1' n/ 120 FOREST LEAVES. Sweet Gum, Bilsted (Liquidambar Styraciflua, L.). T HLS attractive tree cannot b^ considered ■ a characteristic feature of our Pennsyl- ^^ vania woods. It could have hardly es- caped the notice of Darlington, and from the fact that it does not appear in his J^/ora Cestrica we may assume that he never found it growing naturally in Chester County. Yet it i«? quite com- mon in Delaware County. At Primos and at Morton, alone the line of the railroad from West Chester to Philadelphia, some fine specimens of the tree still remain. It is, of course, well known that surroundings have much to do with the shape of a tree, but I do not know of any species in which this is more marked than in the sweet gum. In one of our illus- trations we have the low, spreading form of the fields, in the other the slender form whose trunk runs up from sixty to eighty feet with hardly a limb. The silver m^iple is another species of forest tree in which this tendency is exceedingly well marked. It is not always e^sy to distinguish, at a distance, the sweet gum from a thrifty young tulip poplar. Both have straight, tall, slender trunks, and the bark is very similar, and at a distance the persis- tent fruit of each appears much the same ; but the poplar is apt to have a larger crown. I have in mind now, as growing in Delaware County, sweet gum trees which are more than eighty feet high, but at four feet ibove the ground the trunk is not more than eighteen inches in diameter. Of course, it is the forest form. We have many things yet to learn about the sweet gum. Thirty years ago, in this State, hemlock was not regarded as a tree of much value, except when the bark was used for tanning. With the disappearance of the white pine, however, the hemlock lumber became more highly prized. So too, in Maine, the abundance of the white pine dwarfed the spruce in general esteem. It is doubtful now whether the spruce has not been of greater value to Maine than the white pine was. In like manner the sweet gum may come into greater favor than it was as other woods become scarcer. The principal trouble with this species is its tendency to warp when sawed. It is said that this may in great measure be overcome by gird- ling the trees and allowing them to stand for a year or two. It is not unlikely that the tendency would be further checked by a gradual but thorough process of seasoning the timber in the log before sawing. The hardness of the wood, together with the fine polish that it takes would suggest a more extensive use for it in cabinet work or furniture making, especially as black wal- nut becomes more difficult to obtain. It is not likely to be long used in construction of street pavements, as better material can be found. The balsamic exudate of the tree has been in local favor in the South as a remedy in affections of the mucous membranes. It is probably as harmless as anything else used in similar troubles. The sweet gum tree is favorably known to us as a lawn tree. It is a rapid grower, hardy and clean. There is no season of the year in which it does not offer some attraction. Even in winter, it attracts us by its light branchlets and its neatly cleft bark. In the autumn, however, the sweet gum is a close second to the maples in the rich coloring of its foliage. Whilst it naturally prefers rich, low grounds, it thrives well in higher, drier soil. It has a wide range of adaptability. The leaves are from five to seven inches in diameter, very slightly heart-shaped at base, and divided into five or seven conspicuous, pointed, toothed lobes. The foliage is lush and luxuriant, hardly less attractive in summer than in autumn. The fruit consist of an aggregation of hardened ova- ries into a solid, more or less prickly ball, which is about an inch and a quarter in diameter. As before remarked, these fruits, when seen at the top of the trees, in winter have a general resem- blance in outline to the cone of the tulip poplar, though if one's eyes be sufficiently sharp he may in the case of the poplar, distinguish the scales of the fruit cone. In Pennsylvania the liquidambar seldom grows far away from the tide water. In its general range it goes as far north as Connecticut, as far south as Florida and Texas, and even reaches into the mountains of Southern Mexico. It probably attains its largest size in Arkansas and Indian Territory, where it grows, it is said, 140 feet high. The physical properties of the wood are stated thus : Specific gravity, 0.5909 ; relative approxi- mate fuel value, 0.5873 ; percentage of ash, 0.61; weight of a cubic foot of dried wood, 36.82 pounds ; in relative strength of wood sweet gum stands 222 in a list of 310 species. J. T. ROTHROCK. The Department of Forestry at the Pennsylva- nia State College, from time to time, has lectures on different subjects. In April, Mr. Edwin A. Ziegler, U. S. Assistant Forest Inspector, at pres- ent in charge of Forest Computation, will deliver a series of lectures there on Forest Mensuration. Forest Leaves, Vol. xi., No. 8. SWEET GUM (LIQUIDAMBAR STYRACIFLUA, L.) FOREST FORM DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. oo y. (A oi < 5 QQ Z < t Q S — Q. O z o UJ Q < LU UJ _ Q > cc ffl < < Q Z — < 5 i — CO UJ O >- UJ o UJ o $ u. CO cr < UJ >■ yj \ '. FOREST LEAVES. 121 Forestry in New Jersey. DR. HENRY B. KUMMEL, Executive Offi- cer of the State Board of Forest Park Res- ervation Commissioners, has issued the Annual Report of the Board for the year ending October 31st, 1907, showing decided progress in the securing of reserves and controlling of forest fires during the year. New Jersey now has a law requiring permits to burn brush during the period from March loth to May 31st, and it is significant that but 7 per cent, of the forest fires reported in the past year, whose origin is known, started from brush fires, whereas in former years the' proportion was usually about one-fourth to one-third. Mr. Theophilus P. Price states that 167 fires were reported and ii>525 acres burned over, a large reduction from the smallest acreage reported in any previous year, viz., 1904, when the amount was 41,530 acres. The cost of the fire service . for the year, was ;?2,8i3.o5, to which should be added what the townships have expended, or about $3,600 alto- gether, which has saved to the property owners of the State something like $25o|ooo. Whenever lands suitable for forest reserves could be secured at fair prices they have been purchased, providing the title was good. During the past year title was taken to 6,475 acres at a cost of $9,676.46. Of this amount 1,043 acres was in the Bass River reserve in Burlington County, and 5,432 acres on the Kittatinny Moun- tain in Sussex County. The commission has also I contracted to buy 3,100 acres in Burlington I County. The total acreage of the forest resefves in New Jersey is now 7,438 acres, with 3,100 acres in the course of acquisition. The character of the forest on most of the property is such that little wood can be cut for several years, but through fire lanes and improvement thinnings it can gradually be improved. According to the report of State Forester Alfred Gaskill there are in New Jersey 2,000,000 acres of land more fit for growing timber than for any- thing else. In northern New Jersey it will be mainly a question of timber lots, while in South Jersey forestry may concern itself with tracts of a thousand acres and upwards. In the Bass River reserve a small nursery was established in April, and on September 24th it contained 6,500 jack pine, 3,000 Western yellow pine, 13,500 Scotch pine, and 1,300 locust seedlings. These will be used for planting later on. Mr. Gaskill also speaks of co-operative work undertaken during the year, forest fires and their control are discussed, while mention is made of the studies and experi- ments undertaken during the year, together with data as to two serious tree diseases, the chestnut blight and the white pine disease. The report closes with two excellent papers by Mr. Gaskill, entitled *^ Chestnut Growing for Profit" and **Tree Planting," also a bibliography of publica- tions on Forests and Forestry in New Jersey, and copies of the laws creating the Forest Park Reser- vation Commission, and the Forest Fire Service. The report is illustrated wiih 37 views and topo- graphical maps. Forestry Progress in Michigan. 1^ HE first step toward the extensive planting 1 of the 42,000 acres set aside for forestry work and the summer school of the Michi- gan Agricultural College, on lands north of Au Sable, has been taken, in securing 250 pounds of white pine seed. This is an amount sufficient to establish a nursery of 2,000,000 trees, and one- half of the seed will be retained for use on the college grounds at Lansing. Charles W. Garfield, President of the Michigan Forestry Commission, has secured the co-opera- tion of the Board of Education and the Board of Trade of Grand Rapids in the purchase of 10,000 two and three-year-old elm trees in France, which will be delivered in time for distribution to school children and others at i cent apiece, which will nearly cover their cost. Especially prepared literature on how to plant and care for trees will be given with the trees howg\\X,—Amer. Lumberman. Mr. Geo. Ward Cook, of Haverhill, Mass., at the annual meeting of the American Forestry Associa- tion presented a petition signed by manufacturers and prominent individuals of New England urging the establishment of the proposed southern Appa- lachian and White Mountain reserves. In speaking of the latter, Mr. Cook mentioned the increasing destruction from floods along the Merrimack River and its tributaries, the water- powers and factories along which employ 79,687 persons, who earn annually about $37,000,000 in wages, the capital employed being nearly $100, - 000,000, which furnishes about $140,000,000 of products annually. The population of the dis- trict is 350,000, the assessed property value being $240,000,000. The people of New Hampshire derive a revenue of about $7,500,000 annually from visitors who enjoy its scenic beauty, which will be destroyed by deforestation. While the White Mountain group is mainly in New Hampshire, of the im- mense water resources it has only about 25 per. cent., the other New England States, except Rhode Island, having the benefit of the balance. ) A 122 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. a Resolutions of the American Paper and Pulp Association. AT a meeting of the American Paper and Pulp Association held in New York on February 6th, 1908, the following reso- lutions were passed as expressing the views of that Association : * " . Appalachian and White Mountain National Forests. Resolvedy that the Association endorses the movement to further conserve our forests and water powers by the creating of National Forests in the Appalachian and White Mountain Ranges under the broad and utilitarian control of the United States Forest Service. Forest Preservation. Whereas^ approximately four-fifths of the forests of the United States are in the hands of private owners, of whom those represented by the Ameri- can Paper and Pulp Association desire to operate their timberlands conservatively so as to insure their permanent preservation. And whereas such preservation inures in many ways to the benefit of the public, which directly or indirectly enjoys the use of these private lands. Resohed, that it is the sense of this Association that the public should encourage the owners to preserve the forests by sharing with them the burden entailed thereby, more particularly in the following manner : (i) by reducing taxation to a minimum so as to encourage conservative cutting ; (2) by applying the taxes received from wild- lands to their protection from fire and to reforesta- tion of burned or already denuded districts. Water Storage. Resolved, that this Association reaffirms the view which it has for many years expressed that the duty rests upon the Federal and State Govern- ments to prevent the annual loss of millions of dollars' worth of property and many lives by floods, and to prevent the enormous waste of natural resources due to the unregulated condition of many of our rivers, and that this Association be- lieves that the storage of water under Federal and State control is the most practical method of attaining these ends. Resolved, that copies of these resolutions be for- warded to the Forest Service of the United States, to the Governors and suitable officials of the various States concerned, the Internal Waterways Commission, and to the press. Results of Forest Denudation in Moun- tainous Regions. THE earnest workers for the Appalachian forest reserve, or any other forest reserve in mountainous regions, could draw a powerful argument in favor of their contention from the condition of Dalmatia, a province of Austria- Hungary, on the east side of the Adriatic gulf in the southern part of the empire. . A writer to a San Francisco newspaper says that if anyone could see the desolation he had witnessed in poor Dalmatia it would cause a sick- ening of the heart. That country was once one of the richest of the Roman provinces, and during the reign of Diocletian, who had an immense palace there, it supported a large population. When it came under the rule of the Venetian Re- public the trees on its fine mountain slopes were ruthlessly sacrificed for the building of the ships of the conquerors, the republic being distin- guished for the extent of its maritime commerce. When the timber was cut off the declivijty was so great that the soil was washed away, the springs and rivers dried up, so that even the desolation of Syria does not compare with that in Dalmatia. The attempts at cultivation by the peasants are pitiful in the extreme. In trying to get a foot- hold for olive trees, the fruit of which is their main dependence for a livelihood, the peasants collect rocks and stones in great mounds to hold what earth they can scrape together for the plant- ing of trees. Often this is done by great labor in order to hold a single olive tree or a solitary grapevine. One of the best fields of grapes seen in the province had the appearance of a pebbly beach, so thickly had the ground been covered to prevent the washing away of the soil. After the forests had been cut away by the Venetian ** lumbermen," a terrible wind called the **bora," which blows with great force for several months in the year, rendered reforestation almost impossible. One can drive for miles in any di- rection and not see ten trees growing except those that have been planted and held in place by rocks and. stones. This condition is especially true ot the northern part of the desolate province of Dalmatia. Montenegro, a Turkish province, touching the Adriatic southeast of Dalmatia, also a mountain- ous country, is in a like desolated condition from forest denudation. There the country is such a mass of mountains and the hills are so steep that the earth, washed down the slopes, seems to have settled into little potholes, and thus has formed spaces large enough to admit of cultivation. These little patches are sometimes no larger than an or- 3/. 123 dinary dining-table, yet the necessitous people utilize them to grow what they.can for sustenance. The same writer states that his observations in Italy lead him to conclude that this storied coun- try is approaching a ruin like that of Dalmatia and Montenegro. One cannot help but see the bar- renness of the Appenines, the rivers muddy with the soil washed down from the mountains, the small size and high price of firewood, the total absence of wooden houses, and the various make- shifts to avoid the use of wood for any purpose. Careful observations in all European and Asiatic countries where are mountainous sections in which • the rivers rise prove that if the primeval forests could have remained to clothe the slopes it would have prevented erosion, washing and the desola- tion we now see. There is yet time in America to prevent such barrenness and the drying up of streams. The Appalachian- forest reserve scheme, which probably will be legalized by act of the present Congress, aims at this desired result. It would be the height of folly if the pending legis- lation providing for the purchase by the govern- ment of forest lands in the southern Appalachian and White Mountain regions should go by default. No more important forestry measure has been urged on the attention of Congress than this, great as have been like measures adopted for the estab- lishment of forest reserves in the West. Denuda- tion in Europe and the farther east has been a suffi- cient object lesson to convince any but the ignor- antly or fatuously blind of the economic import- ance of forest reserves in the mountain sections, which are the sources of our water supply. — The American Lumberman. At a recent meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Iowa State College, Mr. C. A. Scott, Forest Supervisor of the United States Forest Service was elected to the Chair of Forestry to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Pro- fessor H. P. Baker, who accepted a position at the Pennsylvania State College. His work has been largely confined to the Middle West and the Rocky Mountain States ; hence, he has the advantage of being familiar with the forestry conditions of the Upper Missis- sippi Valley. Since its origin he has had charge of the extensive forest nurseries and plantings of the Dismal River National Forest. During the past three years he has given a special course of lectures before the Nebraska .University forestry students, and during the winters has also rendered assistance as a lecturer at the Farmers' Institutes of Nebraska. The Appalachian Hearing. THE friends of the Appalachian Forest Res- ervation had, in Washington, a hearing before the House Committee on Agricul- ture on January 30th, and business certainly did have its say. The manifold relations of water and water- power, lumber, protection of the soil against wash, increasing necessity for wood as coal be- comes scarcer and higher-priced were thoroughly and truthfully set forth. It is hard, indeed, to see how the Committee can fail to report favorably upon the bill which has such a wide-spread popu- lar demand back of it, especially as the measure has already passed the Senate ; but thus far no one, so far as I have observed, has adequately repre- sented the importance of these mountain ranges as a nursery of strong, loyal manhood, and as a National outing-ground for those who need the open air to fit them for their life duties, but who cannot go far to seek it. The Pacific Coast has its Sierras, Coast and Olympian Ranges, the middle West its Rocky Mountains and associated highlands, where already the National government holds, or assuredly will hold, millions of acres subject to the allied public utilities ; but, except in Arkansas, there is no National public land on the eastern slope with- drawn from individual ownership and dedicated to the general good. Whatever else may or may not occur, it is very sure that the long-approach- ing wave of public sentiment in favor of out-door life for the cure of tuberculosis and other chronic diseases is to be speedily followed by a demand on the part of the people for public outing-grounds, where health may be gained and disease prevented. It is wiser to prevent than to cure disease ! This is fairly a function of government, for the strength of a nation is merely the aggregate strength of its citizens, and that people is in the best case which can, at the shortest notice, sum- mon the largest number of the sturdiest, loyal men. Puny, sick, underfed, overworked men and women, that we all know of, are not the ones upon whom reliance can be placed in an hour of National need. There are but two alternatives : either to ne- glect the weak, or to endeavor to make them strong. The first is inhuman ; the second is forced upon us by our Christian religion and by motives * of economy. To care for the weak, to lighte^i their burdens, to fill them with new hope is simply to increase the power of the nation. There should be outing-grounds, accessible to all, on which no trespass notice is visible, on which the long-housed, blood- impoverished can rest and regain health before passing into invalidism. )' (/ J?/ 7 124 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 125 To a certain extent, Pennsylvania and New York have provided just such places in their forest re- serves, but neither State has, to the extent that it should, openly set these lands apart (not only for the preservation and production of timber but) for the health of the people. Those portions of the Appalachian Mountains which are found in Maine, New Hampshire, Vir- ginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro- lina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama are now desired to complete an eastern Forest Reservation, and it seems that the several States are unable to acquire, by purchase, such portions as lie within their borders. To meet this difficulty, the aid of the General Government has been invoked in ^^A Bill for acquiring National Forests in the Southern Appalachian Mountains and White Mountains y The area involved in this bill is about 5,700,000 acres. Important as it is to trade and manufacturing interests that this bill should become a law, it is no less important to the people on the score of National health. If those mountains are to be despoiled of tim- ber and then given over to destructive natural agencies, they will become depopulated of the vigorous race which they have hitherto supported, or what would be no less unfortunate, become the homes of shiftless degenerates. .The thought is intolerable that the vast area which has played so important a part in the development of our nation should cease to produce the strong characters that it has hitherto given us. It is quite apropos of this subject to remember that Ethan Allen came from the mountains of Ver- mont, that it was in the Appalachians of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, Washington received the training which prepared him for his great career. President Roosevelt has quite correctly spoken of the Appalachians as the '* great breed- ing ground and nursery" of pioneers who won homes from the Indians and afterwards founded States. The ancestors of Boone and Lincoln came from within sight of the Pennsylvania moun- tains, and we can hardly forget that from the lum- ber camps of the same State the famous Bucktail regiment sallied forth to defend the National Union during the Civil War. Life in the south- ern Appalachians was of a sturdy sort. Each in- dividual was a producer. There were but few slaves, and the effort to disrupt the Union in order to perpetuate slavery did not appeal to the moun- taineers. For the most part, they remained loyal when the lowlands east and west were in active rebellion against Federal authority. During the Revolution, after Cornwallis had practically subdued the tidewater regions of South Carolina and boasted that he would march without opposition through North Carolina and Virginia^ his most trusted lieutenant, Tarleton, was suddenly confronted at King's mountain by a thousand vol- unteer riflemen from the Appalachians. They fur- nished their own arms, provided their own food, fought the battle in their own way, and practically annihilated the British force. It was this undisci- plined body of heroic mountaineers, of whose ex- istence Cornwallis was ignorant, that turned the tide and saved the South to the Colonies. The Appalachian ranges are needed to perpetu- ate a race of strong-limbed, brave-hearted patriots. We cannot afford to abandon such a region to flood and depopulation. It must remain for the future, what it has been in the past, an outing- ground for those who seek health, and continue to be the nursery of an heroic race. J. T. ROTHROCK. *:-•>»: Unjust Land Taxation. THE American Lumberman mentions an ex- cellent address which was recently made by G. E. Ames, of Port Gamble, Wash., before a meeting of the State assessors, held at Seattle. The object of this address was to show to the assembled assessors that the timber land of the State should not be taxed on the basis of such valuations as pertain to agricultural areas, but should be so adjusted as to encourage the mainte- nance of timber lands as permanent holdings. His argument was that the timber lands of the State are in danger of being taxed on a basis of value so high that owners are not able to carry them longer than necessary to cut off and market the timber. When the market is good enough to warrant cutting the slaughter of the timber is rapid and of the denuding character ; when the market is poor and unprofitable to mill operators the holding of the lands causes a serious loss to the owners in in- terest and tax payments. Taxes should mainly be paid on the timber or lumber as cut off" and not on the land. Mr. Ames showed how damaging to the land it would be to cut off all the timber on the slope between the Cascade range and Puget sound. The result would be a washing away of the soil, such is the steepness of the general declivity, and the slope thus would become a barren waste. Rather conditions should be adjusted, including the rate of taxation, so that the slope should be kept in perpetual forest, to which it is especially and best adapted, and thus not only preserve the water courses and water supply of the region, pre- vent floods and washing of the land, but secure an everlasting timber supply for the State and nation. Following is a reproduction of the main features of Mr. Ames's address. It is in the line with what is being advocated in all the timbered States from Maine to the Pacific coast in the matter of timber land taxation versus taxation adjusted to stumpage and lumber values : There is a limit to the taxes a timber land owner can aff'ord to pay, and when taxation becomes too heavy a burden it means confiscation. Citizens of the United States are guaranteed protection of their property rights by our Constitution, and any un- due discrimination as to taxation is surely uncon- stitutional, certainly unfair. The present rate of taxation as applied to wild timbered lands in some •counties in this State is unfair, unjust and out of reason on account of high valuations and high levies assessed. Timbered land should not be singled out to carry too heavy a burden of taxation. It is not regular income-producing property. The present crop of timbered land can not be harvested except as required, and can not be logged with due regard for economy. The first great crop of western Washington must be largely sacrificed. Only trees fit for use under existing conditions will be cut. The balance, waste and underbrush, must be de- stroyed and removed before new seeds will take root in the soil and develop into the new crop of forest. It takes fifty years after the first crop of timber is removed to produce trees suitable for a sapling pile ; consequently private owners can ill aff'ord to hold wild timbered lands for purposes of forestry at present rates of taxation. The government, State and county, must assist. The homesteader clears land at an expense of ^^300 an acre in time, labor and money, but pays no taxes on any such valuation, and when he gets his land in condition never is taxed on his crop. The timber land owner is assessed on his crop and is asked to pay an exorbitant tax on the same crop year after year and generation after genera- tion, and as there is no return in a lifetime he must lose his investment. The taxation on timber, if collected at all, should be collected when the crop is harvested. This generation is living beyond its means, devel- oping the country beyond its resources, and paying the bills out of a legacy of debt which future gen- erations must pay or repudiate. If we leave them a legacy of debt why not leave them a legacy of resources to at least help pay the debt ? All lands suitable for the growing of forests, de- linquent for taxes, should revert to the State and be reserved for the growing of forests. The gov- ernment and the State should reserve the forest for the use and benefit of generations to come and en- courage private ownership to hold wild lands for the cultivation of a second and a third crop of timber trees. It is a slow growing crop and pri- vate ownership must be assisted and encouraged to make the investment. This can be done by proper and just investment and reasonable levy of taxes. Assess the land at, say, a flat rate of 2 cents an acre per annum, and exempt the growing crop of timber, providing the owner will register and de- clare his intention of holding specified lands for the preservation of growing trees and cultivation of