GENERAL REPORT. 35 



tive fires purposely started to clear away the underbrush that the bands of 

 sheep may be more readily cared for and grazed. 



It can hardly be out of place to contrast such a wilful waste with the 

 wise provision of the Swedish law (enacted prior to 1647), which compels 

 the "private owner to plant and protect from cattle two timber trees for every 

 one cat.'" 



It may fairly become a question as to whether it would not be money 

 well invested if the general and state governments were to anticipate future 

 wants and plant extensive areas of our Western domain with hardy and 

 rapidly growing timber trees. It appears from the latest statistical infor- 

 mation available that already the States and Territories comprising our 

 domain are in the percentage of timber area to the entire surface actually 

 below Norway, Sweden, Russia, and Germany. In view of what we have 

 anticipated in the way of increased population, this is rather an alarming 

 statement. 



Will tree planting succeed on our open Western lands 1 What trees 

 can be grown, and will they add to our material resources ? Here we can 

 only appeal to facts. We must premise by saying that to the young trees 

 planted, care and protection must be accorded. In other words, they must 

 be regarded as a crop to be protected from cattle and have the ground 

 prepared for their reception. This being granted, we may fairly expect 

 that over a large part of our domain we should have results something like 

 those furnished by Mr. Longstreth, forester to the Atchison, Topeka and 

 Santa Fe" Railroad. After three years' growing, the following percentage 

 of each survived and was growing well : 



Per cent. 



Silver-maple, one year old when planted 50 



Box-elder, one year old when planted GO 



Honey locust, one year old when planted 95 



Catalpa, one year old when planted 100 



Ailanthus, one year old when planted 100 



American elm, one year old when planted DO 



The same authority furnishes many other statistics, but as they are 

 not founded on any longer experience, I omit all save those from the fourth 

 station in Kansas, at Spearville, 283 miles west of the eastern line of the 

 State. The elevation is 2,480 feet, and is high upland prairie, and known 



