1036 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



I'l.ANTlNG TIllC FIRST TRHIC OX PURPIJC MOLXTAIN 



The figures in the foreground, from left to right, are Ilis Excellency, Chang Chien, MinisU 

 of Agriculture and Commerce; I'nited States Consul Williams, of Xanking (stooping 

 serving as the Representative of the United States Minister in Peking; and with sjiai] 

 poised in mid-air, Mr. Sheldonridge, of Shanghai, Editor of the National Review. M 

 Bailie is seen standing in the center of the photograph. 



natural forests are left undisturbed to 

 show what could be expected if nothing 

 more were done than to protect the natu- 

 ral growth from fire and cutting. But 

 the presence of any forest growth what- 

 ever under such circumstances is a very 

 strong proof that little or no risk is 

 involved in undertaking artificial refor- 

 estation. Among the tree growth found 

 naturally in Anhwei Province are pine, 

 oak, chestnut, elm, maple, hackberry, 

 willow, ailanthus, cypress, of which the 

 Chinese name is Peh-Mu Shu ; Cunning- 

 haniia lanceolata or Sha-shu ; Liquid- 

 ambar or Feng; pistache, or Lien Shu; 

 the Wing Nut ; Dalbergia hupeana or 

 Tian Shu and many others. 



That forest planting, on a large scale 

 or small, on these idle lands found so 

 abundantly throughout China, would be 

 highly profitable cannot be doubted. The 

 soil and climate are excellentlv suited 

 to the purpose. Labor is abundant, very 



more profitable uses. As is to be ex- 

 pected, however, by far the larger por- 

 tions of these hills and mountains are 

 suited to forestry alone their poor, shal- 

 low soil, their slope, or their rock-strewn 

 surface rendering them unfit for more 

 intensive use. Some of these idle lands 

 are held under private ownership, but 

 title to the greater portion is held by the 

 government. Every consideration urges 

 that these waste lands be put to the 

 various uses to which they are so well 

 adapted that they slx>uld be made to 

 produce the forest or agricultural crops 

 for which there is such pressing need. 

 Land suitable for agriculture should be 

 put under intensive cultivation. Of that 

 which remains as much as possibl: 

 should be devoted to fruit growing and the remainder, 

 the largest portion of all, to the production of fuel, timber 

 and other products of the forest. Fruit trees found grow- 

 ing wild on hillsides prove that success will attend such 

 operations if they are conducted with reasonable skill 

 and care. Found growing naturally were species of wild 

 pear, persimmon, jjeach and cherry and young bushes of 

 the soft jujube. And if additional assurance of success 

 should still be desired, it is to be found in the fruit orch- 

 ard occasionally encountered established and cased for 

 by private owners of land on the lower slopes of the hills, 

 and yielding most satisfactory returns. 



Also throughout practically all of the areas we visited 

 we found that in spite of the scarcity of seeds, in spite of 

 the eager activity of fuel-gatherers, the rudiments of 

 forest growth are still present; and when given a chance 

 that they develop into forests of fair density and form. 

 It is seldom or never that even small areas of such 



A FEATURE OF THE REFORESTATION WORK 



Transporting humus from a nearhy lake-hottom to enrich the soil in the nurseries and in 

 the plantations on Purple Mountain. 



cheap and can be made highly efficient by proper in- 

 struction. As there is a greedy demand for forest 

 products in the immediate neighborhood, market con- 

 ditions and transportation present no difficulties. Nor 

 is it necessary to postpone the returns until the trees 

 have reached sufficient size to produce saw logs. A very 

 much shorter rotation may be adopted, due to the heavy 

 demand for fuel and for small round timber of all kinds 

 and dimensions. All necessary conditions, so far as we 

 were able to anticipate, are present, nor is there any diffi- 

 culty which cannot be overcome by the exercise of ordi- 

 nary skill and foresight. In comparison with most 

 situations in which reforestation has been successfully 

 carried out in the United States, the conditions in China 

 are extremely favorable. 



It is unlikely that the Chinese government, either now 

 or at any time within the near future, will feel in a posi- 

 tion itself to carry on extensive work in reforestation. 