timber. When the growth is cut the State should collect a stumpage equal to say i cent a thousand feet, board measure, as a tax for each year so exempt, and preserve a lien on the growth for the protection of the State. For instance, if a crop of timber should have been exempt for ten years when cut, the State could collect 10 cents a thousand feet, board meas- ure. If exempt for fifty years, the State would collect 50 cents a thousand feet, board measure, in addition to the flat rate collected annually on the land. Until some such plan is developed, the legisla- ture, tax commfssion, boards of equalization and assessors should do everything possible for the en- couragement of growing trees and the preservation of timber and forests. In Maine, I am informed, $3.50 an acre is a high commercial valuation for timber producing lands, and fifteen years ago such lands sold for 75 cents an acre. In Florida $7.50 to %\o an acre is considered a high price, commercially, for lands producing timber. In this State timber producing lands should not be expected, under existing conditions and with such fluctuating markets, to pay a tax exceeding 1 5 cents an acre per annum and logged ofl" lands, suitable for the practical growing of timber, a tax exceeding 31^ cents an acre per annum.' The land itself has only a nominal value. During the last five years I think the assessors as a rule have placed too high valuations on these wild lands and growing timber. Because some- body pays a big price for a tract of timber, say J25, J50, or even J 100 an acre, that is no good reason why other, even adjoining timber land, is worth that much money. It can not all be sold or logged or realized on at once. It will take years to cut off" this growth. Timber is only available when there is an immediate use for a particular tract and the owner is willing to part with it. It may be * located anywhere— on water front or miles inland — but is only available when there is demand for a particular tract of land. The owner of a small mill along a line of a rail- road may see his way clear to offer a large sum for 126 FOREST LEAVES. a particular tract of timber, but if the owner does not see fit to accept the offer it should not fix a valuation on the tract. It may be the owner's policy to hold it. My firm sold a tract of wild land about ten years ago for speculative purposes, near the city of Ever- ett, and reserved the right to remove all growth of timber in one year. Although within a mile from tide- water we were unable to get the timber removed and could not find any one to take it as a gift. It is generally supposed that a movement is on foot to increase the taxes on timber and wild lands and make the owner pay more taxes. If you have that idea in mind, just stop and think a moment before you do a great injustice to the timber in- terests of your State, already suffering from a greater burden than they can bear. You probably realize the general stagnation of business due to an attempt to raise the freight rate on lumber shipped by rail to eastern markets, affect- ing all branches of the trade and resulting in the shutting down during the last six months of 80 per cent, of the lumber and shingle mills in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. We hear of lands for fa^'ming* purposes, fruit growing, etc., selling for $500 and j;i,ooo an acre, but fail to find such values on assessment rolls for tax purposes. A horse may be valued at from $100 to $1,000, or even $20,000, but he appears on the assessment rolls as a $40 horse. The cow may be a scrub cow or a blooded animal ; she may be val- ued commercially at $50 or $250, but for tax pur- poses she is only a cow and is assessed at $20. Mutton chops may sell for 25 cents a pound, but the whole sheep is worth only $3 when assessed as a sheep to be taxed. The cur dog you can not give away and the noble St. Bernard which may sell at hundreds of dollars look alike to the tax collector, who collects $ I for each dog. Various kinds of property are exempt from taxa- tion according to the revenue laws of this State. These laws were probably passed to encourage cer- tain lines of investment and industry. The farmer pays no tax on his valuable and salable crops of grain, vegetables, fruit, hay, etc. But the timber- land owner has to pay on the same crop year after year. Negotiations have been completed by the Penn- sylvania Department of Forestry for the purchase of a large tract of more than 50,000 acres, located principally in Potter County, with a small portion in northern Clinton County. This, when title is taken, will give a grand total of nearly 900,000 acres of reserves. Value of New York State's Forests. IN a speech before a joint session of the Legis- lature recently. State Forest Commissioner J. S. Whipple, of New York, made the fol- lowing statement : ** There are 41,000,000,000 feet of lumber, board measure, in all this State, on public and private lands, farm lots and all ; and last year there was cut from these woodlands 1,500,000,000 feet, board measure. That is, 41,000,000,000 feet in all, but a loss of 1,500,000,000 feet each year. ** Quite largely the total water supply of our State depends on the existence of its forests. It is true, without doubt, that, utilized to the utter- most, the waters of our State are worth more to our people than the coal mines of Pennsylvania are to Pennsylvania. If fully utilized, they would furnish power to generate electricity to turn the wheels in every manufacturing plant in the State, to light every plant, every house, every car. In addition, they would furnish electricity to run every car of all kinds in the State, and to cook all our food. ** We must preserve and keep our forests. The State must acquire at least 1,000,000 acres more in the Adirondacks, and the Catskills, and then we must plant forests. Every one who has non- tillable land must plant tree?. The State must help by furnishing trees at cost, or free to all who will plant.'* — The New York Lumber Trade Journal, The Minnesota Forestry Association com- menced, in 1908, to publish its monthly official organ. The Minnesota Forester, which we wish the fullest measure of success. In the March issue it gives the text of the proposed constitutional amendment recommended by the Forestry Com- missioner. It is suggested that a tax of three- tenths of one mill be made on each dollar of tax- able property within the State. The proceeds are to be used for the purchase of land adapted for forest, at a cost of not over $5 per acre, and for the production and maintenance thereon of forests according to forestry principles. J. T. ROTHROCK, Consulting Forester, WEST CHESTER, PA. Terms upon Application. yn FOREST LEAVES. 127 Biltmore Forest School, BILTMORE, N. C. 0000 The Biltmore Forest School is the only technical school of forestry in this country. It illustrates its teachings on a large scale, on a tract of land owned by George W. Vanderbilt, comprising 130,000 acres of forest. The complete course covers twelve consecutive months. Write for particulars, addressing C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D., Director, ' ' biltmore, n. c. Yale Hnivei'^itj \mti ^chool NEW HAVEN - - CONNECTICUT A two years' graduate course is offered, leading to the de- gree of Master of Forestry. Graduates of collegiate institu- tions of high standing are ad- mitted upon presentation of their college diplomas. The Summer School of Forestry is conducted at Mil- ford, Pike County, Penna. For further information address HENRY S. GRAVES, Director, NEW HAVEN, CONN. The Pennsylvania State College FOUR YEAR COURSE IN FORESTRY. A thorough and practical undergraduate course in technical forestrj- — preparing men for all lines of professional and applied forestry. Special attention is paid to practical field work in surveying, mapping and * forest measurements. One of the largest of the State Forest Reserves is within a short walk of the College. For information regarding entrance requirements, expenses, etc., address DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, STATE COLLEGE, PA. CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILA. 30 minutes from Broad St. Station. BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BOTS. Illustrated Catalogue upon application^ JAMES L. PATTERSOir, Head Maiter. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rt. Rev. Ozi W. Whitaker, D.D., Fresideni. Samuel F. Houston, Vice-President. George Woodward, Secretary and Treasurer. JAMES M. beck. WALTON CLARK. DR. HOWARD A. KELLY. JACOB 8. DISSTON. FRANCIS D. LEWIS. EDGAR DUDLEY PARIES. RANDAL MORGAN. ' FRANCIS I. GOWEN. H. GORDON MOCOUCH, J. LEVERING JONES. JAMES R. SHEFFIELD. 1 t d 128 FOREST LEAVES. Know Andorra's Trees? If Not — Why Not? SPRING PLANTING DAYS ARE HERE ! BETTER GET ACQUAINTED ! ! ONE ITEM-OUR PIIM OAKS. Andorra's Pin Oaks have given all purchasers absolute satisfaction. The reason is not hard to find — they have the quality — roots and vitality The Pin Oak presents points which readily distinguish it from all others, and it is undoubtedly the most valuable for all practical purposes. The dense finely divided foliage is a beautiful shining green through the Summer months, and colors to sparkling red and yellow in the Fall. The Pin Oak is easily transplanted, and is the quickest growing of all the Oaks. As an avenue or lawn tree it is unequalled. The Pin Oak thrives in all sections, in all soils and situations. Try Andorra's stock. EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN. OUR BOOKLET "MORE SPECIALTIES." 3d EDITION, DESCRIBES THESE AND MANY OTHERS. SPECIAL OFFER. REMEMBER! EVERY TREE A SPECI Each 6 to 7 ft. Low-branched $i oo 7 to 8 ft. Low-branched i 25 8 to 9 ft. Low-branched; 1^ to i^ in. cal i 50 9 to 10 ft. Low-branched; i^ to 2 in. cal 2 00 10 to 12 ft. Low-branched; 2 to 2}4, in. cal 2 50 10 to 12 ft. 23^ to 3 in 3 jQ Extra-heavy Specimens $3 50 to 10 00 Send for SPRING PRICE L.IST. ANDORRA NURSERIES, WM. WARNER HARPER, Prop. Box F, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA, PA EN! Per 10 Per 100 $8 50 $60 00 10 00 70 00 13 50 125 00 17 50 135 00 22 50 150 00 30 00 275 00 \ >2^ I Vol. XI. Philadelphia, June, 1908. No. 9. Published Bi-Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, loia Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as second class matter. CONTENTS. Kditorials 129 Chambersburg Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Associa- tion. 130 •Governor Stuart on Forestry 131 Conservation of Resources 133 Trees as Crops 135 Hackberry. Sugar-berry (Celtis occidentalis, L.) 136 Forest Preservation 137 Foresters for the Great Railway Companies 142 Subscription, $1.00 per Year. The attention 0/ Nurserymen and others is called to the advantages ^ FOREST LEAVES.' 133 Conservation of Resources. ON May 13-15, there assembled at the White House, at Washington, D. C, at the invi- tation of President Roosevelt, a repre- sentative gathering composed of the Governors of States, members of Congress, the President's cab- inet, members of the Supreme Court, delegates from the principal national associations, together with some specially invited guests. This conference was summoned to consider the conserving of our natural resources, and the first session was opened by President Roosevelt, who made an address on '' Conservation as a National Duty." This was in turn followed by. a number of papers prepared by persons who had been asked as being specially versed on specific subjects. We give below some excerpts from the President's ad- dress, and on other pages that of Mr. Robert A. Long, of Kansas City, Mo. , a practical lumberman, to whom was assigned ** Forests." Every step of the progress of mankind is marked by the discovery and use of natural resources pre- viously unused. Without such progressive knowl- edge and utilization of natural resources population could not grow, nor industries multiply, nor the hidden wealth of the earth be developed for the benefit of mankind. From the first beginnings of civilization, on the banks of the Nile and Euphrates, the industrial progress of the world has gone on slowly, with occasional setbacks, but on the whole steadily, through tens of centuries to the present day. But of late the rapidity of the process has increased at such a rate that more space has been actually covered during the century and a quarter occupied by our national life than during the preceding 6,000 years that take us back to the earliest monu- ments of P^gypt, to the earliest cities of the Baby- lonian plain. When the founders of this nation met at Inde- pendence Hall in Philadelphia the conditions of commerce had not fundamentally changed from what they were when the Phoenician keels first fur- rowed the lonely water of the Mediterranean. The diff'erences were those of degree, not of kind, and they were not in all cases even those of degree. Mining was carried on fundamentally as it had been carried on by the Pharaohs in the countries adjacent to the Red Sea. 1 In Washington's time anthracite coal was known ' only as a useless black stone and the great fields of bituminous coal were undiscovered. As steam was | unknown the use of coal for power production was ; undreamed of. Water was practically the only source of power save the labor of men and animals I and this power was used only in the most primi- 1 tive fashion. But a few small iron deposits had been found in this country and the use of iron by our country-men was very small. Wood was prac- tically the only fuel and what lumber was sawed was consumed locally, while the forests were re- garded chiefly as obstructions to settlement and cultivation. Since then our knowledge and use of the re- sources of the present territory of the United States have increased a hundredfold. Indeed the growth of this natioL by leaps and bounds makes one of the most striking and important chapters in the history of the world. Its growth has been due to the rapid development and — alas! that.it should be said — to the rapid destruction of our natural resources. Nature has supplied to us in the United States, and still supplies to us, more kinds of resources in a more lavish degree than has ever been the case at any other time or with any other people. Our position in the world has been attained by the extent and thoroughness of the control we have achieved over nature ; but we are more, and not less, dependent upon what she furnishes than at any previous time of history since the days of primitive man. The wise use of all our natural resources, which are our national resources as well, is the great ma- terial question of to-day. I have asked you to come together now because the enormous con- sumption of these resources and the threat of im- minent exhaustion of some of them, due to reck- less and wasteful use, once more calls for common effort, common action. The discovery and utilization of coal and iron have given us our railways and have led to such in- dustrial development as has never before been seen. The vast wealth of luniber in our forests, the riches of our soils and mines, the discovery of gold and mineral oils, combined with the eftVciency of our transportation, have made the conditions of our life unparalleled in comfort and convenience. . . . Disregarding for the moment the question of moral purpose it is safe to say that the prosperity of our people depends directly on the energy and intelligence with which our natural resources are used. It is equally clear that these resources are the final basis of national power and perpetuity. Finally it is ominously evident that these resources are in the course of rapid exhaustion. This nation began with the belief that its landed possessions were illimitable and capable of sup porting all the people who might care to make our country their home ; but already the limit of un- settled land is in sight, and indeed but little land fitted for agriculture now remains unoccupied save what can be reclaimed by irrigation and drainage. We began with an unapproached heritage of for- 7 rv V :jv7 134 FOREST LEAVES. ests ; more than half of the timber is gone. We began with coal fields more extensive than those of any other nation and with iron ores regarded as in- exhaustible, and many experts now declare that the end of both iron and coal is in sight. The mere increase in our consumption of coal during 1907 over 1906 exceeded the total consumption in 1876, the Centennial year. The enormous stores of min- eral oil and gas are largely gone. Our natural waterways are not gone, but they have been so injured by neglect and by the divi- sion of responsibility and utter lack of system in dealing with them that there is less navigation on them now than there was fifty years ago. Finally we began with soils of unexampled fertility and we have so impoverished them by injudicious use and by failing to check erosion that their crop producing power is diminishing instead of increas- ing. In a word, we have thoughtlessly and to a large degree unnecesarily diminished the resources upon which not only our prosperity but the pros- perity of our children must always depend. We have become great because of the lavish use of our resources and we have just reason to be proud of our growth. But the time has come to inquire seriously what will happen when our forests are gone, when the coal, the iron, the oil and the gas are exhausted, when the soils shall have been still further impoverished and washed into the streams, polluting the rivers, denuding the fields and obstructing navigation. These questions do not relate only to the next century or to the next generation. It is time for us now as a nation to exercise the same reasonable foresight in dealing with our great natural resources that would be shown by any prudent man in conserving and wisely using the property which contains the as- surance of well being for himself and his chil- dren. Neither the primitive man nor the pioneer was aware of any duty to posterity in dealing with the renewable resources. When the American settler felled^ the forests he felt that there was plenty of forest left for the sons who came after him. When he exhausted the soil of his farm hp felt that his son could go v^est and take up another. So it was with his immediate successors ; when the soil wash from the farmer's fields choked the neigh- boring river he thought only of using the railway rather than boats for moving his pfoduce and sup- plies. Now all this is changed. So with the forests. We are on the verge of a timber famine in this country and it is unpardon- able for the nation or the States to permit any further cutting of our timber save in accordance with a system which will provide that the next generation shall see the timber increased instead of diminished. Moreover, we can add enormous tracts of the most valuable possible agricultural land to the national domain by irrigation in the arid and semiarid regions and by drainage of great tracks of swamp land in the humid regions. We' can enormously increase our transportation facili- ties by the canalization of our rivers so as to com- plete a great system of waterways on the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf coasts and in the Mississippi valley, from the great plains to the Alleghenies and from the northern lakes to the mouth of the mighty Father of waters. But all these various uses of our natural resources are so closely con- nected that they should be coordinated and should be treated as part of one coherent plan and not in haphazard and piecemeal fashion. We are coming to recognize as never before the right of the nation to guard its own future in the essential matter of natural resources. In the past we have admitted the right of the individual to injure the future of the republic for his own pres- ent profit. The time has come for a change. There are signs that both the nation and the States are waking up to the realization of this great truth. On March 10, 1908, the Supreme Court of Maine rendered an exceedingly important judicial decision. This opinion was rendered in response to questions as to the right of the legislature to re- strict the cutting of trees on private land for the prevention of drouths and floods, the preservation of the natural, water supply and the prevention of the erosion of such lands and the consequent fill- ing up of rivers, ponds and lakes. The forests and water power of Maine constitute the larger part of her wealth and form the basis of her industrial life, and the questions submitted by the Maine senate to the supreme court and the answer of the supreme court alike bear testimony to the wisdom of the people of Maine and clearly define a policy of con- servation of natural resources the adoption of which is of vital importance not merely to Maine but to the whole country. Such a policy will preserve soil, forests, and water power as a heritage for the children and the children's children of the men and women of this generation ; for any enactment that provides for the wise utilization of the forests, whether in public or private ownership, and for the conservation of the water resources of the country, must neces- sarily be legislation that will promote both private and public welfare ; for flood prevention, water power development, preservation of the soil and improvement of navigable rivers are all promoted by such a policy of forest conservation. The opinion of the Maine supreme bench sets forth unequivocally the principle that the property rights of the individual are subordinate to the rights FOREST LEAVES. 135 of the community, and especially that the waste of wild timber land derived originally from the State involving, as it would, the impoverishment of the State and its people and thereby defeating one great purpose of government, may properly be prevented by State restrictions. The court of Errors and Appeals of New Jersey has adopted a similar view, which has recently been sustained by the Supreme Court of the United States. . . . These decisions reach the root of the idea of conservation of our resources in the interests of our people. Finally let us remember that the conservation of our natural resources, though the greatest prob- lem of to-day, is yet but part of another and greater problem to which this nation is not yet awake, but to which it will awake in time and with which it must hereafter grapple if it is to live — the problem of national efficiency, the pa- triotic duty of insuring the safety and continuance of the nation. When the people of the United States consciously undertake to raise themselves as citizens and the nation and the States in their several spheres to the highest pitch of excellence in private. State and national life, and to do this because it is the first of all the duties of true pa- triotism, then and not till then the future of this nation, in quality and in time, will be assured. Trees as Crops. ** TT is as sure that forest land can be made to J^ grow successive crops of trees under proper methods as that plow land can be made to grow successive crops of wheat,** says the Secre- tary of Agriculture in the part of his annual report wherein he speaks of the National forests. This country which once could boast of forest resources richer than any other nation in the world, has been cutting three times as much tim- ber for a number of years as there is grown, and the consideration of timber as a crop to be carefully harvested has come at a time when many of the virgin forests are already depleted. Con- tinuing, Secretary Wilson says : ** Just as American farming has had to develop and is still developing methods adapted to the conditions of each region -to make the best use of the agricultural lands, so must the forester learn by scientific study and practical trial to make the best use of our timberland. And the best use means, of course, not merely its best use for grow- ing trees, but its best use with reference to all in- terests directly or indirectly aff'ected by it. ** As time passes, it will doubtless appear that the princij)les which centuries of experience in older countries have placed at our command can be applied with increasing good results as we grow more familiar with our own special conditions. The issue is sharply drawn between caring for our forests by applying a system of known efficiency, or suffering certain loss not only of the forests, but of usable water and soil as well, through the opera- tion of causes as certain to act as are the rivers to run to the sea. ' ' The Forest Service now has administration over more than 164,000,000 acres of land. This is slightly more than one-fifth of the country's total forested area ; the remainder is in the hands of private owners. Nearly all the timberland of the unappropriated public domain is now in the Na- tional forests. This means that it is being pro- tected against fire, theft, and wasteful exploitation, that its power t6 grow wood and store water is being safeguarded for all time, and that neverthe- less, its present supply of useful material is open to immediate use whenever it is wanted. The report says : **The timber in the National forests, which is the legacy of the growth of centuries, is now in the truest sense public property, administered for the benefit of the people — primarily for the benefit of the people of the West, since they are nearest at hand, but on the whole, for the benefit of every part of the country, since the welfare of every section is interwoven with that of all others. The communities and settlers adjacent to the forests are safe from any fear of monopoly of one of the chief necessities of civilized man." The Secretary tells interestingly of how the government manages its timberlands as a trustee. It gives timber away through free-use permits in small quantities to the actual home-maker, who comes to develop the country, and in larger quan- tities to communities for public purposes. Its system of management is vastly diff"erent from that of a landlord. When large quantities of timber are harvested from the National forests, sales are made to the highest bidder, but under such re- strictions as look to the maintenance of a lasting supply answering to the needs of the locality, to be had without favoritism and without extortionate demand based upon the necessity of the consumer. The student force at the Forest Academy was callod out to but three forest fires this spring ; all of them were small and none, except the first, which did practially no damage, on State land. The greater part of the Academy work for the * winter has been completed, but on wet days reci- tation and laboratory work is still carried on. During April and May four special addresses were made to the students. !•« ') V 4 136 FOREST LEAVES. Hackberry. Sugar-berry (Celtis occiden- talis, L.). THERE are some species of trees growing in Pennsylvania which constantly thrust them- selves, in full vigor and faultless shape, into your sight. The problem is, which one of many beautiful specimens shall you select for illustration. The case, however, is different when an illustra- tion of Ce/fi's occidentalis is required. It does not appear now to be anywhere abundant in Pennsyl- vania, certainly, at least, not in the eastern half of the State. Time was when splendid, tall, symmet- rical specimens grew on the rich bottom-lands of the Juniata valley. In the places where I. found them forty years ago I find now*nothing but small or deformed representatives. This is the more strange, because so far as I know there has never been any use made there of the timber. Its favor- ite region now, in this State, seems to be the lower Schuylkill valley, and those of the immediate tribu- tary streams. I am indebted to my friend, Hon. I. C. Williams, for calling my attention, and ac- companying me, to the trees taken to illustrate this brief paper. The hackberry is a close botanical relative of the elm, though it differs from it in many respects. With us the tree occasionally attains (as did the trunks pecimen) a height of eighty feet and a girth, at fourfeet from the ground, of eight feet ten inches, its nearest neighbor being seven feet ten inches around. We ordinarily see it in the open as a wide-spreading branching tree, but Michaux (the younger), who saw it growing in the woods, speaks of it thus: **The hackberry is easily distinguished by the form of its trunk, which is straight and un- divided to a great height, and by its bark, which is grayish, unbroken, and covered with asperities unequally distributed over its surface." Sargent characterizes the bark as '' light brown or silvery gray, broken on the surface into thick appressed scales, and sometimes roughened by irregular wart- like excrescences, or ridges, also found on the large branches." We have been careful to quote these authorities, to illustrate the fact that the tree is as variable in its bark as in its other features. Undoubtedly both of these statements are correct when seen by the observers, but neither one would give the striking character as shown by a midd/e- stzed tree in this region. With us the bark flakes are bent abruptly outward in sharp, rough ridges two or three inches long, and are quite character- istic. As the tree becomes o/d these ridges are apt to disappear, and the gray bark returns to a smoother condition. The bark on. the trunk illus- tration shows this process to a certain extent. In other words, the bark is less rough than when the tree was younger. In its limbs the hackberry does recall the slen- der branches and branchlets of the elm, but one misses the graceful droop of a typical white elm. The young leaves, as well as the young shoots, appearing about the last of April, are quite downy. The adult leaves, on foot-stalks half an inch long, are broadly, obliquely ovate, sharp-pointed, about two or three inches long, conspicuously toothed except near the point, with occasionally little tufts of hair in the axils of the veins and a few scattered hairs on the veins of either surface. On any given hackberry tree the flowers are sometimes perfect and sometimes unisexual, appearing with the leaves, and in the axil, /. ^., between the young leaf and the branchlet to which the leaf is attached. The inconspicuous greenish-yellow calyx, has four or five lobes, with usually a slender stamen inserted on the disk, and in front of the calyx lobes. The young ovary has two conspicuous, recurved, hairy tips, or stigmas, and matures into a hard stony fruit about a quarter of an inch in diameter with a tough skin for a covering. After the leaves have fallen, it is possible in this region, to recognize the hackberry, nearly as far as it can be seen, by the numberless tufts of clus- tered, deformed branchlets on the younger limbs, apparently ** a canker." From the fact that neither the authors of general or local systematic works have alluded to this, one might be led to the conclusion that it is confined to this region, and in fact that it has only recently appeared here. How could it have escaped the observation of Dr. Darlington, if common in his time? This malformation is of the character commonly called ''crow's nests," or ''witches' brooms," and appears in both of our illustrations. It is probably due to a fungus. Porcher says the tree yields a gum similar to that of the cherry tree, and that the roots and leaves are aromatic. The fruit has a sweet taste ; hence the common name of sugar-berry. The berries are reported as useful in dysentery, on a somewhat doubtful authority. In the south, the names nettle tree and beaver wood are sometimes given to the tree, and Michaux says that "on the Ohio from Pittsburg to Marietta it is called hoop ash." The wood is heavy, though not strong, and hence of small value in the arts, though Sargent says it is use- ful as a fencing material and in the manufacture of cheap furniture. I have never seen it used in Pennsylvania for any purpose, so far as I can now remember. Were it not for its unsightly "witches' brooms" one might safely recommend it as a lawn tree. 3 2-1 Forest Leaves, Vol. xi., No. 9 BHIPPENSBURs' WATER CO. r I O 15 M. ^ 5 V PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF FORCSfRV SOUTH MTN. FOREST RESERVE CUMBERLAND, FRANKLIN ^y

