212 



THE FORESTER. 



September, 



chance is offered for recurrent cuttings, the 

 continued if not perpetual devotion of 

 present forested areas to forest uses. Only 

 a revision of the tax laws can accomplish 

 this or any similar amelioration of condi- 

 tions resulting from excessive taxation, and 

 the only real obstacle in the way is the 

 apathy of the people themselves, who tol- 

 erate the neglect of their own interests by 

 their own chosen representatives. If they 

 will they can insist at this point; if they 

 do not they will have at last to feel the 

 sting when opportunity turns its back. 



When speaking of Wisconsin some 

 moments ago we noticed a tree-planting 

 law. This would serve very well as an 

 example of all such laws that have been 

 passed by a number of States during the last 

 twenty-five years or so. It is true that in a 

 number of States so-called laws for the en- 

 couragement of tree culture have been 

 rather prize-offers for the best row of shade 

 trees along some highway adjacent to the 

 competitor's property ; and where this is the 

 case the laws fall outside the domain of for- 

 estry and have no direct bearing upon our 

 present theme. Nevertheless, in so far as 

 such laws indicate an interest in tree 

 growth, they demand at least passing no- 

 tice. The best part of the timber culture 

 laws up to the present time has been their 

 intention. Practical results have seldom 

 justified their passage, and the good sense 

 which prompted them has often vindicated 

 itself by their repeal. In short, an index 

 of legislation as to tree laws in the States 

 shows for the past few years more results 

 in repeal than in enactment. If causes 

 are sought for this failure to encourage 

 tree planting by law they may be found, 

 first in the lack of expert knowledge in 

 their framers, next in an aesthetic rather 

 than an economic impulse, and finally in 

 the want of a real inducement to the 

 planter. Experience teaches also in some 

 s that larger bounties than have been 

 offered can scarcely be afforded by the 

 Here again we are brought round 

 he conclusion that all such work in 

 plaining as does not produce to the 

 farmer return in kind should be placed 

 iniiler the control the State. 



Reference has already been made to the 



function of protective forests. Probably 

 all of the States will at some date have 

 passed through a period in which the 

 maintenance of forests for their protective 

 value was advantageous, or even necessary. 

 If we turn to California we find among 

 other interesting local aspects of forestry 

 the need of permanent protective forest 

 areas over a large portion of the State. 

 Here, though legislation has not yet em- 

 phasized the general feeling, a strong 

 public sentiment and, within the past few 

 months especially, a vigorous effort to 

 satisfy the need, have become conspicuous 

 among the more intelligent citizens of 

 Lower California. Considerations of irri- 

 gation render the forests and the prosperity 

 of the farming population of one and the 

 same fate. If the forests go, or even ma- 

 terially dwindle, irrigation cannot hope to 

 keep a permanent footing ; while with due 

 protective regulations coupled with State 

 control of water supply, or at least with 

 State regulation of individual consump- 

 tion, there is every reason to expect the 

 continuance of a thriving irrigation sys- 

 tem. 



We have already touched indirectly, in 

 dealing with tree planting, the skirt of the 

 problem of the reforestration of denuded 

 areas. Unfortunately work of this char- 

 acter, though projects are everywhere in 

 the air, has not been more than begun, the 

 work of the New York State College of 

 Forestry on the 3o,ooo-acre College For- 

 est being the most promising public at- 

 tempt of which we have knowledge. In 

 this case however, as in the others, we 

 must wait for results, though there can be 

 no reasonable inference that the work will 

 be brought to any other than a success- 

 ful conclusion. There are signs that in 

 Michigan an energetic attempt will be 

 made anon to bring the vast denuded 

 areas, once so fertile in timber, again 

 under tree growth. A number of States 

 with similar forest interests eagerly watch 

 the results of this attempt. It can succeed 

 only with State aid, or by the work of 

 the State itself, and for this a careful law 

 is needed. 



( To be continued.} 



