^PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 183 



No one can deny but this process, with young trees of six to ten inches diame- 

 ter, entirely checks the growth and forever destroys all possibility of realizing 

 lumber from such trees. Not only this, but it hastens the close'of the naval stores' 

 trade in the United States. The owners of pine lands may well consider what their 

 income will be when the trees have been destroyed and the business of turpentining 

 has ceased in the State. 



RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION. 



In clearing away the pine forests tributary to railway lines there has been a 

 very remunerative business in the transportation of forest products, and of sup- 

 plies for lumber camps. Probably upon an average two thousand tons of lumber 

 products have been transported from each square mile of clearing. 



Besides this, the naval stores, all machinery for numerous manufacturing 

 plants, together with food and other supplies for those engaged in the labor at- 

 tached to this business, have been transported over some line. 



Passenger traffic has also been increased by this industry. All this has been 

 productive of a revenue for every railway line traversing the forest belt. 



The time is fast approaching when this income must cease. The pine lands 

 once cleared, are to a large extent unsuited for agricultural crops and equally un- 

 available for grazing, except to a limited extent. 



The great farm industries of the North will not thrive to a large extent on 

 much of these sandy loams. It becomes a serious question to the companies which 

 have invested large sums in the development of Southern railways to know what is 

 t<> be the revenue after the pine forests shall have ceased to be productive of profit- 

 able income. 



FLORIDA SUITED FOR TIMBER. 



All of Florida's areas are specially suited for timber production, deep-rooted 

 trees obtaining their moisture and nutriment from the deeper strata, which are not 

 affected by the heat or dryness, as are surface-feeding plants. 



It is fair to presume that the forests which have produced so large a revenue 

 in the past, if perpetuated, may become again a source of revenue. It is important, 

 therefore, that greater encouragement be given to the protection of the young 

 forests. 



THE CATALPA TREE. 



There is one tree which, when once planted, forms a permanent forest. As 

 soon as a tree is cut down another springs up to take its place, growing from the 

 old stump. This tree also possesses the quality of great durability, its wood re 

 sisting decay as no other timber will do. 



It produces wood with great rapidity, exceeding other trees in that regard. 

 In future years it will supply twenty-seven thousand tons of valuable timber for 

 transportation from each square mile of forest, which may be continued indefi- 

 nitely, as in periods of twelve to sixteen years it is reproduced. 