> < H •X W c ,^ h v'- w. L:^ -.y CO < -J 7 < < 1- > z > LU CO o z z o UJ o UL o > > CO 1- z 3 o o UJ o > ^-' cc UJ > s cc u cc J- LJJ z CQ o o < P\jREST Leaves, Vol. xi., No. 9. TRUNK OF HACKBERRY (CELTIS OCCI DENTALIS, L). MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. j^7 FOREST LEAVES. 137 These, however, are only annoyingly visible in the winter. Few of our trees extend over a wider geo- graphical range than this species of Celtis. It grows, Sargent informs us, **from the valley of the Saint Lawrence River west to eastern Dakota, south through the Atlantic region to Bay Biscayne and Cape Romano, Florida, and the valley to Devil's River, Texas," attaining its greatest size in the alluvial regions of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The physical properties of the wood are : Specific gravity, 0.7287 ; percentage of ash, 1.09; relative approximate fuel value, 0.7208; weight in pounds of a, cubic foot of dry wood, 45.41. In strength it stands as, 142 on the list of our American woods. J. T. ROTHROCK. Forest Preservation. MR. ROBERT A. LONG, of the Long Bell Lumber Company, at the conference at ^ Washington on the conservation of our natural resources, presented an excellent paper on the forest problem of this country, portions of which are given below, and will interest our readers : Aside from the soil itself, no other natural re- source compares with our forests. Can you think of one that comes so nearly supplying every want of man? From the tender, touching song we hear ** There is no place like home," and we know that there is no other resource under the sun that supplies so many homes in every essential as does the tree ; especially as applied to the large majority of our people, those whose labors go hand and hand with the prosperity of our nation. However crude the workman with only an axe for his tool, he may go into the forest and build a comfortable home in which to live. The leaves and bark of the tree may be converted into clothing for his body, and the nuts and fruits give him sustenance. Look within the house, be it shanty or mansion, and the furniture will remind you of this natural resource. The ties supporting the great railway systems of this country, and nearly all the buildings con- nected therewith, are of its product. The mines — coal, copper, gold, silver, yea, all minerals, from the cheapest to the dearest — re- quire its use for their production and our satis- faction. Data gathered tell us we are using not less than 16,000,000,000 cubic feet annually in this direc- tion. What of the millions and millions of tons of paper on which is printed the news of our great daily newspapers, making it possible for even the poorest inhabitants of all nations of the earth to keep posted as to the daily happenings of the world ? It is claimed, and I believe truthfully, that at least 99 per cent, of the products of our forests ai'e used for practical and useful purposes. It is also conceded that they have much to do with the utilization of our rainfall, as the leaves and branches of trees and the accumulation of humus and leaf mould resist the compacting effect of the rain drops, and hence the soil is kept loose, allowing the water to percolate readily. This covering of loose litter, twigs, etc., absorbs and holds back the precipitation, preventing its disappearing rap- idly by surface drainage, goes largely into the ground, and as a sub-soil or underground drainage reappears in the form of springs, which, being gradually fed by percolation from above, them- selves feed rivulets or streams of perennial char- acter. The snows of winter melt more gradually in forest-covered areas, giving more time for the water resulting therefrom to soak into the ground and pass off through the springs. The streams fed from such sources have a continuous supply, to be used for irrigation or such other purposes as man may require. - On the other hand, when the forest lands have been denuded the rainfall passes rapidly away, and its resulting effect is not long felt or seen except- ing by the filling of the channels of the streams by silt, sand, and gravel washed from above, and the result of the waters having spread over the adjacent low lands is the destruction of crops, im- provements, live stock, and sometimes even the lives of the inhabitants. It is not unusual in some sections for the fertile valley lands to be destroyed by pebbles, stones,, and debris carried and de- posited by the waters. Water power exerted through electrical energy, and so imperative in so many industries, is impos- sible without constant and uniform water supply, and this cannot be had except along streams whose headwaters have an adequate protection of forest covering ; otherwise, the erosion of the soil soon fills the reservoir, and waters running unobstructed on the surface converge in great torrents, carry- ing logs and debris of all kinds, surging irresisti- bly through the river valleys, taking with then> dams, gates, power plants, and destroying what they cannot carry away. Originally, the rivers and even the rather small water courses of our country were, to a greater or less extent, navigable. Their channels were deep,, their waters mostly clear and free from sediment. >> 0 ^■>( 138 FOREST LEAVES. At the present time, owing to the deforestation of the lands along their banks, and especially of their headwaters, the breaking up of the sod and the loosening of the soil subsequent upon settlement and cultivation of crops, these channels, formerly deep, have been in some instances entirely filled and everywhere rendered more shallow, until water transportation has ceased and river navigation has become almost obsolete on rivers which were once teeming with commerce. Our government is at great annual expense in the construction of levees, dikes, jetties, and other devices to prevent the destructive overflows, and in dredging and deepening the channels in order that sufficient depth of water may be obtained and preserved to encourage the re-establishment and preservation of our waterway navigation, so that means of transportation, competitive with and supplemental to that furnished by our railroads, may be had. A substantial proportion of the money and energy thus expended, if used in the preservation of our forests, would materially better conditions in this regard. The western half of the United States contains enough fertile land, now barren and unprofitable only because of insufficient moisture, to support, under adequate irrigation, a population of prob- ably 50,000,000 people ; further than this, as it has truly been said, such population in the west would support a like additional population in the manufacturing districts of the east, and the two would support another large population engaged in the transportation and distribution of the com- modities of commerce between them. The possibility of such irrigation depends largely on the preservation of the forest cover of the mountains, which catches and holds the melt- ing snows, and thus forms the great storage reser- voirs of nature. Solomon procured all of the timbers used in the construction of the Temple, as well as in other buildings, from the forests of Lebanon by a con- tract therefor with Hiram, King of Tyre, in whose dominion they lay, and he supplied 80,000 labor- ers to assist in cutting and hewing the trees. The timber was loaded into ships and conveyed to Joppa, thence by land to Jerusalem. The region about Jerusalem was fertile, and Solomon pro- visioned more than 150,000 men for a period of perhaps twenty years, and supplied Hiram with 150,000 measures of wheat, with as much barley, besides 150,000 gallons of wine and a like quan- tity of oil annually, from which we must under- stand the country was rich and productive. These forests have all been destroyed, with no renewal thereof, and with their destruction disappeared the fertile soil. The rain-bearing clouds no longer float above the mountains of Syria. The brooks and small streams of Palestine no longer exist, and throughout Syria stone furnishes the only material for building, and wood is as precious as silver. In Sinai and Palestine, by Dean Stanley, an authoritative record, appears the following : **The countless ruins of Palestine, of whatever date they may be, tell us at a glance that we must not judge the resources of the ancient land by its present depressed and desolate state. They show us not only that * Syria might support tenfold its present population and bring forth tenfold its present product,' but that it actually did so. And this brings us to the question which eastern travelers so often ask, and are asked on their re- turn, ' Can these stony hills, these deserted val- leys be indeed the Land of Promise, the land flowing with milk and honey?' " The effect and influence of forests on the climate, health, and water conditions of the country are evidenced by the chronicles of the Mosaic, the Roman, and the Greek writers, and many of their far-seeing priests prevented the destruction of the forests. The consecration of groves to religious uses, and to various mythologi- cal rites connected with them, are evidences of the reverence the ancients had for forests. Homer calls the mountain woodlands the '' Habitations of the gods, in which the mortals never felled the trees, but where they fell from age when their time has come ;" and in his Tree and Woodland Nymphs, originating in springs, he suggests the intimate relation of forests and springs. Aristotle, in his National Economy, points out that an assured supply of accessible wood material is one of the *' necessary conditions of the exist- ence of a city." Plato writes that the consequences of deforesta- tion are the ** sickening'of the country." Cicero, in one of his philippics, designates those engaged in forest devastation as the enemies of the public interests. Mesopotamia, one of the most sterile countries in the east, was once praised on account of its fer- tility, where, according to Herodotus, the culture, of the grape could not succeed on account of the moisture, and the Euphrates river, once the source of an ample water supply, is swallowed up in this desert. Greece shows the progress of a similar decad- ence. Sicily, once the never-failing granary of the Roman empire while it was well wooded, is now entirely deforested, and crop failures are the rule. Caesar and other Roman writers de- scribe the 'Wast forests" throughout the entire territory. Since then the progress of civilization has de- FOREST LEAVES. 139 forested thousands of square miles. Many coun- tries, where the destruction has been most reck- less, have taken systematic measures to control the destruction and secure the reproduction of ex- hausted areas. To this they have been driven, not only by the lack of timber and fuel, but also by the prejudicial effects exerted upon the climate and the irrigation of the country by this denuda- tion. In Denmark, much of the wood which, at one time, covered nearly the whole country has been •cut down to make way for agriculture and to sup- ply fuel and timber, and the vast area thus bared has become a sandy desert. Parts of Bohemia, Hungary, and Austria have been rendered practi- cally valueless because the growing forests were destroyed. In France, the frequent inundations of the last fifty years were caused, as is stated by writers, by the deforesting of the sources of the Rhone and Saone. Since that time thousands of acres are annually planted, and where the forests have been restored the conditions have changed for the better. In the Encyclopedia Britannica, volume 6, page 4, it is said : *' Hence, the essential difference between the ■climate of two countries, the one well covered with forests and the other not, lies in this, that the heat of the day is more equally distributed over the twenty-four hours in the former case, and therefore less intense during the warmest part of the day ; hence, the nights are warmer and the days are cooler in wooded districts." And so it is also said : ** Nothing is more certain than that forests not only prevent evaporation of moisture by protecting the surface of the earth, but they serve to retain the light clouds, which otherwise would be distributed, until they contain sufficient consistence to descend in rain or refreshing mists." In the American Forest Congress, in 1905, the Hon. John Lamb quoted the following from Ber- nard Pallissy, which is so pregnant of truth that it will bear repeating: **. . for when the forests shall be cut all arts shall cease and they who practice them shall be driven out to eat grass with Nebuchadnezzar and the beasts of the field. I have at divers times thought to set down in writ- ing the arts that would perish when there shall be no more wood ; but when I had written down a great number I did perceive that there will be no end of my writing, and, having diligently consid- •ered, I found that there was not any which could not be followed without wood, and I could well allege a thousand reasons, but it is so cheap a phi- losophy that the very chamber wenches if they do but think may see that without wood it is not possible to exercise any manner of human art or cunning." China has paid absolutely no attention to the preservation of her forests ; hardly a twig is left in what were her great forest fields, while Japan, close by, has 59 per cent, of her total area under forests, and the government has reserved under its control a very large part of the whole. Com- pare the conditions of these two countries, side by side, and draw your own conclusions. While practically all other countries are effectually prac- ticing forestry, none of them, I believe, save Sweden and Russia, foresaw the difficulties toward which they were drifting — at least made any effort to provide against them until they found themselves importing lumber in great quantities. One nation, Germany, paid out in a single year $80,000,000, and still its timber reserves are being depleted at a rapid rate. Realizing into what condition she was drifting, she set at work to remedy the evil, and to-day is in the forefront in working out this great problem, and it will not be many years before she will be producing an annual crop equal to her consumption. This is most commendable, but it would have been much less expensive and more business-like had she exercised the same judgment and forethought that our leading business men make use of in handling the problems affecting their interests to-day. As is usually true, those spending the most money in the development of an industry obtain the best net results. Considering all of the above, coupled with the fact that from the viewpoint of the value of annual production it stands as the fourth greatest industry in the United States, being exceeded only by, first, food and kindred products, the annual value of which is $2,845,234,900 ; second, textiles, annual value, $2,147,441,418; third, iron and steel and their products, annual value, $2,176,- 739,726; lumber coming fourth, annual value, $1,223,730,336, which pays annually in wages about $100,000,000, providing an income and living for something like 2,000,000 of our people, can it be passed licrhtly by without bringing upon our heads the censure of the generation that will live after us ? But need we say more of the important part forests play in the affairs of our country, or what bearing they have had and are having on the nations of the world ? It seems to me we should determine, if we can, the life of our forests undei: existing conditions and upon the course necessary to their perpetuation. In January, 1903, I prepared a paper on the subject **Stumpage," to be read at a convention ' \ f.'i I i! >> V >>> .140 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 141 of lumbermen. I spent a vast deal of time in gathering the data necessary to its preparation ; I took into account only the white and Norway pine of the Lake States, the yellow pine of the south, and the timber growing in Oregon, Wash- ington, and California, as they were the only woods entering in any large way into the lumber . supply of this country, calculating that long before any of the woods in question had been exhausted, practically all other woods in our nation would largely have passed out of use. My investigation led me to make a statement that the timber in the Lake States would not ex- ceed 60,000,000,000 feet ; that within ten years it would probably play no larger part in the lum- ber supply of this country than did poplar at that time. I see no reason to change that statement unless the effects following our recent panic, which are very depressing on the lumber indus- try, should continue longer than now is expected. As to the life of the southern yellow pine, I gave it as my belief that eighteen years would find it cutting no great figure in our lumber sup- ply. I am more convinced of the correctness of this statement now than I was then. Adding the white pine, yellow pine, and Pacific Coast prod- ucts together, my estimate was that the life for all was forty one years. I am not so sure as to the amount of timber on the Pacific Coast, but I do not believe the total life of all will vary to exceed five years from the date indicated. Some calculate that substitutes, such as cement, will likely curtail the demands for lumber. Judg- ing from the experience of other countries, they will not. Even in England, where nearly all of the lumber used is imported, their lumber con- sumption per capita is increasing at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum. In France and this country it is increasing at the rate of 10 per cent, per capita. But why speculate on our timber supply, a question of such great importance to this nation, when definite information can be had? It is unlike any of our other natural resources. It all stands above the ground and can be estimated with great accuracy. Men and money are the only means necessary for securing this valuable infor- mation. The former can be had by supplying the latter. Should a nation as rich as ours hesitate to furnish the means re(iuired for information of such great value? My plan would be to take our timber areas and, working them by counties, parishes, or townships, make a complete estimate, as if a purchase were to be made ; where the timber was practically the same in several counties, townships, or parishes near each other., a careful estimate of one and a reckoning of others on the same basis would be sufficiently accurate for all purposes. This would give us a correct basis to start with, and from which intelligent statements could be made in the future. The owner of a given piece of property is con- trolled, as to retention or disposition, largely by the net results that may be obtained at different periods. Carrying charges, or the expense inci- dent to holding a commodity or article of com-, merce, enter very largely into such calculations. Taxes constitute a large part of such charges and have no little bearing on the subject under con- sideration. Instead of timber lands being favored in order to encourage their conservation, not only for the benefit of the owner but for the use of generations yet unborn, they are not given an even chance with other properties. The crop of the farmer is taxed when it is ready for the market, and no crop is taxed more than once. A crop of timber is taxed continuously and annually until disposed of. The farmer's crop ' matures yearly ; the crop of the timber owner matures once in about one hundred years. Let us illustrate : As the value of the timber is less in its earlier years than when matured, we will use fifty years as the average life, basing the value on the matured product. Rice, cotton, and sugar lands in some sections of the south, in close proximity to timber lands, are assessed at about the same prices as timber lands. The rice, cotton, and sugar lands net the owner at least $7.50 an acre annually after paying taxes and all other expenses. In fifty years the owner would get ^37 5 o^ of each acre of his land, besides obtaining enough annuallv to pay his taxes ; the land itself being worth $50 an acre, making a total of $425, plus the interest on the money made annually, while the timber owner could not get more than $120 an acre in the gathering of his entire matured crop, after spending a goodly fortune in building a plant preparatory to its harvest. Again, the cut-over lands are taxed practically their full value, thereby making it burdensome to carry them, much less to spend anything on them for the purpose of reforestation. The effect of such laws is shown in the State of Michigan, where over 6,000,000 acres have re- verted to the State. A like condition, to a lesser extent, exists in other States. I find the consti- tutions of several States permit them to exempt such properties from taxation ; others permit them to classify; others either to exempt or clas- sify. And now we come to the vital point of the subject — namely, the conservation and perpetua- tion of this great resource. In dealing with this subject, as it now presents itself to us, it becomes- necessary to dwell on some features that directly and immediately affect the interests of the timber owners. Belonging to that class, we would refer to these features with some embarrassment did we not feel it had been our purpose, in preparing these thoughts for your consideration, to treat them on broader and more patriotic lines than any exclusively selfish idea would permit ; besides, we believe the thoughts presented will appeal to you as eminently fair and correct, and will of them- selves prevent your ascribing to us a selfish motive. I want to give especial emphasis to the statement that conservation and perpetuation of our forests and unremunerative prices for lumber cannot travel the same road ; for conservation means to handle, to treat, to take care of, and save in such manner as to retain the use or benefit of a given product as long as possible. Perpetuation of forests means so to exploit the forests as to make them continuous and perpetual, which can be done only by spending money continuously in planting, seeding, protecting, etc., while low prices of any commodity means neglect and waste. This cannot be more forcibly illustrated than by the conditions existing to-day as applied to lumber ; on account of the low prices now prevailing, the logs making low-grade lumber, secured principally from that portion of the tree approaching the limbs and constituting at least 20 per cent, of the forests, are left in the woods to rot or be burned, because the lumberman would no more think, of using the raw material, out of which he could not obtain cost, than the farmer would harvest a crop of faulty corn out of which he could not obtain" the cost of gathering. This leaving of 20 per cent, of our logs in the woods, as applied to the yellow pine industry alone, if we market as much lumber this year ps last, means that we will have wasted over 300,000 acres of forest land ; and so, in order that the product of these low-grade logs may take their place in the lumber supply of the world and our timber saved or conserved, the manufacturer must, at least, have cost for his low-grade lumber, which means a comparatively better price for the better grade ; and this need not necessarily mean high-priced lumber, but the price must be removed materially from the prices now prevailing, and such as we touch periodically, even in normally good times. For lumber is like every other prod- uct— controlled by supply and demand — and if we build mills with sufficient capacity to supply the demand of the country in times of extreme activity, such as we had in 1906 and the first two- thirds of 1907, we will have capacity beyond our requirements in normal times, and, under such conditions, down go the prices. On account of such varying and unstable con- ditions it will be found difficult, if not impossible, to get the timber owner to enter actively into the methods required for the perpetuation of the for- ests by spending even the minimum required, which Lunderstand to be about 50 cents a thousand. While this does not seem a large amount, there are concerns making as much as 250,00^,000 feet of lumber per annum, and hence to these the cost of this item would be $125,000 per annum. If his, or its, competitor was pursuing the same prac- tice, all would be well ; if not, he would, for the immediate present, be out that much more money than his competitor ; and during dull periods, such as now, when prices were close to the cost line, even for the better grades of lumber, he would hardly feel disposed to contract for such an outlay. The government, owning only about 22 per cent, of our forest areas, cannot alone, to any great degree, effect what we are seeking in this conference,* so far as forests are concerned. It might, however, accomplish the purpose in one of the following ways : First — The government could, by a contractural relation with the owners of the forests where lumbering operations are now being carried on (who constitute at least 80 per cent, of the timber holders of the United States), provide that con- servation and reforestation should be practiced under rules prescribed by the