182 PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 



below the surface, while annual crops, cereals, grasses, tubers, etc., must have a 

 soil already fertile upon the surface. Hence the trees are essential to prepare the 

 soil and make it fertile before these surface-feeding plants can make successful 

 growth. 



MANUFACTURES. 



Another problem is, how to continue and increase the manufacturing indus- 

 tries of the State. These, to a large degree, are now confined to the lumbering 

 and milling interests. It is well known that a very large sum of money is brought 

 into and expended in the State from the sale of lumber products. It is claimed 

 in Oregon that $7 is paid to the labor of that State for every thousand feet of lum- 

 ber sold. It is probably not any less here. The great wealth of modern nations 

 lies in their manufactures. The aim of the great nations of earth is to protect to 

 the utmost the trade of their manufactures, and in this their armies and navies 

 and their consular departments are employed. This is also true of the various 

 manufacturing localities of this country, whose interests are guarded with zealous 

 care by this nation. 



The wood in the forests, possessing but trifling value, and unappreciated in its 

 locality, is, by manufacture, the use of capital and employment of labor, wrought 

 into the articles required and made available for the uses of man. This is pro- 

 ductive of an income for every individual employed, and returns an interest upon 

 the capital invested, besides affording a regular revenue for the support of the 

 State. 



At the rate of cutting and the small increase in young trees, it can be but a 

 few years until this line of manufactures must cease entirely for want of timber. 

 Less than twenty years will see the end, not only in Florida, but throughout the 

 South. The destruction by fires of the young timber is rapidly bringing about this 

 condition of affairs. 



Take away the materials by the destruction of the forests, and manufactures 

 must cease. Labor in enforced idleness produces no income, supports no families, 

 pays no merchants' bills. 



Without the forests and manufactures, transportation derives no benefit, while 

 the State must devise other means of producing a revenue, which, of necessity, 

 must be greatly reduced. 



Reverse the case, increase the forest area and wealth, the result will be a re- 

 turn to the manufacturing of lumber and all the articles of which wood forms the 

 base. Labor will have continuous employment, which will insure prompt payment 

 to the merchants, who supply families with all their necessities, and the wheels of 

 progress will again move steadily forward. 



NAVAL STORFS. 



Paint and varnish are greatly in demand. The amount consumed is enor- 

 mous. The call for turpentine and resin is continuous. How will the call be 

 answered a very few years hence ? 



The little appreciation of the pine forests and the increasing demand for naval 

 stores make the temptation irresistible to box every pine tree, however small. 



