1 904 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 365 



water precipitated and to the supply ice to keep out fire and stock. Where 



husbanded for the crops. Both the reproduction is not rapid, and upon 



principal crops, sugar and rice, require badly denuded lands, tree planting 



much water for their successful growth, must be done to supplement the nat- 



Already public opinion in the islands ural forest. It is believed that trees 



has taken form in practical forest pres- of greater commercial value than those 



ervation work. Sugar companies have native to the islands can be successfully 



established reserves for local protection, planted. 



the area in one case being as large as The conflict of interests between the 

 50,000 acres. Tree planting has been cattlemen and the sugar-planters is evi- 

 done on a large scale by a number of dent, but need not seriously menace re- 

 land-owners. The government began habilitation of the forests. The cattle- 

 tree planting twenty-two years ago with men in many instances desire the for- 

 an appropriation of $12,000. A conclu- ests for pasturage. The planters rightly 

 sive step was taken when the last legis- contend for the intact forest with per- 

 lature provided for a forest policy, and feet floor cover to secure the greatest 

 entered upon determined work to protect possible storage of water for the supply 

 and utilize the forests to the best advan- of growing crops. But the clashing of 

 tage. The first act to this end must be interests is happily reduced by other 

 the establishment of forest reserves, conditions, chief of which is that sugar- 

 which should include practically all the growing is the great sustaining industry 

 mountain forests. Fortunately, the gov- and the dominant source of income, 

 ernment owns most of these forests, al- An additional potent factor is that many 

 though at present they are largely under cattle- raisers are also sugar-growers, 

 lease to private individuals, mainly to and their double interests compel them 

 cattlemen. It is thought, however, that to take the broadest view of the needs 

 an exchange of these lands can be of the islands as a whole, 

 brought about. When the reserves are The Bureau of Forestry has supplied 

 established, a first necessity will be the the islands with a forester, and is act- 

 extermination of the wild cattle and ively cooperating with the territorial 

 goats and the creation of a ranger serv- authorities in all matters of policy. 



THE NEW MONTANA. 



TO LEAD IN IRRIGATION AND MINING. 

 BY 



GUY E. MITCHELL. 



THE great copper, silver, and gold few years will Montana's farming lead 



mines of Montana, the " Treas- her mines. 



ure State" of the Union, potent as has With lands of surpassing fertility, in 



been their influence in her development, which agricultural plant food has lain 



and while they are yet far from their stored for centuries, with no drenching 



maximum output and value, must soon rains to leach them away, and with a 



take a second place in the state's re- magnificent water supply from the rain 



sources. It is Montana's destiny to be and snows which fall upon the high 



one of the richest agricultural states in peaks and watersheds of the Continental 



the Union. As the agriculture of Col- Divide, Montana's fat cattle and sheep, 



orado, now the foremost state in the splendid fruit, heavy grains, and varied 



production of precious metals, has al- agricultural products will become widely 



ready outstripped her mines, so in a famous. 