Forestry Depart- ment, and assess the cost thereof against the timber lands proportionately. These rules should provide that the lumbering operations, so far as conservation and reforestation were concerned, should be conducted under gov- ernmental control ; that no more timber should be cut than was necessary to supply the current demands, thus maintaining such uniformity of prices as would justify the operator to utilize every log the tree would produce ; that only trees-of a certain size should be cut ; that seed trees, prop- erly distributed, should be left ; that the young growth should be protected from fires and other elements of destruction ; and it would seem clear that the establishment of such a relationsKip would certainly accomplish this highly desired object. Second — A plan might be worked out jointly between the owners of the timber lands and the government by which conservation and reforesta- tion would be practiced along such lines as the government might lay down, as outlined above, and the timber owners be protected in the prices of all lands cut over and handled under the con- ditions prescribed. Whatever plan is adopted must furnish an in- ■> >< 142 FOREST LEAVES. centive, a substantial inducement, to the timber owners to forego a present gain for the public good, and in this matter it can be accomplished only by governmental co-operation. And what is done should be done quickly, for the time is fast approaching when our forests will be so nearly gone, when the destruction will be so nearly com- pleted that it will be too late. Will the government avail itself of this golden opportunity to lend its aid to conservation of this splendid natural resource in order to supply the timber for future generations ? Be wise and patri- otic enough to provide for the inevitable result that must occur before the middle of the twentieth century, and thereby perform the true function of all good governments in the promotion of the health, wealth, and prosperity of the people. Or, with climatic changes following the destruction of our forests, shall manufacture die with them and commerce fall as a natural result of agricultural and manufacturing decadence? And now, before closing, I want to* say again, aside from the soil itself, this is the most important natural resource at the command of the American people to-day. It has its most intensely practical side, but it is not by any means devoid of its sentimental side, the absence of which from the human breast leaves one devoid of one of the most beautiful attributes of human kind. Foresters for the Great Railway Companies. THE time has come when all our great rail- way companies must make suitable provi- sion for a future supply of timber to fill the great demand for ties, poles, posts, bridges and other constructions of timber. They have found out that to-day the annual de- mand for timber is from loo to 125 billion bd. ft., while the supply or growth cannot be more than 50 billion feet. This means a total exhaustion of present and future reserves in about 40 years. It is also known that they have in the aggregate from 275,000 to 300,000 miles of railway to be suffplied with not less than 95,000,000 to 100,- 000,000 ties annually ; about 200,000 to 300,000 poles; 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 posts, and many other construction timbers. In other words, that they are very large consumers of forest products and will be for centuries to come. They have also awakened to the fact that they have, in the right of way and government land grants, millions of acres of land suitable to tree growth, which to- day for the most part lies idle. Therefore, many of them will follow the example of the Pennsyl- vania and Santa Fe Railway Companies, of mak- ing use of this waste land and employing com- petent foresters, who are to see to it that in from 25 to 40 years they shall be able to harvest ties and poles from their own land. I am sure they could not make a wiser move than this. Should it even be decided to use part of the right of way along the tracks for raising ties and poles, it would not come amiss, but in some cases would beautify the road-bed ; in others it would hold embankments and prevent wash-outs. Take the total mileage of all the roads at 300,000 miles, with 100,000 miles of right of way unsuitable for raising trees, such as in or about cities, on dry and arid plains and so forth, there will still be 200,- 000 miles of track that might be utilized for tree growth. Now if one-half of that amount of right of way is planted, with but two rows on either side of the track, six feet apart, 350 million trees can be raised, suitable either for ties or poles, every 25 years, or a yearly crop of 14,000,000 trees on the right of way alone. If every tree makes one pole or two good ties and a post, it would mean 28,000,000 ties and 14,000,000 posts, or, in other words, a considerable percentage of the demand for ties and posts. Besides this, most of the large railway com- panies, such as the great trunk lines and the western and southern lines, own enough land which, in charge of good competent foresters, could be made to produce for them ties, posts and poles enough to save the buying of the same in 25 to 40 years from now. Several of the com- panies are beginning to see that a wiser invest- ment could not be made than to take what land they hold and can procure cheaply, planting the same to timber, suitable for their own use. If only half of the great railway companies would do this it would mean the employment of a large corps of men who understand silviculture, lumbering, the raising and handling of forest crops and nurseries. The following railroads have already made a beginning in forestry : The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, The Santa Fe Railway Company, and The Southern Pacific Railway Company. C. H. GOETZ. J. T. ROTHROCK, Consulting Forester, WEST CHESTER, PA. Terms upon Application. ^^ FOREST LEAVES. 143 Biltmore Forest School, BILTMORE, N. C 0000 The Biltmore Forest School is the only technical school of forestry in this country. It illustrates its teachings on a large scale, on a tract of land owned by George W. Vanderbilt, comprising 130,000 acres of forest. ^ The complete course covers twelve consecutive months. Write for particulars, addressing C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D., Director, BILTMORE, N. C. The Pennsylvania State College FOUR YEAR COURSE IN FORESTRY. A thorough and practical undergraduate course in technical forestry' — preparing men for all lines of professional and applied forestry. Special attention is paid to practical field work in surveying, mapping and forest measurements. One of the largest of the State Forest Reserves is within a short walk of the College. For information regarding entrance requirements^ expenses, etc., address DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, STATE COLLEGE, PA. Yale UniVBr^itg Forest pohool NEW HAVEN - - CONNECTICUT A two years* graduate course is offered, leading to the de- gree of Master of Forestry. Graduates of collegiate institu- tions of high standing are ad- mitted upon presentation of their college diplomas. The Summer School of Forestry is conducted at Mil- ford, Pike County, Penna. For further information address HENRY S. GRAVES, Director, NEW HAVEN, CONN. CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILA. 30 minutes from Broad St. Station. B0ABDIN6 SCHOOL FOR BOYS. TUtutrated Catalogue upon application* JAMES L. PATTERSON, Head Master. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rt. Rev. Ozi W. Whitaker, D.D., Prmdmt. Samuel F. Houston, Vice-President. George Woodward, Secretary and Treasurer. JAMES M. BECK. WALTON CLARK. DR. HOWARD A. KELLY. JACOB 8. DISSTON. . FRANCIS D. LEWIS. EDGAR DUDLEY PARIES. RANDAL MORGAN. FRANCIS I. GOWEN. H. GORDON MCCOUCH. J. LEVERING JONES. JAMES R. SHEFFIELD. i> ^ 144 FOREST LEAVES. Know Andorra's Trees? If Not— Why Not? SPRING PLANTING DAYS ARE HERE ! BETTER GET ACaUAINTED ! ! OIME ITEM-OUR PIIV OAKS. Andorra's Pin Oaks have given all purchasers absolute satisfaction. The reason is not hard to find — they have the quality — roots and vitality The Pin Oak presents points which readily distinguish it from all others, and it is undoubtedly the most valuable for all practical purposes. The dense finely divided foliage is a beautiful shining green through the Summer months, and colors to sparkling red and yellow in the Fall. The Pin Oak is easily transplanted, and is the quickest growing of all the Oaks. As an avenue or lawn tree it is unequalled. The Pin Oak thrives in all sections, in all soils and situations,: =Try Andorra's stock. EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN. OUR BOOKLET "MORE SPECIALTIES:' 3d EDITION. DESCRIBES THESE AND MANY OTHERS. ' SPECIAL OFFER. REMEMBER! EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN! #; »« « f* T u 1- J ^^^^ P*'" ^° Per loo o to 7 ft. Low-branched «t «« »o ^ ».= 7 to 8 ft. Low-branched .... , ^. _ _ ^ I 25 10 00 70 00 8 to 9 ft. Low-branched; i^ to i^ in. cal ^ 50 13 50 12s 00 9 to 10 ft. Low-branched; i3,/ to 2 in. cal ^ 00 17 50 i« 00 10 to 12 ft. Low-branched ; 2 to 2;^ in. cal ^ ^^ ,^ ^^^ ^^ 10 to 12 ft. 2^ to 3 in. . . ^ ^ , , ^ 3 50 30 00 275 00 Extra-heavy Specimens $3 50 to 10 00 Send for SPRING PlIICE L,IST. ANDORRA NURSERIES, WM. WARNER HARPER, Prop. Box F, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA, PA. Vol. XI. Philadelphia, August, 1908. No. 10. Published Bi-Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY- ASSOCIATION, Z012 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as second class matter. CONTENTS. Editorial i45 Narrative of the Chambersburg Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, ^4° Words of Welcome by the Hon. Robert S. Conkliu, Commis- sioner of Forestry '4° Words of Welcome by the Hon. Samuel G. Dixon, Commissioner of Health "49 Forestry in Pennsylvania (Presidential Address) 151 Chestnut Culture 'S^ Shrinkage of Wood when Dried 158 Forestry on the Girard Estate 158 Subscription, $x.oo per Year. The attention 0/ Nurserymen and others is called to the advantages ^Forest Leaves as an advertising tnediutn. Rates will be fur- nished on application. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Founded in June, 1886, Labors to disseminate information in regard to the necessity and methods of forest culture and preservation, and to secure the enact- ment and enforcement of proper forest protective laws, both State and National. Annual ntemher ship fee. Two dollars. Life tnetndership, Twenty-five dollars. Neither the membership nor the work of this Association is intended to be limited to the State of Pennsylvania. Persons desiring to become members should send their names to the Chairman of the Membership Committee, 1013 Walnut Street, Phila. President, John Birkinbine. Vice-Presidents, Wm. 8. Harvey, James C. Haydon, Albert Lewis, Richard Wood. General Secretary, Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. Recording Secretary, F. L. Bitler. Treasurer, Charles E. Pancoast. Council- at- Large, Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Hon. Robert S. Conklin, Samuel L. Smedley. Finance, W. S. Harvey, Chairman ; Dr. Henry M. Fisher, W. W. Frazler, Charles E. Pancoast, and J. Rodman Paul. Membership, Albert B. Weimer, Chairman ; Mrs. George F. Baer, Edwin Swift Balch, Robert S. Conklin, Hon. Lucien W. Doty, Dr. J. T. Rothrock, W.W. Scranton, Dr. Samuel Wolfe, and Hon. S. P. Wolverton. Law, Hon. W, N. Ashman, Chairman; Henry Budd, and John A. Siner. Publication, John Birkinbine, Chairman ; F. L. Bitler, S. B. Elliott, Alfred S. Haines, Alfred Paschall, and Harrison Souder. IVork, Mrs. Brinton Coxe. Chairman ; Mrs. George T. Heston, William S. Kirk, J. Franklin Meehan, and Abraham S. Schropp. County Organization, 'SzmxxcX Marshall, Chairman; Eugene Ellicott, Jamet C. Haydon, Dr. J. Newton Hunsberger, and Richard Wood. OVFICB OF THE ASSOCIATION, lOia WaLNUT St., PHILADELPHIA. EDITORIAL. 7^ T no time has the movement to protect and h\ preserve our forests had so many friends as at present, and the number of well- wishers may be expected to increase. The President of the United States is an earnest advocate of forest protection, and Congress has acted favorably upon some of the recommenda- tions demanding appropriations. In Pennsylvania Governor Stuart expressed himself as believing that one-fifth of the area of the State should be maintained in forest reserves, and the legislature has been liberal in providing funds to purchase reserves, maintain the Forest Academy, and en- large sanatoria in the reserves. Governors of other States at the late conference in Washington expressed a determination to enlist their people in the cause of forest preservation. Membership in State and national forestry asso- ciations is increasing, and with few exceptions the newspapers and periodicals of the country give space to discussions of features of forest protection. Arbor Days are recognized in many States, and education now embraces some forestal studies. We are delighted to chronicle these favorable conditions, but at the risk of appearing pessimistic we venture the assertion that now is the time for watchfulness on the part of the friends of forestry. The expenditures of large sums of money invite attention of those anxious to profit by its disburse- ment ; the salaried positions, which the adminis- tration and care of forest reserves require, are in- ducements for men to seek these for the compen- sation, and not because of knowledge or even interest in forest culture or care, and the popu- larity of the cause may encourage bureaucratic administration which will be more serviceable to coteries of officials than to the cause of true for- estry. Such influences have damaged other good efforts, and we should be alert to see that forestry does not suffer from these. ; >^ i 146 FOREST LEAVES. The acquisition of forest reserves and their care require generous appropriations, but these will be merely investments, from which profitable returns will be assured if good business policies control the actions of those upon whom the responsibility rests. But the existence and maintenance of forest reserves is, in most portions of the country, a com- paratively new departure, which has obtained popular support after years of persistent urgency on the part of those who, appreciating future con- ditions, have been active in exploiting the forestry movement as a necessary conservation of a resource of primary importance, and the wisdom of this course will be decided from the results obtained. Under capable and conscientious management forest reserves may be made a source of profit to the States or nation, but the reverse may follow if incompetents secure positions of authority, or if those in charge can consider their appointment as made for political reasons or primarily to secure places on the pay rolls. Practical, not academic, forestry is what is required, and not all who quote ' * Woodman spare that tree ' ' may be considered as of assistance in the development of forestry. ^^ J. B. Narrative of the Chambersburg Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. THE Chambersburg Meeting of the Pennsyl- vania Forestry Association will prove a pleasant memory to all who had the good fortune to participate, for the exhibition of the practical side of forestry was a revelation to most of those present, and the advances made by the State was the cause of general satisfaction. A heavy storm on the evening of June 9, which delayed the assembling of members for the open- ing session in beautiful Thomson Hall, placed at the disposal of the Association by the Board of Trustees of Wilson College for Women, was the only sign of unfavorable weather. The succeed- ing days were delightful, and the storm served a good purpose in demonstrating ocularly the in- fluence of forest cover in preventing erosion, for while the streams in the open country were dis- colored by soil washing, those in the woodland were clear. President M. H. Reaser welcomed the Associa- tion to the College, and Attorney J. D. Ludwig spoke on behalf of the Borough of Chambersburg, I and during the entire meeting performed in the most acceptable manner the duties of a Local Committee. Hon. Robert S. Conklin read the following letter from Governor Stuart : Harrisburg, June 8, 1908. Honorable John Birkinbine, Hotel Washington, Chambersburg, Pa. Afy Dear Sir : Referring to your favor of re- cent date, inviting me to attend the meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association at Cham- bersburg, on June 9-1 r, 1908, I regret very much to be compelled to say that, owing to im- portant engagements for the dates mentioned which cannot be postponed, I am reluctantly compelled to forego the pleasure of being with you. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association is to be congratulated for its valuable work in furthering the forestry cause in Pennsylvania. I am in- formed that no State except the State of New York surpasses Pennsylvania in area of forestry reserves, and that no State equals Pennsylvania in the matter of forestry administration. Pennsyl- vania is now conducting the forestry movement in a comprehensive and practical way. Her Forestry Academy for educating trained foresters for the work upon the forestry reserves and the State's tree nurseries attracted wide attention. I most cordially commend and indorse the work of your Association, and hope that its future will prove as valuable as has its past. Thanking you for your thoughtful and generous courtesy in inviting me to attend your meeting, I am, Very truly yours, . Edwin S. Stuart. President Birkinbine' s address, which appears in our columns, described what the United States had done in securing forest reserves, and com- pared the result with the records of other coun- tries ; following the same course as to different States he demonstrated the advanced position which Pennsylvania claims in practical efforts for forest reform. The next speaker, Mr. S. B. Elliott, of the State Forestry Reservation Commission, ably and convincingly discussed '* What Constitutes Prac- tical Forestry," the last speaker of the evening being Mr. Alfred Gaskill, Forester and Secretary Forest Park Reservation Commission of New Jersey, who presented the subject of '*A Paid State Fire Service." On Wednesday, June 10, the special cars as- signed by courtesy of the Cumberland Valley Railroad to the Association were run into Mont Alto Park, where students of the Forest Academy mounted on horses awaited the party, and after a short drill dismounted and served as guides. Hon. Robert S. Conklin, Commissioner of Forestry, welcomed the Association and made a brief address, which will be found in another }^f FOREST LEAVES. 147 column. Under the guidance of the Forestry Reservation Commissioners, Messrs. Conklin, Elliott, Rothrock and Miss Dock, Director Wirt, his professors and students, the nurseries were in- spected and the salient features of the work done at Mont Alto explained. So much interest was shown in the three million seedlings of pine, spruce, walnut, etc., the new dormitory and its class-rooms, where the work of the students was exhibited, that a call to luncheon was necessary to bring the scattered party together. While comfortably enjoying this mid-day meal an orchestra composed of students of the Forest Academy enlivened the occasion with music. Mr. W. S. Harvey offered a resolution which was unanimously passed commending Governor Edwin S. Stuart for reappointing Hon. Robert S. Conklin and Dr. J. T. Rothrock as members of the Forestry Reservation Commission, and respectfully recom- mending similar action in the cases of the other members whose commissions will soon expire. The President was requested to present this to the Governor. After lunch carriages con- veyed the party three miles up the mountain to the Pennsylvania State South Mountain Sana- torium for Tuberculosis, where Dr. Samuel G. Dixon, Commissioner of Health, welcomed the visitors and described the Sanatorium and its work. Dr. Dixon's audience consisted of the members of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, 140 patients of the Sanatorium, and others who were attracted to the grove. His remarks appear in another column. Then Dr. Dixon, assisted by Drs. Addison Rothrock and Geo. H. Fox, escorted the visitors through the older portion of the Sanitorium, ending in the newer section where 40 cottages are being built together with open air pavilions and dining-hall, which, when completed, will enable the Camp to accommodate in the new portion over 300 patients. The two illustrations in this issue show forest views in the Mont Alto Section of the South Mountain Reserve, and are furnished through the courtesy of the Forestry Department. Returning to Chambersburg in the evening, a second session was held in Thomson Hall. Prof. F. W. Besley, State Forester of Maryland, spoke on ** Woodlot Forestry " and the important place it should occupy. Mr. Wm. S. Harvey, Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association and President of the Philadelphia Commercial Museum, made an address on the ** Desirability of Forest Re- serves in the Eastern Portion of the Continent," presenting a strong plea for the proposed Southern Appalachian and White Mountain forest reserves. Prof. H. A. Surface, Economic Zoologist of Pennsylvania, closed the session with an illus- trated address on the ** Insect Enemies of the Forest and Methods of Their Control, ' ' mention- ing some of the numerous pests which prey on the forests, and the best means of destroying them. On Thursday morning special trolley cars con- veyed the members to Caledonia Park, where a third session was held in the pavilion. Prof. W. J. Green, Chief of Department of Forestry of the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station read a paper on ' ' Co-operative Forestry, ' ' describing the methods pursued in Ohio. Mr. Irvin P. Williams, Deputy Commissioner of Forestry, read a paper prepared by Mr. C. K. Sober, of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, entitled, ''Chestnut Culture," showing the excel- lent results which he has attained in the profitable culture of the chestnut tree. Mr. Farley Gannett, Engineer of the Water Supply Commission of Pennsylvania, spoke on '' What Stream Gagings Indicate as to the Run- off from Forested and Barren Areas," showing the influence of forests on the flow of streams, and the mitigation of floods and droughts. The following resolution was offered by Mr. Joseph Johnson and unanimously carried : Resolved^ That the thanks of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association are tendered for the various courtesies received during the Chambersburg meeting. It appreciates the cordial official wel- come from the Borough authorities, the generous tender of the beautiful Thomson Hall of Wilson College by the Board of Trustees, and the cordial expression of good will by its President. '* The excellent provision for entertainment and profitable enjoyment and the generous hospitality of the Forestry Reservation Commission, the Director of the Forest Academy, and its faculty and student corps. The provision made by the Commissioner of Health to exhibit the practical utilization of our forest reserves for the good of our fellows. ''The Association also records its hearty approval of forest reservations and their utilization, which have been exhibited to its inspection, and ex- presses the hope that the encouragement given by the late conference at Washington which caused the governors of several States to announce their intention to appoint forest commissions, will also cause them to study the legislation and adminis- tration which has made forestry a success in Penn- sylvania." A feature of the sessions was the presentation of the oldest resident of the vicinity, who, as a young man, was associated with the Caledonia 3f/ 148 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 149 property when it was operated by the late Thad- deus Stevens, and was followed by an infant from the Mont Alto reservation who wore an Associa- tion badge. The members then visited nearby portions of the Caledonia reserve, including the Park, the small Nursery, and enjoyed the luncheon which was served at the Graffenburg Inn. Most of the party left to take the afternoon trains to their homes, but those who remained planted 15 white pine trees, which were duly named. Words of Welcome by the Hon. Robert S. Conklin, Commissioner of Forestry. Mr. President, and Members of the Pennsyl- vania Forestry Association : — It is a pleasure to welcome you to one of the most important re- serves belonging to the Commonwealth, not only because of your interest in the work of forest res- toration, but because it was through the efforts of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association that State forest reserves were made possible. You have all given much of your time and con- tributed liberally of your means in furthering the cause of forestry, and your early efforts did not bring much encouragement from those in official position. However, you did not become dis- couraged, but exerted additional effort to obtain State recognition, knowing full well that the per- petuity of the State demanded that the State itself take up the work of reforesting its bared hillsides sooner or later, and the sooner the better. Finally, in 1893, the Legislature passed, and Governor Pattison approved, an Act authorizing the appointment of a Commission to investigate and report upon the watersheds of the State and their timber conditions. This was practically the entering wedge which compelled State recogni- tion. In 1895 a Department of Agriculture was created, one of its divisions being devoted to Forestry, but under this Act no authority was given to acquire lands. However, in the session of 1897, authority was provided whereby the Commissioner of Forestry could acquire lands by purchasing at tax sales such lands as he considered desirable, but at a price not in excess of the taxes and costs. In this manner the State acquired 2 1,2 80 acres 48 perches of forest reserves. In 1899 an Amendment was secured to the Act of 1897 authorizing the purchase of other lands than those offered at tax sales, provided the price paid should not exceed the assessed value, and provided further that this value should not exceed five dollars per acre. This was an advance over the original Act, but still not what was required. Under these two Acts no large areas could be acquired, but in 1901 a Department of Forestry was created, and authority granted to purchase any lands at a price not in excess of $5.00 per acre. After the first Act recognizing the fact that forest restoration must be undertaken by the State^ the Legislature freely granted all that was asked by those in charge of the State's Forestry work. All this occurred during a period of eight years and was the result of work done by the Pennsyl- vania Forestry Association. Your General Sec- retary was untiring in his efforts during the years prior to 1893. He traversed the State from end to end, meeting the people and educating them to think rightly upon the subject. He gave in- numerable lectures illustrated by photographic views, by means of which the truths relating to- Pennsylvania's forestal conditions were unanswer- ably presented. As the first Commissioner of Forestry, he laid the broad foundation upon which the Department of Forestry stands to-day, shaped its policy and mapped its course, so that it remains as planned, with a businesslike admin- istration of its affairs. In all his efforts he was most ably seconded by the officers and members of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, who at all times readily and willingly rendered aid, both in times of fair sailing and in greater stress of weather. To-day the State's Forest Reserves aggregate nearly 800,000 acres, and we have about 75,000 acres under contract. For these reasons I congratulate the Association that it is able to meet here under favorable auspices after 22 years of continuous effort, to see and examine the full fruition of its purpose. You are welcome to the reserve and all its privileges,, and may you enjoy them to the fullest degree. The presence of Messrs. Conklin, Elliott, Roth- rock, and Miss Dock of the Pennsylvania Forestry Reservation Commission throughout the Cham- bersburg Meeting was greatly appreciated, as a recognition of the Pennsylvania Forestry Associa- tion, and their individual efforts to add to the comfort and assist in giving information to the visitors helped to make the meeting successful. We are sure that