of new-won Liberty, 

 Your regained Freedom of the Sea, 



From this great gift, and help replace 



The Forests of France. 



the improvement of the 

 young natural forests. 



Such force could, under 

 skilled guidance, quickly 

 transform the barren 

 wastes described, planting 

 them with useful trees at 

 the rate of 20,000 acres 

 yearly, and repeating, in a 

 smaller way, what Napol- 

 eon did to the enormous 

 barrens of the Gironde 

 region in western France, 

 now one of the most pro- 

 ductive regions of that 

 rich country. 



Thus Col. Fitzpatrick 

 outlines the possibilities 

 for the returned Anzac 

 who may be turned into 

 civil life as a forester. 

 While far off Australia 

 points to the practical pos- 

 sibilities afforded by the 

 field of arboriculture, the 

 French have been busy 

 applying their inventive 

 genius to the provision of 

 appliances rendering pos- 

 sible the employment of a maimed re-educated soldier in 

 tree culture. 



Wonderful progress has been achieved. It has be- 

 come a matter of delicacy to hint that a man, however 

 badly impaired, is useless in out of door employ- 

 ment. 



Arboriculture, viticulture and horticulture have engaged 

 the minds of the French re-educationalists with such 

 success that thousands of disabled soldiers have found 

 their way back to usefulness in those lines of endeavor, 

 despite even the loss of an arm. It is not that they are 

 tolerated, that charity permits them to engage in such 

 pursuits, but that they have proved their ability to hold 

 their own, day after day, and to do efficient work, and 

 receive full wages for the work done. Science, inspired 

 by the appealing necessity of the case, and moved by 

 patriotism and love of country has accomplished mar- 

 velous things for those maimed men. 



Arboriculture is considered generally desirable from the 

 necessities of all French re-educational work in the agri- 

 cultural institutions for disabled and mutilated soldiers. 

 The pruning of trees is easily accomplished by a man 



