424 PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 



The subject we now have in mind is the destruction of all vegetation by an- 

 nual burning, throughout the sandy plains of the West, and also in other localities 

 farther south and east. 



The Pan Handle of Texas, New Mexico, Western Kansas and Nebraska and 

 Eastern Colorado are instances, while Florida is another illustration. 



For ages the grasses and herbaceous growths have been burned off each year, 

 destroying all vegetation which otherwise would become incorporated with tin- 

 sand and form a true soil of great fertility. 



The total productions of every manufacturer of artificial fertilizers spread 

 upon the surface, without admixture of soil, would produce a growth of vege- 

 tation. Sand, without vegetable mould added, makes a very poor farm. 



All the sandy plains of the West contain potash and other mineral constituents 

 in ample quantities to produce immense crops when water is supplied by irriga- 

 tion. 



But these sands, with all their mineral combinations, are subject to frequent 

 loss by burning, during periods of drought, because of the absence of vegetable 

 composition. 



This is seen in Florida, a land of sand, that has been burned over by the abo- 

 rigines, and afterwards by the cattle men, the pine needles destroyed ; nothing 

 has been added to the sand to form a soil. P>ut in thousands of depressions 

 where moisture prevented the burning, rich hummock tracts have resulted, with 

 a deep, rich, black productive loam. 



These annual fires are destructive of all young forest growths as well, and 

 prevent the natural spread of forests, besides the great losses each year of ma- 

 tured timber. 



This practice of setting fires upon the prairies and plains, as well as within 

 the forests, should be speedily abandoned. 