other members of the Com- mission will join us in special thanks to Miss Mira L. Dock, whose thoughtfulness and energy were constantly in evidence. Words of ^Velcome by Hon. Samuel G. Dixon, Commissioner of Health. Members of the Pennsylvania Forestry Associa- Hon : — This is a pleasing occasion to me, for it demonstrates the harmonious working of two great Departments of the Commonwealth in conserving the interest of the people. Too frequently specialists do not see very far beyond their own particular line of work. This, however, was not the case with Dr. J. T. Roth- rock, who had a broad and varied education, both in medicine and botany. Thus grounded, when he became Commissioner of Forestry he conceived tha idea of utilizing State property not only for the preservation of the mountain streams and the trees, but also for the relief of those suffering from tuberculosis. Notwithstanding his onerous duties in educating the people to appreciate the neces- sity of preserving and cultivating the forests, he solicited and secured a State appropriation to establish the first free State Sanatorium in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was a small camp, but so successful that it convinced the peo- ple that his plan to use a State forestry reservation for tuberculous patients was an economic and feasible one, and that South Mountain was a wise selection, as he demonstrated by the good results obtained in treating incipient cases of tuberculosis. After the State had realized the necessity of creating a Department of Health, Dr. Rothrock and the Commissioner of Forestry, Mr. Conklin, suggested placing the camp for tuberculosis under the care of the Commissioner of Health, believing that the newly organized Department with all its machinery for general sanitary medicine could better conduct the work. One of my first acts when made Commissioner was to have the Advi- sory Board of the State Department of Health place tuberculosis on the list of communicable dis- eases, that we might as soon as possible learn how much we had in our State, where the cases were located, and thus be better able to make the fight against one of man's greatest enemies. The Republican platform pledged the party to put into practice what members of the Pennsyl- vania Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis had long advocated — namely, an adequate system of State aid for indigent tuberculous patients. On the election of our good Governor, Edwin S. Stuart, the realization of this plan was assured. With the approval of Governor Stuart, a scheme was formulated to provide for the curable cases where conditions would permit them going to a sanatorium, and a dispensary in every county for those who could not leave their homes, and also an infirmary for the incurable cases, so that these might be removed to comfortable quarters where they would not be a menace to the health of their families and the general public. This plan met with an enthusiastic reception by the legislators, who made its success possible by a generous appro- priation. The work was then placed in charge of the De- partment of Health. Hundreds of poor tubercu- lous patients immediately made application to be admitted to the State Sanatorium, and were ur- gently supported in their plea by friends all over the State. Few had any conception of the vast amount of work involved in planning and erecting such an institution. The old camp at Mont Alto accommodated 30 persons only, and was then filled to its full capacity. The first duty of the Com- missioner of Health was to decide, after careful and continued measurements of the water flows, whether or not there was sufficient water to supply a large sanatorium, including a village for assist- ance, etc. A survey of waters and the topography of the land and of the geological formation of the proposed site was at once made. We wanted to move quickly, but we did not wish to waste any of the money appropriated for the relief of tuber- culous patients. A sewerage plant also had to be planned, the forest had to be cleared away and the stumps removed, the new cottages and all other necessary buildings had to be planned. This took time, and yet a deaf ear could not be turned to those poor people who were calling for immediate relief. By the assistance of Adjutant-General Stewart, a large number of tents were obtained, and we at once took care of as many patients as the feeding, sanitary, and other accommodations would permit. We have thus been able to care for about 140 patients while our new buildings are being erected. Our Sanatorium, as you now see it being erected, is made up of cottages for sleep- ing quarters, sun pavilions in which the patients take their rest in the open air, an infirmary, a large and commodious dining-room, bath- and toilet- houses, an adequate storehouse, an administration building, comfortable quarters for the physicians and for the other employees, an ice-house, barn, farmer's house, chicken-houses, etc. A thoroughly modern sewerage system and water supply system are being installed. The cottages, as you will see, are placed with their corners pointing to the north, south, east, and west, so that the sun shines on the two eastern sides in the mornings and on the two western sides in the afternoons. The eaves are reduced to a mini- mum, so that no shadows are cast upon the build- ing. To take the place of permanent overhang- ing eaves, large hoods are hung on rollers so that they can be drawn over the windows at an angle n V 150 FOREST LEAVES. of 45 degrees to protect the rooms during heavy storms. While the cottages are well-sunned and venti- lated they are simple and strong in construction, having fire-proof asbestos shingle roofs. The sills and steps are set up on concrete piers, so that the wood does not come in contact with the ground to rot away. The pavilions take the place of porches, for the latter would rob the cottage rooms of the air and sunlight. The dining-room is being built to accommodate 500 at one sitting, and is so planned as to readily permit of extension. The restoration to health of those in the early stage of the disease is only one portion of the work assigned to us. We must also provide a home for those in later stages, when, owing to the un- fortunate conditions of overcrowding in which the poor live, they become the greatest possible menace to their own families and the public as well. For this class we have the ground cleared and the plans made for the buildings to be constructed. . The infirmary will be at a safe distance from the cottages, of thoroughly substantial construction, provided with every comfort, where such unfor- tunates can be cared for and their suffering as- suaged during their remaining days. In so large a population as we shall have here accidents will, of course, occasionally occur, and persons will be attacked with ordinary diseases. Provision must be made for such cases, and to meet such emer- gencies it is proposed to build a small but fully equipped modern hospital. This will also be situated at a point so remote from both the cot» tages and the infirmary that there can be no risk of the conveyance of acute communicable disease from one to the other. So much for our progress. And now one word as regards the advantages which I conceive to accrue to a sanitorium for tu- berculosis from being situated in a great govern- ment forest reservation. There can be no reason- able room for doubt that a moderate altitude does insure a purity and equability of atmosphere and temperature which are important factors to enable the human economy to battle against the tubercle bacillus. This, however, is greatly abetted by an environment of forests through which the outside air is, so to speak, filtered, and which also acts as a windbreak against atmospheric commotions. The protection from outside intrusion is also a matter of considerable moment as guarding pa- tients against undue excitement, and against the intermeddling of officious friends. The opportunity for obtaining a water supply naturally pure and which can be absolutely guarded from all pollution is of great moment. In a disease whose treatment consists in so great a degree of an absolutely strict observance of a regime in the matter of diet, exercise, rest, occupa- tion, and sleep, the maintenance of discipline is an essential, and the regulations of a government hospital on a governmental reservation are more apt to be respected than those of a private institu- tion. Incidentally, I can see an advantage to accrue to our convalescents in the proximity of the School of Forestry. There will be much work in the pruning of trees, setting out of nurseries, and clearing out underbrush, which any intelligent man could da under the instruction of a trained forester, and which would give our patients an opportunity to test their strength before going back to the world to take up a permanent occupation and become again self-supporting. On the other hand, the labor thus furnished the Forestry Department will be a slight return to the State for the expenses incurred in the care of the patient. But in another way the location of the State establishment involving a plant of many thousand dollars in a reservation in a certain way is a pledge to the Forestry Department that no private interests will be allowed to encroach on the res- ervation, or deprive the State of its value in the conservation of its natural resources of timber and water. To that extent the Department will have the satisfaction of working in unison for the con- servation of the natural resources of the Common- wealth. When it comes to that question, however, and a no more important one has ever been presented to the people of this country by its sagacious and far-seeing chief magistrate, what natural resources of a Commonwealth can equal that of a healthy, vigorous population? As that wise man has.him- self declared, the health of a nation is its first asset. Therefore, I call on you who represent the effort for the conservation of our forests and water supplies to join forces with me in the effort to conserve our greatest resource — man himself — so that your labors may not be lost. Lack of space prevents publishing in this issue of Forest Leaves all of the papers pre- sented at the Chambersburg Meeting of the Penn- sylvania Forestry Association, although practically all of the space has been devoted to them and the Narrative of the Meeting. We expect in succeeding numbers to print all of the interesting articles which were prepared for this meeting. FOREST LEAVES. 151 Forestry in Pennsylvania. (Address of John Birkinbine President, at the Chambersburg Meet- ing of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association.) BY common consent forestry is considered as embracing any study of or interest in tree ^ growth, especially where the trees are nu- merous and grouped in groves or forests, and citizens have been encouraged to unite their influ- ence in behalf of forests by forming associations. This co-operation may be suggested by such busi- ness considerations as the permanence of a lumber supply, or the steadying of stream flow ; it may come from a desire to use the beneficent influence of the forest for pleasure or health-resorts, or from merely aesthetic reasons, or it may result from patriotic motives which favor conservation of our natural resources, but all co-operation is welcomed as helpful. Although forestry in theory may not include interest in individual trees, its friends ap- preciate the helpful influence resulting from the care of shade trees along streets or roads or even of ornamental trees in parks and private grounds. In the older settled portions of the United States tree growth was so common that appre- ciation of depletion or possible exhaustion of forests failed to attract attention until within the last 30 years, but we value most what is passing from us ; hence interest in the forest'-y movement to-day is largely attributable to realization that the country has been too much denuded for the public good, and that it is essential that the remaining forests be cared for and new forests propagated. In the portion of the country west of Missouri, except on the mountain ranges and on the Pacific slope, forests are valued because of their rarity, and the efl'orts to secure the growth of forests and groves, or of individual trees, by planting, are object-lessons to those of us who have always had ** trees to burn." Have you ever considered how any familiar section of the country would appear if there was no tree growth ? Imagine the Cum- berland Valley, whose scenic beauty is recognized far and wide, denuded of its trees. Forestry may be defined as the economic man- agement of trees in communities as distinct from arboriculture, which is more strictly concerned with the individual tree. Forestry looks to the conservation and utilization of the various forest products, in order that the greatest return may be obtained. It may apply to the planting of a new forest, the preservation of an old one, the reforest- ation of a mountain side, the prevention of ruthless forest destruction, the conservation of water sup- ply, the establishment of sanitorias, or the utiliza- tion of the forest products as a crop for profit. Arboriculture covers the scientific cultivation of trees, and embraces that part of horticulture which treats of the planting and cultivation of orna- mental shade and fruit trees, while the branch of forestry known as silviculture teaches how to form, tend, and regenerate forests, and dendrology may be defined as the scientific study of trees, the department of botany which treats of trees. It is not the intention to enter into a discussion of these subdivisions, nor to detail the claims of forestry, but an effort will be made to show that Pennsylvania is the leader in forest reform., sup- porting well-considered methods to preserve, pro- tect, and propagate forests. While European countries recognized the im- portance of forest protection for a century and a half, appreciation in the United States is com- paratively recent. What the Nation has Done. — Attention by the National Government to forests may be considered as commencing when Congress, in 1799, appro- priated $200,000 to purchase and reserve timber lands for the use of the Navy, supplemented by Act of 181 7 reserving 19,000 acres for this purpose. Additional legislation for the preservation of live oaks for the use of the Navy was passed between 1820 and 1830, and in 1831 an Act for the pun- ishment of timber depredations became a law. In 1872 more direct interest was shown when the Yellowstone Park was established, and in the following year a Timber Culture Act to Encourage tree growth on western prairies was passed, being amended at several succeeding sessions of Con- gress. However, the first decisive action was in 1874, when the House of Representatives ap- pointed a Committee to consider the question of establishing a National Forestry Department. In 1877 the late Dr. F. B. Hough, as Forestry Com- missioner of the Department of Agriculture, pub- lished a comprehensive report on the value of forests to the country, which was followed by supplementary reports in 1880 and 1882. In 1877 the National Land Office instituted a service of Special Agents, and abolished compro- mise for timber theft, and in 1878 Congress made an appropriation to suppress depredations of tim- ber on public lands. In 1 88 1 a Forestry Bureau was established in the Department of Agriculture, and in 1905 the ** Forest Service" was created in the same De- partment, but with increased authority, all of the various details of administration, etc., being united under it. National Reserves. — The National Forests were created by Presidential Proclamations, setting aside Government lands for forest purposes, none of the areas being purchased. All are located i li 1 ■1 A ir 1 ii 152 FOREST LEAVES. west of the Mississippi River in i6 States, and every State in that section has one or more re- serves, except Texas, North Dakota, Indian Territory, Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota. The first reserve was the Yellowstone in Mon- tana and Wyoming, created in 1891, the area being 1,239,040 acres ; in that year and the one following additional reserves were added, the total on January i, 1893, being 5,752,840 acres, or nearly 9,000 square miles, approximately equalling the area of the State of New Hampshire. For four years there were no additions, but since 1896, accessions in various years have brought the total on April 14, 1908, to 164,963,555 acres, or over 257,700 square miles, an area nearly as large as the State of Texas. There are 163 National Forests, of which four, with combined acreages of 12,087,626, are located in Alaska, the balance, 159, aggregating 152,- 875,929 acres or 238,800 square miles (say five times the area of all the New England States), are in Continental United States, the greater por- tion being along the Rocky Mountains and Cas- cade Ranges, perform important service in con- serving the water for the arid and semi-arid West. These reserves represent 8 per cent, of the Conti- nental area of the country. The United States also has a reserve of 65,950 acres in the Island of Porto Rico, and all of the forests of the Philippine Islands, officially esti- mated at 38,000,000 acres, are under Government control, being managed in a manner similar to the National Forests, and titles to these lands can pass from the Government only when they are shown to be chiefly valuable for agricultural or mining purposes. The National Forests are administered by the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, with Hon. Gifford Pinchot as Forester. The United States also has considerable areas in National Parks and National Monuments created from time to time for the preservation of objects of historic or scientific interest. The American Forestry Association, formed in 1875, was merged into the American Forestry Congress in 1882, which had been organized early in that year, and this National Association was again reorganized in 1889, taking the original name. It is now a large progressive organization, with headquarters in Washington and its own publi- cation to advance forestry and irrigation interests. The friendly relations between the National and our State Association should be cemented by the selection of one of our Vice-Presidents, Mr. W. S. Harvey, to serve as a member of the Executive Committee of the American Forestry Association. Comparison with Foreign Countries.-— Wh\\Q the extent of the National Forests above enumerated is gratifying, it will be interesting to compare their areas with the reservations in other countries. The German forestry reserves aggregate 35,- 000,000 acres, or one-fourth of the area of the German Empire, and one-sixth of the area of France (23,500,000 acres) is devoted to forest purposes. Switzerland has 2,000,000 acres, or one-fifth of its area in forests. Austria has 24,000,000 and Hungary 23,000,000 acres of reserves. In Sweden one-half of the area, or 50,000,000 acres, is in forest, and Norway has 20,000,000 acres, or one-fifth of its area under forest cover. Denmark has* 600,000 acres in forest reserve. The forests of Spain aggregate 12,000,000 and those of Portugal 80,000 acres under rigid forest laws. Italy has set aside 10,000,000 acres as reserves. It is claimed that 39 per cent, of the area of European Russia, 575,000,000 acres, is in forest, and in Siberia the reserves are estimated at 350,000,000 acres. The portion of India under British control maintains 180,000,000 acres, or one-fourth of its area in forest, and Japan claims to have 58,000,000 acres of forest, or 59 per cent, of its area. Our neighbor, Canada, adopted a system of forest reserves in 1894, and the present area of the Dominion Forest Reserves is 5,392 square miles, and of the Forest Parks 10,904 square miles. In addition, the Province of Ontario has set aside 18,325 square miles as reserves and parks, while Quebec has 165,474 square miles ot reserves, making a grand total of 200,095 square miles. Interest Shown by Various States. — Prior to any decisive action by the National Government, or by Pennsylvania, the importance of timber growth was realized in some States and Territories. In 1837 Massachusetts had a forest survey made of timber lands; in 1868 and 1869 acts for the encouragement of timber planting were passed by Iowa, Kansas, Wisconsin, and Nebraska, and later by Missouri, Minnesota, Maine, Nevada, and Illi- nois. In 1872 the Arnold Arboretum was estab- lished near Boston, Massachusetts, and a Commis- sion appointed to report on the Adirondack Park in New York. In 1874 a Bill was defeated to encourage tree culture and the appointment of a Forest Commissioner in Minnesota, but in Ne- braska interest had been so awakened that Arbor Day was instituted. This annual recognition has been continued, and most of the other States have established Arbor Days. In 1876 Amherst Agricultural College recom- mended instruction in forest culture, and the Con- stitution of the new State of Colorado recognized m n Forest Leaves, Vol. xi., No. io. Forest Leaves, Vol. xi., No. id. i: A FOREST RAVINE, MONT ALTO SECTION, SOUTH MOUNTAIN FOREST RESERVE. IN THE FOREST, MONT ALTO SECTION, SOUTH MOUNTAIN FOREST RESERVE. Ill Forest Leaves, Vol. xi., No. io. A FOREST RAVINE, MONT ALTO SECTION, SOUTH MOUNTAIN FOREST RESERVE. Forest Leaves, Vol. xi., No. io. m i IN THE FOREST, MONT ALTO SECTION, SOUTH MOUNTAIN FOREST RESERVE. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSIJRF X 3y^ FOREST LEAVES. 153 the necessity of preserving timber lands. In the year following Connecticut sent a Commissioner to Europe to report on forestry. Acts for the encouragement of timber planting were passed in Connecticut, Dakota, Wyoming, and Washington Territory, and by Iowa and Rhode Island in 1878. Interest was shown by the other States in the appointment of Arbor Days, and in 1885 New York and Colorado formed State Forestry Com- missions, and California a Board of Forestry. Forestry is now recognized as an integral part of the curriculum of leading institutions of learning. State Forest Reserves. — A number of States have forest reserves, some having merely made a beginning while others are well advanced in accu- mulating wooded areas. Maine has no definite forest reserve, but maintains ownership over one township of 20,000 acres. Massachusetts has the Mt. Tom and Greylock reservations, estab- lished for aesthetic rather than economic reserves ; Connecticut has had annual appropriations since 1903 of $1,000, and has accumulated 1,400 acres of forest reserves. New York was the pioneer in the establishment of forest reserves, and is still the leader with a total of 1,500,000 acres, most of which are in the Adirondack reserve, although over 100,000 acres are in the Catskill reserve. The Adirondack reserve originated in 1885 with the State owning over 800,000 acres, an area closely approximating that now held by Pennsylvania. The forest reserves represents about 5 per cent, of the land area of the State of New York. In New Jersey forest reserves have been provided for since 1905, and the State has now 10,000 acres, mostly in the Kittatinny Mountain. In Maryland the forestry movement was inaugurated in 1898 by a gift to which no additions were made until the present year. It has about 2,000 acres of forest reserve. Michigan is credited with a reservation, although not strictly for forest purposes, of 40,000 acres in 1876, and an additional forest reserve of 39,000 acres was made in 1904. A Commission is now endeavor- ing to secure a change of State policy in regard to these. Wisconsin, in 1903, set aside 40,000 acres of forest reserve to which in the following year 22,000 acres were added. This was increased largely in 1905, and in 1906 the Federal Congress granted 20,000 acres of vacant land to the State for forest purposes. Wisconsin has now approxi- mately 300,000 acres of what may be considered forest reserves, which, however, represents less than I per cent, of its area. Minnesota has some 31,000 acres of forest land encouraged by an initial donation and supple- mented by a Federal grant for about one -half of the area. In other States there are evidences of interest in securing reserves, and several have State Forestry Associations. Pennsylvania Forestry, — Having discussed the prominent features of forestry work undertaken by the National Government, and by States, we may turn to Pennsylvania and make record of what has been done by its governors and legis- lators, and also by association of individuals. Possibly the first record of interest in the pres- ervation of forests which affect any portion of what is now the United States is No. 18 of the con- ditions and concessions promulgated by William Penn as Proprietor and Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania in 1681, which was **That in clearing the ground, care be taken to leave one acre of trees for every five acres cleared, especially to preserve oak and mulberries for silk and shipping." With the exception of various laws concerning forest fires, whose main purpose seemed to be to prevent damage to farm, buildings, and crops, the people of the State seemed well satisfied to see its magnificent forests destroyed and paid no at- tention to the above suggestions of Penn. Realizing existing conditions, the Pennsylvania Forestry Association was formed in 1886, being, with the possible exception of Colorado, the first State organization. It started a vigorous cam- paign of education, and in July, 1886, issued the initial number of it*? official organ, Forest Leaves, which has regularly appeared since that date, and for years was the only forestry publication in the country issued at stated intervals. Prior to the establishment of its own publication. Forest Leaves also represented the American Forestry Association. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association gave numerous illustrated lectures throughout Penn- sylvania, and when the State established a Fores- try Department, this practice was and is still con- tinued. For 22 years the Pennsylvania Forestry Asso- ciation has continued the policy originally adopted, and its success may be judged by a membership of 1,600, and by the fact that its debts have been promptly paid, with a fair reserve fund invested. Without disparaging other efforts elsewhere, Penn- sylvania may justly claim to lead all other State forestry organizations in number, influence, and best of all, in results accomplished. In 1893 the Pennsylvania Legislature passed a Bill, prepared and endorsed by the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, appointing a Commission to investigate the forested lands of the State, and present a report giving detailed descriptions, loca- tion, character of trees, etc., to form a basis for a systematic and comprehensive forestry policy for Jt 154 FOREST LEAVES. the State. As a result, a Forestry Bureau was created in the Department of Agriculture in 1895, and this was made the Department of Forestry in 1 90 1. In these measures the Pennsylvania For- estry Association was active, and its Secretary, Dr. J. T. Rothrock, was called upon by the Governor to be a member of the Forestry Commission, and subsequently the Chief of the Forestry Bureau, and the first Commissioner of Forestry of Pennsyl- vania. He is now acting as Secretary for the State Forestry Reservation Commission. It is proper to note the influence exerted on forest re- form by Dr. Rothrock, who, by the Michaux course of lectures, awakened the attention of large audiences to the demands of forestry before the Pennsylvania Forestry Association was organized ; also to credit him with the initiative in utilizing the forest reserves as sanatoria, and in the forma- tion of the Forest Academy. His name has been and will continue intimately associated with all forest reform in the State as its sponsor, champion, and friend. State Reserves.— i:\i^ first purchase of land for reserves by the State of Pennsylvania was a tract of 415 acres in Clinton County at a tax sale in 1898, the total amount thus secured in that year being 19,805 acres. None were obtained in the following year, but since 1899 there has been a constant increase in the reserves, and of that sub- sequently purchased but 1,484 acres was secured at tax sales, the balance being bought in the open market wherever tracts of suitable size better fitted for forestry than other purposes were offered at reasonable prices, with satisfactory titles. The old charcoal blast-furnace tracts, such as those at Mont Alto and Caledonia, originally selected as having sufficient areas of wooded land to supply the timber necessary to produce the charcoal needed for fuel in the blast-furnaces, afforded nuclei for reserves, but owing to the difficulty of administra- tion and danger from forest fires, small tracts, un- less adjacent to reserves already secured, are not purchased. Since 1899 the reserves have been increased to 754,118 acres, or an average of over 90,000 acres (twice the size of the District of Columbia), per year. In addition to this over 100,000 acres! in the process of acquisition, will be secured bv the State. ^ The forest reserves in the State of Pennsylvania now cover an area about as large as Rhode Island. The State has made an excellent beginning, and the money spent for the reserves should be con- sidered as an investment, for the value of the lands already secured is more than double the cost, including all expenditures of whatsoever character, for administration and care. This should be an incentive to secure additional re- serves, as Pennsylvania, to maintain a proper bal- ance between forested and unforested land, should have a minimum of not less than 6,000,000 acres. In a late address Governor Stuart endorsed the desirability of increasing our forest reserves to this amount, an area about equal to that of New Hampshire or Vermont, and closely approximat- ing the recommedation made by William Penn 227 years ago. The administration of the reserves is carried out on a business basis, the State Forestry Reser- vation Commission having authority to utilize them in any way which will best serve the in- terests of forestry. This is in contradistinction to legislation in some other States, which practi- cally prohibit all utilization. Nurseries have also been established and are rnaintained so that suitable seedlings for reforesta- tion ^vill be available at a minimum cost. The greater portion of the wooded lands in the State, or of those which have been cut over, are in the hands of private parties, but with some notable exceptions little has been done in private forestry, due to forest fires and taxation. During the life of the Association many changes have been recom- mended in forest fire laws, and these have been improved so that under the present progressive administration, which has also demonstrated prac- tical methods of extinguishment, the losses from this source in the State have been reduced from $834,000 in 1900 to $70,000 in 1906. If fires started by sparks from locomotives were promptly extinguished by track gangs, and if public senti- ment demanded that all persons responsible for forest fires be promptly and energetically prose- cuted and punished, still better results would be secured. As the laws of the State now stand owners of woodlands are encouraged by the rate of taxation to remove the timber to secure revenue, and many are unable to have them reforested. On farm land the growing crops are not assessed, and if the same policy were pursued as to timber land, property now wooded and other that is denuded would support forests. At the last legislature an effort was made to have lands which are timbered, or in the process of reforestation, placed in a separate class as *' auxiliary fbrests," under the supervision of the Department of Forestry, with proper restrictions, and be taxed at a nominal rate per acre. Then when the timber is cut an additional tax was provided for. If the wooded areas of Pennsylvania are to be retained some equitable tax law must be enacted. In 1895 a member of the State Forestry Com- mission stated in the official report that if all the 7^7 FOREST LEAVES. 155 waste lands were put in timber and the fires kept out, in 50 years the State would have a timber crop worth $ i, 500,000,000, and then if one-fiftieth is cut each year, or the amount which would be reproduced, there would be an annual crop of $30,000,000. Without allowance for capital in- vested this would be sufficient to defray all the expenses of the State government, and while the State would gather a regular income, a valuable industry (viz., lumber) would be preserved, the severity of floods and droughts decreased, good water supply maintained, a smaller outlay would be needed for preserving the channels of navi- gable streams, water powers would be made more valuable, outing places and locations for sanitoria would be available for the public and game and fish would increase. As stated above, practically all of the Pennsyl- • vania forest reserves have been obtained by actual purchases from the owners, and, including the land now in process of acquisition, Pennsylvania has purchased outright as much woodland as New York, nearly one-half of the reserves of the Em- pire State having been secured at tax sales. None of the large National forests have been purchased, ceded public lands being declared reserves by Presidential proclamation. Wisconsin is the only other State having important reserves ; but they were secured by transfer of public State and National lands, or by gift, and with a small ex- ception the same is true of Minnesota. The greater part of Maryland's reserve was secured through gifts to the State. We may be proud of Pennsylvania's record in forest preservation for the last 15 years, and especially for the decade closing with the present year, during which it has accumulated, by actual . purchase, more than three-quarters of a million acres of land, which are being administered in a practical conservative manner. In addition to the amount paid for these lands, $1,680,000, or about $2.25 per acre, there has been expended for maintenance, including care, protection, sala- ries, special examinations, a total of $460,000 ; for extinguishing fires, $69,000 ; for road and school taxes, $93,000 ; and for the Forest Acad- ^rny, $39,000. The total which these three- quarters of a million acres have cost the State, in- cluding, with the above, contingencies and other expenses, is $2,345,400, or about $3.00 per acre, and Mr. Robert S. Conklin, the efficient Com- . missioner of Forestry, estimates that to-day these are conservatively worth $5,000,000. This rec- ord is not equalled by any State, nor can the National Government make a better showing for i its forest reserves, although these were not pur- chased but merely set aside. The Forest Academy, maintained by the State, is a unique institution, there being no other of this class, and its advantages will . be increased from year to year. In addition to the Forest Academy, the State College has established a Forestry Department, and the Summer Forest School of Yale University is located at Milford, while some of our High Schools give instruction in forestry, and Arbor Day celebrations by Proc- lamation of the Governor each Spring, and by the announcement of the Superintendent of Public Instruction each Fall, show that forest education is not neglected. The establishment of sanitoria for the care of citizens suffering from tuberculosis has also de- veloped a valuable feature of the forest reserves, recognized by the appropriation by the State of $600,000 for the years 1907-1908, and it maybe expected that under the care of the Department of Health the number and efficiency of these will increase. An attempt has been made to show in a general way what has been accomplished by our National Government, by some of the States, and by Penn- sylvania. Much might be added if we treat of the administration of National and State forests and the close relation of the former to reclama- tion projects, but the purpose has been to discuss the reserves held by the National Government and compare them with those which exist in for- eign countries, also to compare numerous State reserves. It is not claimed that the data concerning the various States is complete, but it is sufficient to show Pennsylvania's position as a leader in the forestry movement. Each can judge for himself and herself what the State has accomplished, and if the statements made serve as an encourage- ment to secure additional forest reserves and united support of the Forestry Reservation Com- mission in its efforts in behalf of the forests of Pennsylvania I shall be more than gratified. The disease threatening wide destruction of white pine trees in this State resembles, so far as its characters are reported, the Denmark ** Needle- blight of the White Pine," caused by a fungus, Hypoderma strobicola {Rostr.). ** It is a dan- gerous parasite, kills the needles and young shoots, and may devastate whole forests. The diseased needles become brown and fall off during next winter. " No effective treatment has been suggested, and until careful study has been made of the diseased trees, it is impossible so say that the trouble is due to the cause indicated. We may only say it resembles it. !l i| H ^|H ( I. ) i % I' ii 1 vfl ^rf l5?^ FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 157 Chestnut Culture. (Read at the Chambersburg Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association.) ABOUT twelve years ago I began a series of experiments with the Paragon Chestnut on a tract of nearly four hundred acres of waste mountain land. The marketable timber had been removed from the land, which was covered with a second growth of chestnut and oak. This land, a part of my farm, is situated in Irish Valley, six miles from Shamokin, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The land was very rocky in many places, and most of it when cleared of its valuable timber was of no value for agricultural purposes, and if it had been sold, perhaps not over fifty cents to one dollar per acre could have been ob- tained for it. Being inexperienced in the practical methods of chestnut culture, I, naturally, in the course of ex- periments conducted the first two or three years, made numerous mistakes. These errors of com- mission and omission I profited by, and am pleased to-day to be in a position to demonstrate beyond all question that waste mountain land can be re- claimed by chestnut culture, and, furthermore, suitable lands thus utilized can be made to produce handsome money revenues. Trees on my premises two years old have yielded three and one-half quarts of nuts ; some at six years have produced six quarts per tree in a year, and from trees of twelve years' growth a crop of twenty-four quarts of nuts have been harvested from a single tree in one season. Trees twenty- five years old should yield, under favorable condi- tions, at least four bushels of nuts in a year. There are probably ninety thousand grafted trees, from two to twelve years old, on my four hundred acres of so-called ** waste land." As these trees continue to mature the yield will steadily increase. The sprouts upon which these chestnuts have been grafted were the shoots that surrounded the stumps of trees that had been cut for telephone poles, posts, and lumber. Preliminary IVork.— The work of clearing on the mountain side was first begun. Fallen tree- tops, brush, decaying logs, and other debris which were left by the axemen were removed and burned. Roads and lanes were carefully prepared in order that prospective chestnut graves should not be de- stroyed by fire ; the passage-ways were from ten to twenty feet in width. One year after the land was cleared the new sprouts from the stumps had reached the height of from four to six feet, a proper size for the grafting. Early in May these young sprouts were grafted with scions of the Paragon Chestnut, care being taken to select the most healthy native sprouts. From four to six sprouts about one stump were grafted with the intention of ultimately sparing the most vigorous. It is usually best to preserve in the final clearing of stumps the sprout which started lowest down on the stump, or which pro- trudes from beneath the surface of the ground. The ungrafted sprouts remaining on the stump were allowed to stand one year as a wind shield to protect the grafts from being blown off in case they grew. If none of the grafts grew then the following season the remaining sprouts could be grafted. Two or three times during the summer the sprout was cleared of all buds and shoots (suckers) starting to grow below the point of juncture with the graft. If this was neglected, the new graft, robbed of its strength, would either die or not survive the first winter. By this means I secured a vigorous stand of healthy young chestnut trees, pushed on by a strong root-system. The trees do not stand in rows but in groves just as they grew originally in the forest.' Wherever vacancies occurred we planted seedling trees, previously grafted, and if the grafted trees stood too thick they were care- fully thinned out and the most thrifty allowed to grow. This weeding or thinning process of trees must be continued for several years in order that the trees shall be distributed over the ground uni- formly or at proper distances apart. In grafting chestnuts it is more difficult to se- cure successful results than in grafting the apple or stone fruits ; greater care is required to set the graft and wax it. Any ordinary laboring man who is painstaking can readily be taught to do this work. All waxing must be done with the hand and not by applying it with the aid of the brush. I use the *'whip" or '* tongue" graft, as it gives a more perfect union between the sprout and the scion. The scion that I use varies in diameter from one-fourth of an inch up to one-halt of an inch or even larger. One bud is left on each scion. These scions are cut during the winter months, and they are kept in metal cases in an ice-house with a temperature of thirty-six degrees or less. By this method of storing the scions can be kept dormant for one year. In May, earlier or later, when the sap is pushing forth the buds of the sprouts, the grafting is begun, and it can be continued until as late as the middle of June, providing the scions are properly preserved in a dormant state. I am at this date, June 8, 1908, grafting chestnuts at my farm. Great care must be taken to keep the scions from drying out in the sun or wind during the grafting process. When the scions are set in the sprouts they require to be carefully capped with wax at the tops, and also must be well waxed at the point of juncture with the sprout. The second year gave the young trees a better chance for growth, because the ground was then cleared of weeds and underbrush. A gang of fifteen or twenty laborers are kept busy at this work all the year, going over the ground twice during the summer. In the third year, as soon as the trees were tall enough to be beyond danger or damage from browsing, five hundred sheep were introduced. When the trees grew larger cattle followed the sheep. Swine can be used to good advantage in clearing up the groves. Fire and Insect Pests. — Danger from fire is a continual menace to chestnut culture until the trees have attained a ten or twelve years' growth, and the ground on which they grow is divested of all underbrush and debris and becomes pasture land. To combat insect pests in the chestnut grove much trouble and expense was experienced. Do- mesticated fowls, such as guineas, chickens, and turkeys, were liberated in the grove. Guineas proved to be the most useful of all in this work ; tur- keys destroyed many insects, but their wandering propensities are such that they will leave the premises. Chickens consume numerous forms of insect-life, but their timidity and domestic habits are such that their work was not satisfactory. In the summer of 1906 the seventeen -year locust appeared in great numbers in my groves. Chickens as well as other barnyard fowls consumed great quantities of these pests. Numerous species of native birds also fed upon the locust. The much- abused English sparrow was one of the most prominent naturalized birds in destroying the locust. Insect pests, especially the weevil and bur worms, are a source of great annoyance. The subject of combating these pests has been care- fully studied on my premises. Assisted by Prof. N. F. Davis, Zoologist of Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, we have devised means which we believe will be successful in controlling these enemies. The weevil is more easy to handle than the bur worms. In the month of September the weevil deposits its rggs in the chesnuts, and by the time the chestnuts have matured the eggs have developed into the well-known chestnut worm, which soon cuts its way through the nut and burrows in the ground. All wormv and de- fective nuts should be removed as soon as possible from the groves and fed to hogs or destroyed. There are two distinct species of bur worms, and Prof. Davis has worked out their life histories. We discovered one which is new to science, and Prof. Davis called it Holcocera Soberii. This bur worm makes a cocoon in the bur or among the leaves or grasses in the groves. We found that the best means of destroying it was to clear away and burn all burs, leaves, grasses, and weeds. The other bur worm, which has not as yet received a scientific name, has habits similar to Soberii. Cleanliness is one of the greatest aids in ridding the premises of the weevil, bur worms, and other insect foes which inhabit the grove. All burs, leaves, weeds and rubbish whirh collect in the grove should be collected and burned as soon as the nuts are harvested. Harvest time at the Chest- nut Grove Farm comes about the first week in October, at which time the burs have turned a golden brown, and they fall or are shaken from the trees and the nuts are gathered. The chest- nuts are harvested by men or boys who wear stout buckskin gloves for protection in removing them from the burs. The Paragon Chestnut differs from all known chestnuts by retaining most of the nuts in the bur when ripe. In my opinion this is one of the good qualities of the Paragon Chestnut, for the reason that by this retention the nuts are not so likely to be lost among the leaves, brush, and rocks. The chestnuts which have been defaced by the working of bur worms are separated, and the best of them will answer for planting. They should not be mixed with nuts sold, as they are more or less defective. The ordinary wild chest- nut of commerce is a small and insignificant affair. The Paragon averages much larger. A quart of Paragon Chestnuts will usually average about forty- eight nuts. Chestnuts of this variety as large as a fifty cent piece are common, and some that will cover a silver dollar can readily be secured. My groves are fairly started, and the crop of several hundred bushels per year is but an index of what is to be expected when the yield shall be measured by thousands of bushels. In the year 1907 I was fortunate to have a good crop, which I sold at an average price of over six dollars per bushel f.o.b. Paxinos, Pa. (the shipping-point from my farm). The demand for my chestnuts in 1907 was so great that I was obliged to refuse orders for several car loads to Seattle, Wash., Chicago, and several other western and eastern cities. From present indications I would estimate that my crop this season will be fully three thous- and bushels of chestnuts, and I could readily book orders for three times this quantity if I could fur- nish them. There has been such a demand for young trees that Glen Brothers, Nurserymen, of Rochester, N. Y. , have become interested, and are now the ex- clusive sales agents for these grafted Sober Para- gon Chestnut trees. I have thousands of young trees grafted. This spring alone fully thirty thousand trees were grafted ; I planted this year over one hundred bushels of the choicest nuts in nursery rows, and next year I will have over one hundred and fifty (V r 158 FOREST LEAVES. thousand two-year-old seedling trees ready for grafting. When seedlings are two years old they are grafted with scions from my choicest trees and are ready for market after one season's growth. Prejudice and ignorance are among the factors which keep many from attempting the cultivation of the chestnut, but with the advent of such a valu- able and meritorious variety as the Sober Paragon, the American people will soon learn the value of these nuts. Chestnut culture in the United States is in its infancy, but the demand for the larger nuts has stimulated their production, and we predict that the Sober Paragon, the only sweet large chest- nut, will become the most widely planted tree of all and most prized for orchard planting, and for profit its possibilities are unlimited. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the North to the South, its hardiness and adaptability to different climates insures entire satisfaction. In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, permit me to cor- dially extend to all who are interested in chestnut culture, an invitation to visit my groves in Irish Valley. The place can be reached by either P. & R. R. R. or P. R. R. system from Paxinos or Shamokin stations. Coleman K. Sober. Shrinkage of Wood when Dried. TNTERESTING experiments on the shrinkage J^ of wood due to the loss of moisture have re- cently been completed by the Forest Service at its timbei testing station at Yale University. These experiments show that green wood does not shrink at all in drying until the amount of moisture in it has been reduced to about one- third of the dry weight of the wood. From this point on to the absolutely dry condition, the shrinkage in the area of cross-section of the wood is directly proportional to the amount of moisture removed. The shrinkage of wood in a direction parallel to the grain is very small ; so small in comparison with the shrinkage at right angles to the grain, that in computing the total shrinkage in volume, longitudinal shrinkage may be neglected entirely. The volumetric shrinkage varies with different woods, being about 26 per cent, of the dry volume for the species of eucalyptus known as blue gum, and only about 7 per cent, for red cedar. For hickory, the shrinkage is about 20 per cent, of the dry volume, and for long leaf pine about 15 per cent. . In the usual air dry condition, from 12 to 15 per cent, of moisture still remains in the wood, so that the shrinkage from the green condition to the air dry condition is only a trifle over half of that from the green to the absolutely dry state. Forestry on the Girard Estate. IN the Thirty -eighth Annual Report of the Board of Directors of City Trusts of the City of Philadelphia for the year 1907, ref- erence is made to the forest plantations on the Girard Estate. Of the 1200 Norway spruce, white 'pine and Scotch pine planted in 1906 for a wind-break to protect the house at Reservoir No. 4 from the winds and severe cold to which that locality is exposed, 800 failed to grow because of the ex- treme drouth of the early spring and summer of that year. These were replanted in April, 1907. The season of that year was more favorable, and 75 per cent, of the trees planted took root and maintained themselves throughout the year. Two hundred acres of young timber of two years' growth on the Edward Lynch tract, outside of the stone wall, were destroyed by fire along with 3,850 acres of young timber on the Girard Estate of one, two an.d three years' growth. These fires were all started by sparks from locomotives. Forestry work has been limited to the cutting out and burning over of fire roads to prevent the ex- tension of forest fires, and the maintenance on Sundays and holidays of a Forest Patrol of 2, 3 and 4 men authorized to make arrests, whose duty is to prevent the beginning of forest fires, to ex- tinguish them when discovered, if able to do so, and if not, to summon help for the purpose, to protect the waters in the reservoirs, streams, and on the watershed from pollution, the stone walls inclosing the watershed from being thrown down, and the lands from trespass. No forest trees were planted except the few hundred evergreens referred to above. The problem of preventing the forest fires started by locomotives and by irresponsible stragglers is of the first considera- tion in forestry. With that eliminated, the cul- tivation of a second growth of forest timber would be accomplished without difificulty. J. T. ROTHROCK, Consulting Forester. WEST CHESTER, PA. r FOREST LEAVES. 159 Biltmore Forest School, BILTMORE, N, C. 0000 The Biltmore Forest School is the only technical schoor of forestry in this country. It illustrates its teachings on a large scale, on a tract of land owned by George W. Vanderbilt, comprising 130,000 acres of forest. The complete course covers twelve consecutive months. Write for particulars, addressing C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D., Director, BILTMORE, N. C. The Pennsylvania State College Terms upon Application. FOUR YEAR COURSE IN FORESTRY. A thorough and practical undergraduate course in technical forestry — preparing men for all lines of professional and applied forestry. Special attention is paid to practical field work in surveying, mapping and forest measurements. One of the largest of the State Forest Reserves is within a short walk of the College. For information regarding entrance requirements, expenses, etc., address DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, STATE COLLEGE, PA. YalB UniVBi'^itJ FoPe^t School NEW HAVEN - - CONNECTICUT A two years* graduate course IS offered, leading to the de- gree of Master of Forestry. Graduates of collegiate institu- tions of high standing are ad- mitted upon presentation of their college diplomas. The Summer School ol Forestry is conducted at Mil- ford, Pike County, Penna. For further information address HENRY S. GRAVES, Director, NEW HAVEN, CONN. CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILA. 30 minutes from Broad St. Station. B0ARDIX6 SCHOOL FOR BOTS. Illustrated Catalogue upon applieaticn, JAMES L. PATTERSON. Head Matter. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rt. Rev. Ozi W. Whitaker, D.D., Prendent. Samuel F. Houston, Vice-President. George Woodward, Secretary and Treasurer. JAMES M. BECK. WALTON CLARK. DR. HOWARD A. KELLY. JACOB 8. DI8ST0N. FRANCIS D. LEWIS. EDGAR DUDLEY PARIES. RANDAL MORGAN. FRANCIS I. OOWEN. H. GORDON MOCOUCH. J. LEVERING JONES. JAM18 R. SHEFFIELD. 1 h '^ 160 FOREST LEAVES. Know Andorra's Trees? If Not — Why Not? FALL PLANTING DAYS ARE HERE ! BETTER GET ACttTJAINTED ! ! ONE ITEM-OUR PIN OAKS. Andorra's Pin Oaks have given all purchasers absolute satisfaction. The reason is not hard to find — they have the quality — roots and vitality The Pin Oak presents points which readily distinguish it from all others, and it is undoubtedly the most valuable for all practical purposes. The dense finely divided foliage is a beautiful shining green through the Summer months, and colors to sparkling red and yellow in the Fall. The Pin Oak is easily transplanted, and is the quickest growing of all the Oaks. As an avenue or lawn tree it is unequalled. The Pin Oak thrives in all sections, in all soils and situations, =Try Andorra's stock. EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN. OUR BOOKLET "MORE SPECIALTIES," 3d EDITION. DESCRIBES THESE AND MANY OTHERS. SPECIAL OFFER. REMEMBER! EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN! Each Per lo Per loo 6 to 7 ft. Low-branched ' $i oo $8 50 $60 00 ' 7 to 8 ft. Low-branched i 25 10 00 70 00 8 to 9 ft. Low-branched; ly^ to i^ in. cal i 50 ^3 5° 125 00 9 to 10 ft. Low-branched; i}( to 2 in. cal 2 00 17 5° ^35 00 10 to 12 ft. Low-branched; 2 to 2]4. in. cal 2 50 22 50 150 00 10 to 12 ft. 2|^ to 3 in 3 50 30 00 275 00 Extra-heavy Specimens $3 50 to 10 00 Send for FALL PRICE LIST. ANDORRA NURSERIES, < WM. WARNER HARPER, Prop. Box F, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA, PA. Vol. XI. Philadelphia, October, 1908. No. II Published Bi-Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, xoxa Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as second class matter. ^ CONTENTS. Editorial i6i Autumn Arbor Day 163 The Farm Woodlot in Pennsylvania 163 Locust Planting by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company 167 Laurel Oak, Shingle Oak. (Quercus imbricaria, Michx.) 168 Co-operative Forestry 169 A Paid State Fire Service 171 Woodlot Forestry 173 The Pocono Protective Fire Association 174 Subscription, $1.00 per Year. Th4 attention 0/ Nurserymen and others is called to the advantages ^ FoRBST Lkavbs as an advertising tnediunt. Rates will be fur- nished on application. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Founded in Junk, 1886, Labors to disseminate information in regard to the necessity and methods of forest culture and preservation, and to secure the enact- ment and enforcement of proper forest protective laws, both State and National. Annual member ship fee ^ Two dollars. Life membership, Twenty-five dollars. Neither the membership nor the work of this Association is intended to be limited to the State of Pennsylvania. Persons desiriuz to become members should send their names to the Chairman of the Membership Committee, 1012 Walnut Street, Phila. President^ John Birkinbine. Vice-Presidents, Wm. S. Harvey, James C. Haydon, Albert Lewis. Richard Wood. General Secretary ^ Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. Recording Secretary, F. L. Bitler. Treasurer, Charles E. Pancoast. Council- at- Large, Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Hon. Robert S. Conklin, Samuel L. Smedley. Finance, W. S. Harvey, Chairman ; Dr. Henry M. Fisher, W. W. Frazler, Charles E. Pancoast, and J. Rodman Paul. Membership, Albert B. Weimer, Chairman ; Mrs. George F. Baer, Edwin Swift Balch. Robert S. Conklin, Hon. Lucien W. Doty, Dr. J. T. Rothrock, W.W. Scranton, Dr. Samuel Wolfe, and Hon. S. P. Wolverton. Law, Hon. W. N. Ashman, Chairman; Henry Budd, and John A. Siner. Publication, John Birkinbine, Chairman ; F. L. Bitler, S. B. Elliott, Alfred S. Haines, Alfred Paschall, and Harrison Souder. Work, Mrs. Brinton Coxe. Chairman ; Mrs. George T. Heston, William 8. Kirk, J. Franklin Meehan, and Abraham S. Schropp. County Organization, Saimucl Marshall, Chairman; Eugene EUicott, James C. Haydon, Dr. J. Newton Hunsberger, and Richard Wood. Opficb of thb Association, loxa Walnut St.. Philadblphia. EDITORIALS. V OUR readers will be interested in the papers appearing in this issue, which were read at the Chambersburg Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, and offer food for thought on the part of the individual owner of property. Fire is no respector of persons, and the man with a small woodlot is as liable to damage as the large owner, and the discussion of A Paid State Fire Service," by Mr. Alfred Gaskill, Forester and Secretary Forest Park Reser- vation Commission of New Jersey, will be accepted as timely. The importance of the woodlot or of limited forest areas owned by individuals, corporations, or clubs is not as fully recognized as it deserves. These small tracts amount in the aggregate to large areas, and their protection is of great importance to the State. We present three contributions, one entitled ''Co-operative Forestry," by Prof. W. J. Green, Chief Department of Forestry, Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, the second, ''Woodlot Forestry," by Prof. F. W. Besley, State Forester of Maryland, and the third, ** The Farm Woodlot in Pennsylvania," by Prof. Hugh P. Baker, Department of Forestry, The Pennsyl- vania State College. ^ * ♦ 9ic 4e Fire is a terrible master, causing residents of large cities to halt in their vocations — and note the clang of the engine gong or shriek of its whistle. Although these experiences may recur daily, at short intervals of time, familiarity with the fire-alarm does not seem to breed contempt. The terrible holocaust of Chicago, the confla- gration in Baltimore, the millions lost in Sar\ Francisco, Boston, and other cities, have been repeated on a reduced scale, but with probably greater proportionate loss and suffering in smaller communities. y {"i Ji /" 162 FOREST LEAVES. We have lately to add to the harrowing stories of Peshtigo, Michigan, and Hinkley, Minnesota, the wiping out by forest fires of Fernie and Coal Creek, British Columbia, and Chisholm, Minne- sota, prosperous towns peopled by progressive pioneer inhabitants. The public press chronicled destructive fires in Maine, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Washington, Quebec, and British Columbia, expressing sympathy for those whose property was destroyed and for the loss of life. But when the wires conveyed information that forest fires threatened the destruction of the big trees of California there were widespread ex- pressions of sorrow followed by joy when word was i' flashed across the country that the big trees had apparently been saved. A spark, a smoldering ember, an unextinguished match have each been the initial cause of de- structive conflagrations in cities and towns and also in forests. Those who live in communities fail to recognize the small proportion of recorded fires to the number of ** alarms," for as every one feels it a duty to help put out a fire, many are checked at the start, and the active element of most settlements voluntarily organizes companies to protect property, rendering efficient and ex- hausting service as firemen in a neighborly spirit. With the forest fire, conditions are different, for too often it is no one's business to extinguish a forest fire. From British Columbia comes word that bush fires prevailed for days, but no con- certed action was taken to extinguish them. Some one's timber was being destroyed, young tree growth was checked or killed as these days went by, but the personal danger was not immi- nent. Then came the strong wind, fanning the flames until they increased in volume and intensity too great to be combatted. Flying embers were carried to settlements, building after building ignited, and the homes, the stores, the factories which represented years of persistent effort on the part of the citizens were transformed into heaps of ashes, and the passing flame also left in its wake the charred remnants of human beings. The conditions as described existed elsewhere, and the story of the ruin in British Columbia is repeated in Minnesota, Wisconsin, California, Maine, and Pennsylvania. As this is written, the sun shows blood- red through a haze of smoke carried by winds for hundreds of miles to tell us of great damage from forest fires. It is when one's own property is jeopardized or his personal comfort interfered with that the loss and damage due to forest fires receive appreciation. A drought of unusual length, which still continues as we write, with streams making new records of minimum discharge interferes with industrial development in Pennsylvania, and places at the mercy of the flames the thoroughly dried leaves in the forest. Under such conditions forest fires once started become uncontrollable, and thous- ands are fighting the advance of the flames, a labor the severity of which is appreciated only by those who have been engaged in it. Word comes by telegraph that some of these fires are of incendiary origin, and some offenders have been arrested. The man or woman who wilfully fires a neighbor's property is according to our law, subject to severe punishment, and if the courts interpret the act equally whether this is ap- plied to houses, barns or woods, and inflict punish- ment commensurable with the offense the number of forest fires will undoubtedly decrease. Next to the wilful incendiary in point of guilt, are those who either through carelessness or ne- glect, fail to provide means to prevent flames or sparks starting forest fires. Reports indicate that the State as a Common- wealth is a sufferer because part of its forest re- serves have been devastated by fire. We are sure, however, that the organization, limited though it be, which the State Forestry Reservation Com- mission has perfected, has been able to reduce the financial loss to a considerable amount. Written or printed descriptions fail to picture a conflagration either in a city or in the forest. In the former the areas devasted are recorded in lots, blocks, or in acres ; in the latter they are measured in square miles. Who that has not seen it can imagine a line of roaring flame 25 miles in length devastating a forest. In com- munities the property destroyed may be replaced within a year or two ; in the forests a life time will not suffice to erase the fire scars. The immediate financial damage in communi- ties may be much greater for a fire covering a relatively small area than for one which devastates many miles of forests. But buildings may be re- built, cities reconstructed, and financial losses in time be made good. A forest fire such as we have referred to may utterly destroy standing timber and so much of the forest humus or floor as to make reproduction difificult if not impossible. The repetition of destructive forest fires can be prevented only by systematic watchfulness and prompt action before the conflagration stage is reached, supported by efficient legislation vigor- ously enforced. Fire wardens on the watch for fires may check many at the start ; neighborly help in emergency may prevent the spread of a fire. But the fearless and drastic enforcement of laws, which provide FOREST LEAVES. 163 for the discovery and punishment of those re- sponsible for forest fires will do much to reduce their number and the losses from them. Each of these destructive fires had a beginning where it could have been checked by moderate effort ; later each might have been controlled by concerted action, but no one felt a personal re- sponsibility to take the initiative. The result is enormous, blackened waste areas, millions of money lost, lives sacrificed, houses destroyed, and business activities dwarfed, because some one was careless of his duty to his neighbor. J. B. Since writing the above, and as Forest Leaves goes to press. Commissioner of Forestry Conklin reports that most of the forest fires in Pennsylva- nia are practically under control. He estimates that probably 50,000 acres have been burned over, one-fifth being State reserve lands- However, the situation is still hazardous, for in many cases the fire has extended well into the dry humus, and punky material, which, although smouldering, may be fanned into a blaze and glowing embers carried by the wind. A drenching rain will only absolutely quench the forest fires. The contest with fire has been carried on under the supervision of the Pennsylvania Forestry Res- ervation Commission, and the knowledge and ex- perience which rangers gained at the Forest Academy has, in the present crisis, saved the State of Pennsylvania more than the Academy has cost. J. B. * ♦ * ^ ^ The official publication of the American For- estry Association is no longer known as Forestry and Irrigation but as Conservation, the title be- ing changed with the expectation of extending its usefulness. The caption indicates that ** woods and waters, soils and ores " will receive attention. We are gratified to see that the September issue gives, place to a sketch upon '*The Forest Policy of Pennsylvania." It has been a matter of sur- prise to us that the work in the interest of forestry done by Pennsylvania has not attracted attention, and has been recognized apparently only by pub- lished notices in Forest Leaves. We know that no other State has rendered as much practical aid to forestry as Pennsylvania. Its accessions of reserves, the establishment of the Forest Academy, and nurseries, its work in reforestration, improve- ment cuttings and fire protection have all been carried forward without a flourish of trumpets. The State Forestry Reservation Commission has followed a common-sense business policy, making no effort to win public acclaim, but the results accomplished should be made known for the en- couragement of other States. J. B. Autumn Arbor Day, THE conservation of our National resources has become a problem of universal interest to the American people. Our soil, our forests, our mineral wealth and our water supply can not be wasted without impairing the country's future greatness and prosperity. The sources of our wealth should be preserved and, as far as possible, restored for the benefit of posterity. Whatever is put into schools will reappear later in the life of the Nation. Studies which tend to improve our industrial conditions should be fostered and encouraged. The planting of trees for shade and for fruit, the process of budding and grafting, the methods of destroying noxious insects, and the prevention of forest fires should be studied by the pupils in both public and private schools. The dissemination of this kind of knowledge has been greatly stimulated by the observance of Arbor Day. To perpetuate the laudable custom of celebrat- ing Arbor Day when all the schools are in session, Friday, October 23, 1908 is hereby designated as Autumn Arbor Day ; and all connected with the schools are urged to observe the day by the planting of trees and by other suitable exercises. Nathan C. Schaeffer, Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Farm Woodlot in Pennsylvania. (Presented by Prof. Hugh P. Baker, Department of Forestry, The Pennsylvania State College, at the Chambersburg Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association.) 7\ FTER a year's residence in the State, I am J^\ greatly impressed with two facts regarding Pennsylvania woodlots. First, there are few farms anywhere in the State that do not have one or more acres of woodland from which are drawn all the fuel and other needed wood mate- rial ; and, second, these woodlots, which are often occupying land that might be put into other agri- cultural crops, are not producing a fraction of a per cent, of what might be produced from wood- land properly protected and managed. While our farmers are attempting to increase the returns from live-stock and grain crops by the introduction of new blood and by selection and proper cultivation, yet in the face of tremendous increase in timber values little or no attention is being paid to in- * crease in returns from land occupied by trees. We may safely say that our woodlots, at the pres- ent time, are not giving large enough returns to justify their existence. y ^ 164 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. ^ J 165 7 Attitude of Wood lot Owners Towards Forestry in the State, — The farm woodlot in Pennsylvania is of such importance that this paper will be limited to the discussion of our farm woodlands, and will not consider any of the problems dealing with the vast area of barren or sparsely wooded lands which our Forestry Commission is so suc- cessfully putting into the form of Reserves. While the agitation of men interested in for- estry in this State has brought about one of the best systems of State forest laws in the country ; has set aside nearly a million of acres of land as reserves, and is doing a great work in training men for proper control of these lands ; yet, fur- ther than creating a general interest in forestry among our farming population, the attention of our small woodland owners and farmers has rather been drawn away from the needs of their own woodlands and focussed on the needs of the State as a whole. That is, the present splendid devel- opment of forestry in this State has been the result of the insistent agitation of a few rather than the demand of the many. That results have been attained in this way does not lessen their great value to the State, nor does it prove that the State was not ready for the movement. On the con- trary, it shows the statesman-like wisdom of an enthusiastic few who looked into the future and saw the greatest need of our State — forest preser- vation and perpetuation to which the ordinary citizen is now awakening sooner than was hoped or expected. A study of woodlot holdings seems to show that, as a rule, our small woodlot owners do not appreciate the importance of their woodland, and further, they often feel helpless because of their lack of knowledge of how to begin woodlot im- provement and what to do after a beginning is made. In other States, where there are no great areas of non-agricultural land, the whole energy of people interested in forestry has been toward the proper development of the woodlot and the increasing of forest area by planting. In any of our middle western prairie States, such as the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, and even Indiana and Ohio, this will be found to be the case. The Importance of Woodlots on Farms, — As a knowledge of proper methods of farming increases, and as land and lumber values rise, the woodlot will of necessity play an increasingly important pai't in the economy of the farm. Transportation rates do not seem to increase greatly with the years, and the large sources of supply of soft wood timber, in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minne- sota, and the northeast, have been largely ex- hausted. Farmers have found that the price of posts and lumber cut within their own States has increased so rapidly that in many instances it is cheaper to get fence-posts, lumber, shingles, etc., from the Pacific Coast or the South. There is no promise that these last sources of supply will be continuous, and to one who has investigated the subject it seems as if the true solution of the prob- lem of the timber supply of the farm lies with the farmer himself. In years to come it is probable that our State Reserves will supply largely our local needs in the way of all kinds of farm timber ; but, at the best, it will be some years before this can be accomplished, because of the present danger of fire, because of inaccessibility, and because of slowness of growth of trees now coming on as seedlings in our reserves. Hence, the welfare and proper development of our farming sections demand that the woodlots of thi*5 State shall be taken hold of at once, and so protected and man- aged that they may become a profit to their owners rather than a loss, and that they may be a source of beauty and pleasure rather than an evidence of thoughless neglect and mismanage- ment. What Woodlot Improvement Means. — The term woodlot management or forest management to many sounds complex and unknowable, and seems to be far beyond the reach of the ordinary farmer. This is not so, for if there can be simple but sys- tematic practical demonstration throughout the State, and if advice can be given freely where demonstration is impossible, there is no farmer in the State who will not be able to handle success- fully his tract of woodland. However, before success can be achieved, or before it will be either practical or profitable to carry on woodlot im- provement and management, certain existing con- ditions must be changed radically or somewhat modified. First, our method of taxing woodlands is neither just nor equable as compared with taxa- tion of other property. Under our present sys- tem one cannot see how the owner of standing timber can afford to maintain it, and we do not blame him for cutting it, and cutting it clean. We bewail the fact that our State is full of rapa- cious lumbermen. Make the taxation of standing timber equable and just, and enforce our fire laws more rigidly, and the lumberman will be as anxious as we are to let the timber grow to a point of greatest profit. It seems as if a change can be accomplished only as the result of an educational campaign which will show our people that every resident of the community or every farmer in the country will profit by having our steep ridges and hillsides covered with woodlots, even though these are in private hands and are managed for the im- mediate profit of the owner. How much it would mean to this country if every owner of woodland who has the unfortunate feeling that his woodland is his own, and that it is nobody's business what he does with it, would appreciate the value of every bit of woodland in preventing floods, main- taining and purifying our springs and rivers, and in giving health to our hurrying, wornout people ! Second, not only should taxation be just, but for a time some incentive should be off*ered for the planting of trees or for the setting aside of wood- lots which would be protected from fire and graz- ing. With a little encouragement, many would plant trees and maintain their woodland growth to the advantage of the whole State. This has been tried in several of the States with more or less success, depending upon the saneness of the law. In Iowa, where such a law was passed in 1906, there is a growing feeling that the idea is a good one, and can be made extremely valuable in bettering farm conditions throughout the State. Again, it must be possible for our woodlot owners to obtain knowledge necessary for the manage- ment of their woodland. Whether this be given as expert advice by a trained forester going from point to point through the State, or whether the knowledge can be given through printed material or demonstration tracts, is a matter the discussion of which is outside the object of this paper. Suggestions for Woodlot Improvement. — In con- sidering the improvement of any woodlot the first thing that should interest the owner is its present composition. Unfortunately, our woodlots have reached about the lowest possible point both in actual value of the timber and in the number of valuable species making up the stand. Should we go into a large woodlot in almost any county in the State we will find a surprising proportion of the growth made up of trees which are weeds from every point of view, and have no value except for a cheap grade of cordwood. These weeds are such trees as the iron wood, bluebeech, dog- wood, hawthorn, sumac, wild crabapple, alder, the striped and mountain maple, and others. If the woodlot is largely hardwoods, and has been cut over recently, and the stumps have been allowed to sprout, we find a great many groups of young saplings of oak, chestnut, basswood, etc., among which these forest weeds obtain a hold. They come in rapidly, because of their ability to start and maintain themselves under the shade of other trees. - The reason for tlie present poor condition of our woodlots is more than apparent when we con- sider that for years the owners have made a prac- tice of going in and cutting the best trees when special pieces of timber were needed about the farm, or the straightest and best sprouts wh^ii posts or even cordwood were needed. The natu- ral result has been the constant favoring of the poorest species to the detriment of the best sorts. Then, too, fires have been allowed to run through the timber, destroying seedlings and injuring the better trees, and so retarding their growth that they soon are easy prey for insects and diseases. The weeds maintain more or less of a ground cover over the soil, and favor the incoming of more weeds, because, as a rule, the seedlings of the better sorts must have for proper developmeat more sun than they can get under the cover of weed trees. Many woodlot owners, if not most of them, do not appreciate what the presence of these weeds mean, and are surprised when you go through and show them what a large proportion of the trees are worthless, and how easy it would be to correct the unprofitable worthless condition by removing the weeds. One of the most important steps in the proper management of any woodlot is to so control the composition that one may produce a fully-stocked stand of trees that are best adapted to the soil and situation occupied by the woodlot, and that will bring greatest returns in the most accessible market, whether that be the farm or surrounding farms or the timber dealer. Woodlots Must be Protected. — Any efforts to induce people to improve their woodlots will be fruitless, and the efforts of woodlot owners to better the conditions of the woodland will be im- practical, unless the woodlot can be protected absolutely from fire, and, to a large extent, from the grazing and trampling of stock. Fire has been and is the greatest enemy of the forests of this country ; and, until we can put into operation efficient methods of protection, we will literally throw our money into the fih^iTVe attempt to carry on woodlot improvement and management in the face of promised destruction. Europeans learned this a long time ago, and in Germany to- day there is probably less injury to the forest by fire than there is through insects and fungi. Second in importance to protection from fire is protection from grazing and trampling of cattle. It is going to be a difficult matter to convince our peo- ple that it is detrimental to the trees on the wood- lot to allow stock to range among them. It is a well-known fact, that grass grown under the shade of trees has but a small per cent, of the forage value of grass grown in the open. How often we see cattle after having filled themselves on grass in an outside pasture go into a woodlot for shade, and browse here and there, eating off the tops of seedlings and doing more damage in a few days than nature can overcome in as many years. 166 FOREST LEAVES. There is no question but what stockmen should have shade for cattle and horses during hot sum- mer days, but how much more practical and profit- able it would be to fence off an acre or two of the woodlot, making it accessible to the pastures and devoting it entirely to shade for stock. The re- maining portion of the woodlot could then with very little effort be made to produce much more than the whole woodlot produced when it was used in its entirety as a cattle range. Not a great deal can be done in protecting woodlots from the ravages of insects and fungi. However, we do know that when trees are in a healthy growing condition they are not nearly as susceptible to injury by insects and fungi. There- fore, anything that we can do to keep the rate of growth up to the maximum will go far towards preventing any serious injury by insects or diseases. Let the trees of the woodlot be trampled about by stock ; let a surface fire run through once in two or three years, which, though it may not burn the bark, will injure the delicate cambium and thus greatly retard the growth of the trees, and we will have such poor conditions of health in the wood- lot that the trees will be susceptible to every tim- ber destroying insect that flies, and the spore of every wood fungus that is being blown here and there through the air. In protection from fire, preventive rather than remedial measures should be used. If there is any truth in the old saying, that an ounce of pre- vention is worth a pound of cure, it is applicable in the protection of our woodland from fire. This can be done most easily by daily observation dur- ing the fire-dangerous seasons if the tract is limited in extent, sufficient patrol if too large for observa- tion, and by the maintenance of open lanes, roads, and trails which will be effective barriers to light surface fires. The best way to protect woodland from stock is to maintain a good, strong woven - wire fence. Improvement by Thinning and Planting. — After a woodlot owner is satisfied that his tract can be thoroughly protected he should begin what is called an improvement thinning. This is a thin- ning made to improve both the composition of the woodlot and aid the proper development of the valuable trees left on the land. The temptation will come, after our people are satisfied that a thinning should be made, to go in or put on men and cut out all the forest weeds and dead and dy- ing timber without a thought of what will occur after these trees are removed. It is very much better, both for the present welfare and the per- petuation of the woodlot, to thin lightly and often rather than to thin heavily at one time, which allows the sun to reach the forest floor, forcing nature to form a cover of grass and shrubs to pro- tect the soil. In so far as possible thinnings should be made preceding a good seed crop of the species which we are anxious to have developed on the land. If this can be done we may bring about a natural seeding, which is very much cheaper than to either plant seedlings as a forest cover or to attempt the closing up of the stand by underplanting. The inaccessibility of many of our woodlots to markets in which their product might be sold forces clean cutting, which is very detrimental to the system of restocking through the natural sowing of seed produced by mother trees on the tract. Wherever it will be possible to use a large proportion of the product of a woodlot directly on the farm, it will be very much easier to make improvement thinnings, which must be gradual if one is to depend upon natural seeding for keeping the woodlot fully stocked. The system of natural seeding is a slow method of reproduction, and, as it means a great deal in the production of a forest crop, if the rotation can be shortened it will probably be practical in our Pennsylvania woodlots, especially in the southern part of the State where fairly close to towns and cities, to make rather heavy and extensive im- provement thinnings and then underplant with good strong seedlings of desirable species. Ex- perience in this county shows that where it is desirable to use seedlings for underplanting it is not safe to use conifers in the form of one or two year untransplanted material. Much greater suc- cess will be obtained if three- or four-year-old once transplanted stock is used. While the use of such material will increase the initial expense, in the end the production of a good heavy stand, and ' that in a considerably shorter time, will mean much greater profit than as if weak seedlings are used, a large proportion of which die out. If one de- cides that it is practical to use either hardwood or coniferous seedlings in filling the open spaces in the woodlot, it will pay to make quite a heavy thinning, especially if therq is a permanent or port- able saw-mill near at hand, and then underplant so that large and small trees combined will stand from 8x8toi6xi6 feet. Before the medium - aged trees left on the tract become ready for the axe, the young growth will have had time to get up so that it may readily be seen and more easily protected during the process of future harvesting. It is extremely hard to get a practical lumberman or day laborer to believe that trees can be re- moved without slashing. Only constant insist- ence and supervision will allow one to harvest without greatly injuring the small trees which were planted to close up the stand. Any efforts which J-' '1 FOREST LEAVES. 167 may be made, however, will be fully justified by the rapidity with which the succeeding crop will come on and make valuable timber. Even a casual survey of our State makes one enthusiastic over the possibilities for agricultural development. Hand-in-hand with this develop- ment will go the practical business-like manage- ment of our farm woodlots. The improvement of agriculture throughout the country is absolutely de- pendent upon an easily accessible supply of timber for the farm, and what can furnish this but the farm woodlot. Locust Planting by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. IN view of the reckless statements which have appeared in the newspapers and elsewhere concerning the locust tree planting opera- tions of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, it is proper that the history of the work should be given by someone who is familiar with it. Before the late Mr. Cassatt came to the presi- dency of the road, locust as a tie timber was con- sidered favorably because of its enduring qualities. It was finally rejected '* because of the difficulty of drawing the spikes." This statement was made to the writer by Mr. Cassatt, who, at the same time, added, *'the difficulty has since been overcome. We now wish to plant enough locust trees to ensure a tie supply for the future. Can it be done ? ' ' The question was not put, whether or not locust was the best tree to plant. It is quite possible that two or three other kinds of wood might have been suggested. Mr. Cassatt then requested the writer to inves- tigate and to report upon locust. This led to a very thorough investigation as to rate of growth, choice of location, and danger from borers — a danger which has been pretty well recognized for at least forty years. The report stated that locust production of ties in Pennsylvania was possible, but that it would be safe to count on about one out of three ties being injured by borers. This was fully understood when the authorities ordered the planting. Later observation does not seem to have added materially to our knowledge of the subject. The locust tree is, in some respects, peculiar, and notably so in its disposition to sprout from the roots when the tree is cut down or the trunk is severely pruned or cut back. Bearing this in mind, the writer suggested that the young trees be planted from eight to ten feet apart, believing that one hundred square feet of soil would be required to nourish properly a quick -growing trunk ; and that very carefully regulated pruning should be done in order to guard against root sprouting, and to direct nourishment into the main stem. It may be added that his suggestions have received scant attention. It can be shown that locust trees have, in this region, grown to a good size when, on the average, not more than four feet apart. This, however, is the exception and not the rule'. It does, too, occasionally happen .that even a locust thicket may become a locust grove by suppression of the weaker stems, but it would hardly be scientific forestry to count upon this. When one follows the main line of the Penn- sylvania railroad from Frazer to Harrisburg, he will see large numbers of locust trees, which, in spite of borers, have already attained good size ; and on which the thrifty farmers depend for their fence posts. It may be safely affirmed that if not a single tree attained a size sufficient for tie pur- poses, that in twenty years the railroad company could market their locust timber at a good profit, the plantations being in charge of a competent forester. So that it seems like a misuse of the English language to speak of the planting as a disastrous experiment. Would it not be wiser to await results than to prejudge them ? Furthermore, before the earliest plantation was made, Mr. Joseph Beale and the writer made careful examination of the locust timber growing near Newton Hamilton and discovered that there were thrifty trees, quite large enough for ties, growing on the ground. With this fact before us, the locust was selected and planted there, be- cause locust was the timber desired by Mr. Cassatt. At the same time it was well understood by both Mr. Beale and myself (notwithstanding all assertions to the contrary) that there were por- tions of the Juniata Valley in which the locust borers were very destructive. It would be well for some of the faint-hearted to drive from the Gap in Lancaster County to Strasburg, taking the direct road east of the Penn- sylvania Main Line Railroad, and observe the thrifty locust trees now growing there, which are already large enough for ties. If scientific forestry cannot produce results equal to these, there must be something wrong with the system. In Somerset and Westmoreland Counties, locust trees capable of making three or four ties are quite common, and sound locust logs two feet through have re- cently been observed there by the writer. Besides the ravages of the borer, the locust tree has for years past had its leaves injured by a small insect which destroys the inner tissue. In fact, it often appears as if the foliage were wholly killed, yet the tree continues to live, and thus far has shown but little permanent injury, because the 1 (.^ 168 FOREST LEAVES. wood of the season is usually made before the in- sect begins operations. I may add that most of the ground chosen for locust planting was selected by the officials of the railroad company, and that no one will be dis- posed to dispute with them the credit they may receive from their choice or their methods of operation. J. T. Rothrock. Laurel Oak, Shingle Oak. (Quercus imbricaria, Michx.) THIS species of oak seems to be exceedingly rare in Pennsylvania east of the Allegheny Mountains. The younger Michaux had noted this, and my observations amply confirm his statement. The tree is so striking in its pecu- liarities that it cannot well be overlooked. Ridgway writes that it has grown in the Wabash Valley one hundred feet high, and with a diame- ter of more than three and a half feet. I have searched in vain in Pennsylvania for such a speci- men, though I have no doubt they could be found within the geographic limits in which the species is more common and more at home. The younger Michaux has stated the facts exactly, as far as I have observed in this State. **In the western parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia small lawns (open places), covered only with tall grass, are frequently seen in the forests, around which the laurel oak forms entire groves ; insulated stocks are also found in cool, humid situations." . As seen by me, the tree, at a distance, resem- bles the pin oak, because of the drooping tendency of the lower limbs. The bark, however, on nearer approach, appears rather to resemble that of the black than of the pin oak. A close examination of the middle specimen in the trunk illustration will show a peculiarity which is probably worth noting. The view is taken from the northeast. The steeper, more marked edges of the bark are at right angles to this, and face northwest. The bark surfaces facing the southeast are more gradual slopes. As our severest storms come from the northwest, it is not unlikely that this is due to their weathering influences. The coincidence is somewhat remarkable that the northwestern and southeastern faces of our Penn- sylvania mountains have, in general, the same relative slope. The striking feature of the tree is its usually entire, leathery, shining, adult leaves. In this State we regard such an entire margined leaf as out of the oak class, because most of our species have either strongly toothed or deeply cleft leaves. Those of the laurel oak compel admiration. They are substantial, glistening, challenging inspection. Sargent, Manual Trees of North America^ p. 251, describes the leaves so exactly that I simply copy him : * * Leaves oblong-lanceolate to oblong- obovate, apiculate and acute or rounded at the apex, gradually narrowed and wedge-shaped, or rounded at the base, entire, with slightly thick- ened revolute, often undulate margins, or some- times more or less 3-lobed, or on sterile branches occasionally repand-lobulate, when they unfold bright red, soon becoming yellow-green, covered with a scurfy rusty pubescence on the upper surface and hoary-tomentose on the lower; at maturity thin, glabrous, dark green, and very lustrous above, pale green, or light brown and pubescent below, 4-6 inches long, ^ to 2 inches wide, with stout yellow midribs, numerous slender yellow veins arcuate and united at some distance from the margins, and reticulate veinlets ; late in the autumn, before falling, turning dark red on the upper surface ; their petioles stout, pubescent, rarely more than half an inch long. ' ' The leaves readily suggest the popular name, laurel oak. The male flowers appear in downy or hairy, thread-like clusters (aments) 2 J^ to 3 inches long. Acorn single or in pairs, but roundish, more or less distinctly striped, about ^4 of an inch long, cup somewhat top-shaped, or deep saucer-shaped, usually on a short stout stalk. This oak certainly would lend itself to the pur- poses of the landscape gardener, and would be an ornament to any lawn. I have never, however, been able to get any one to say it was of much practical use in the mechanical arts, or subserved very well any other purpose than as a fuel. This is the more unfortunate, because in rich bottom- lands it sometimes attains a large size, and because, also, of the strength of the wood. In Pennsylvania the laurel oak has been found near AUentown, Lehigh County. So far as I am informed, it has not elsewhere, in this State, been found east of the Alleghenies, except in Bedford County, where its presence was noted by Michaux. It is not uncommon in Somerset, Westmoreland, Fayette, and Greene Counties, alone the streams. In general, it is at its best in the warm, rich lands of southern Indiana and Illinois. Its most western range is Kansas. It extends south on the mountains to Alabama and Georgia. The physical properties are : Specific gravity, 0-7529; percentage of ash, 0.43; relative ap- proximate fuel value, 0.7497 ; weight in pounds of a cubic foot of dry wood, 46.92 ; relative strength among our North American woods, 8. J. T. Rothrock. \ Forest Leaves, Vol. xi., No. ii. C/3 Dd I o cc < o < CD CO CO I D Hi O °- O Ul UJ D CO ^ UJ CO LAUREL OAK. (QUERCUS IM BRICARI A, MICHX.) WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. 36/ FOREST LEAVES. 169 Co-operative Forestry. (Presented at the Chambersburg Meeting of the Pennsylyania Forestry Association.) THE forestry work at the Ohio Experiment Station, so far as tree planting is con- cerned, is mostly along co-operative lines. An explanation of the plan is offered at this time, not because it is thought to be the best that can be devised, but simply to show that it is not necessary to be tied down to traditional methods in making a start in forestry, nor need we always wait for desired conditions to arise before begin- ning work. The State of Ohio owns no forest reserves, nor would it be an easy matter for her to acquire land for the purpose at reasonable rates. Moreover, public sentiment needs a vigorous shaking up be- fore our legislators would provide means to carry out a comprehensive scheme of forestry by the State. Our forest lands are in small bodies owned by farmers and coal companies. No matter what the State may or might do towards reforestation it ought to give special attention to the encourage- ment of land owners who may desire to practice forestry. This is the prevailing opinion in the State. There are, however, those who believe that the State ought to own and control forest reserves, but all agree that land owners should be encour- aged to care for their woodlots and to plant trees. We seem to be a long way from State ownership of forest reserves ; hence, it is best to make as much as we can of opportunities to en- courage forestry in any form. The Station was moved to begin co-operative forestry because of the growing scarcity of post material. Farmers began to ask questions re- garding the kinds of trees to plant and how to manage plantations of this kind. The literature on the subject did not give very satisfactory answers, and it became evident that the subject must be studied from a practical standpoint. A number of catalpa speciosa groves had been established in the State for 20 to 30 years, also some locust and mulberry plantations. A study of these plantings showed that good profits had been realized on the investments, even better in most cases than if farm crops has been grown, and yet it was evident that the best methods had not been followed. With these examples before them many farmers became anxious to plant a few acres of trees, and because they wanted to know a number of things which we could not positively tell them, it was agreed to give them trees if they would plant and care for them according to directions and furnish facilities for a study of the groves as they grew. It is not necessary to state here what forestry problems we are studying in this manner, but it is sufficient to say that it was seen at once that the work could not be limited to the growing of trees for post production. Even if we had not seen wider opportunities in forestry than appeared at the outset, farmers would themselves have called our attention to other problems. It seems to be a fact, however, that most of the thought which has been productive of results along other lines in forestry, in our State, started with those who began by planting a grove of catalpa trees for posts. It is true that a few men all along had broader ideas, but the majority have believed that to grow timber with profit we must find some kinds of trees of faster growth than our native sorts. Because of some good examples of catalpa groves and various things which have been said and written many have been led to believe that it is far superior to any tree which grows in our forests. The Station has not tried to inspire this belief, but at the same time it has done all that it could to show the merits of the catalpa as well as other trees. It is an easy tree to grow and to transplant and makes a rapid growth ; its timber is valuable for many purposes besides posts,, especially for handles and wagon making. We have seen evidence all along that interest in the catalpa was leading to broader ideas in forestry. We did not let the interest in the catalpa lag, and we have tried at the same time to show the value of other trees. We feel that our efforts have been rewarded. People are be- ginning to see that they have, or may have, some- thing of value in their woodlots. More than 500 good farmers within the State, in every county except two, are co-operating with the Station in answering some simple questions in forestry. Most of these men are interested in the work. They are thinking and they are talking. Their neighbors are becoming interested. They are asking questions of all sorts about forest trees and the care of them. They are making discoveries in their woodlots, but they are also finding some hard problems. When they come to us with these problems and we say that we do not know, they are quite will- ing to co-operate with us in finding out. The little matter of free trees does not seem to appeal to them as much as the assistance which we can give in the way of advice. The majority of farmers know but little about handling and caring for trees, and they appreciate the little help which we can give them. They seem to feel as though they are on safer ground when they are co-operat- ing with the Station than when they take up the work alone. In fact, many would not take up ii III I ) % ^ (/ 'i/ }CJ 170 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 171 the work at all under any other conditions. They offer every facility for making observations, and often take us miles to see something of interest in forestry. They press us to stay longer and to <:ome again ; they make reports and write about matters of interest regarding trees, and we are getting a fund of information much faster and at less cost than we could if the Station owned all of these separate woodlots and groves. Many of our men are now thinking of forestry in the broadest sense as applied to the farm. We are called upon more and more for help in farm woodlot problems. The bulk of our nursery trees are now of our best native trees, with a few of the good foreign ones, and we feel sure that all will be wanted and many more besides by farmers for woodlot improvement. But few of our farmers have given any attention to tree growing, and the simplest operations need to be explained. This is the great reason for the success of the co-operative movement. We always make a preliminary visit to each party who applies for trees and call again as often as possible. These visits always yield results. There is no fact in this work more apparent than that farmers need help in starting the simplest kind of forestry operations. They feel this them- selves, and a little good advice often puts a man on the road to success in forestry. The personal contact which this method implies brings results at once, and the good work keeps widening. The good is derived not alone by the farmers, but those who have the work in charge are helped and inspired. In this manner they can learn more quickly what the problems are, and how to solve them, and they soon come to speak with confidence and authoritatively. The method is laborious, but the work counts. If the good accomplished in a neighborhood ended with the individual who does the work there would be less reason for hope in the future. It not infrequently happens that a farmer gets so enthused with the forestry work that he becomes something of an authority in forestry matters, and is called upon to speak on the subject at institutes or to write for the local paper. But even though he succeeds simply in getting a plantation of trees nicely started every one in the county knows of it. No one is willing to make a failure of a new ven- ture, and that is another reason why the co-opera- tive plan of tree planting appeals to those who are inexperienced in tree culture. As to the magnitude of the operations which we are carrying on, it must be admitted that, as com- pared with those of some other States having large forest reserves, they are small indeed. The work -which we are doing would not, at the present rate. reforest our State in a thousand years. Nor is it probable that we could ever induce a sufficient number of our farmers to embark in forestry to cover a tenth part of the area which should be covered. In short, we freely admit that we can never by this plan accomplish more than a tithe of what should be done. We know that larger, broader, more comprehensive plans must be in- auguarated. We have within our State many beautiful groves or wooded pastures. In fully 95 per cent, of these woodlots there is no reproduction because the animals have destroyed the young growth by browsing. The large trees are mostly culls left because they were unmarketable. Forest condi- tions have been destroyed, and the remnants of the forest must soon succumb and be laid low by the axe or the elements. Private efforts are inadequate to stop this de- struction, and yet it is evident that the initiative must come from the owners of the land. They can never do all that needs be done, nor should they, for every citizen, no matter whether he owns land or not, is interested in the forests. All need the forests, not only for their useful products, but for the protection they afford against storms; their influence upon streams ; their value as a harbor for the birds, thus indirectly affecting all forms of life. From the aesthetic standpoint all citizens may claim an ownership in trees. These and other reasons can be assigned why every one should be taxed to keep up a reasonable forest area. Just at present the conditions in Ohio are such- that the first appeal must be made to the land owners, but ultimately all citizens must be awak- ened to see their duty. It appears to us that this awakening must come more by example than by precept. That the way to get the people inter- ested in forestry is to induce as many as possible to work at it. They will thus get over the hardest part, which is the beginning of it, before the time comes when all of the people must take hold. By the time when the land owners of the State have done, or are ready to do, their share, the necessity which will be felt for the conservation and control of our streams for water power will arise. Then the influence of these pioneers in forestry will be felt. It might never be possible, because of the high price of the land, for our State to carry on for- estry operations as a business venture, but if done to safeguard our streams it is quite another matter, and the co-operative work will pave the way to operations of this kind. It may be inferred from the above that the co- operative plan is considered inadequate to do the work required. This is true of any plan that could be devised, if the work of restoring our forests to the extent needed is to be done in a short time. The co-operative plan will meet certain cases ad- mirably, and can be greatly extended, but the in- ference meant to be conveyed is that there is still room and need for other methods of operations. We feel sure, however, that we have found a good way to make a start and to do pioneer work in forestry. Under our conditions it is probable that there is no better way to make a beginning. In fact, our experience has shown that if we would get the farmers to practice forestry we must go out among them and work with them. Four years work along this line have opened up great opportunities. The Station has been offered, free of rent, all the land it can use, and many times more for forestry experimental work. If it had the men and the means it could make forest reserves of many thousands of acres of timber lands owned by coal companies in quite large tracts. We are also working in connection with some of the public institutions in tree planting and care of woodlands. We might find enough to do for several years if our efforts were confined to this class of work alone. A great deal of good could be done in protecting the sources of water supply of our cities. We are reforesting one farm be- longing to a city and controlled by the waterworks department. There are many city reservoirs and streams which supply them that need forest pro- tection. A little effort would arouse some or most of them to take these precautions against contamina- tion and waste by evaporation, as well as irregu- larity of supply. All such planting could be made largely experimental, hence we would be justified in taking up such work. In a broader field our cities might be led to co-operate in establishing forest parks. Such parks could be made to serve useful pur- poses along streams. They would pay in many ways. They could be made object lessons in for- estry, and thus help to mold public sentiment and to show the city people that the obligation to care for the forest rests as much upon them as upon the land owners in the country. Such forest parks ■should not be copied after the costly city parks, where every effort is made to finish and polish, but rather they should be examples of what Nature, with a help to start, will do if she is allowed to •care for her own. We need to know more of Nature, both city and country alike, and it is in- cumbent upon us to make provision for future generations. There is good reason to believe that the co-operative plan would work out nicely in this direction; in fact, there seems to be almost no limit to its adaptation, as long at least as there is need of experimentations and instructions in forestry. In short, it seems plausible to believe that wher- ever it is desired to enlist private enterprise in forestry work that the State can do no better than to co-operate to a greater or less extent. W. J. Green. A Paid State Fire Service. Alfred Gaskill, State Forester of New Jersey. (Presented at the Chambersburg Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association.) IF meetings like this of the Pennsylvania For- estry Association are to be productive of re- sults, they must be used as opportunities to learn something of what is going on about us. I have come here to learn as much as I may of what Pennsylvania is doing with its forest reserves, and what it is doing for the protection of private property, yet I am none the less willing to tell you what I can of what we are doing on the other side of the Delaware. Notwithstanding the many claims made that the forest fire problem is thoroughly solved, I may say that we still consider it the most vital problem before us. It is doubtless true that people through- out the country are realizing the extent of the forest fire evil, yet I believe that we are far from the point where we can say the question can be laid aside. It is perfectly useless to attempt forest management, forest improvement, or tree planting, until there shall be assurance that the woods so managed shall be reasonably immune from injury by fire. Our problem is somewhat different from yours, as our conditions are different, yet in a broad way the forest fire problem is the same the country over. New Jersey has about one -sixth the area of Pennsylvania and one -seventh as much forest, yet it has nearly one-third as many people. In. other words, the population of New Jersey is nearly twice as dense as it is in Pennsylvania. This condition creates an opportunity as well as an obligation, for where there are many people there is a demand for lumber and for the protec- tion of the forest on every account. We there- fore have a situation in which the control of fires is of immense importance, because our climate and soil conditions are so favorable that with the exception of a negligible area the whole State grows forests spontaneously. With respect to the fire service, we tried first the experiment of leaving it optional with the townships to appoint fire marshals and appro- 41 i \v ) d f f 172 FOREST LEAVES. priate money for fighting forest fires, the State offering to pay an equal amount. After three or four years it was found that only three or four townships had taken advantage of this law. For two years now we have had a corps of about 300 wardens appointed by the local government of the forested townships, or other municipalities, by direction of the State Forest Commission. These officers have had no regular salary, but each was commissioned by the State and furnished with a badge. From the first the Forest Commission has sought to make this organization a means of preventing forest fires rather than simply a corps to fight them. Each warden is instructed to be on the lookout for every little fire, and is allowed $2 whenever he is called out, or goes out, even though the work done be insignificant. In the same way every man who is called out by a warden to fight fire is allowed $1 for any service up to 5 hours. This system encourages the citizens to go after forest fires with the utmost speed, and to put them out before they become dangerous. We have had no evidence that this liberal compensa- tion induces men to set fires for the sake of being employed to put them out. Another feature of the service is that every man who can be shown to have caused a fire in violation of the law is held to strict accountability. Last season we pros- ecuted five offenders and won every case. This season there has been but one prosecution, but the Forest Commission has adopted the policy of requiring each offender to pay the cost of extin- guishing the fire. This relieves the community of all expense in the case and serves quite as well as a fine in inspiring respect for the law. Upwards of twenty cases have been settled in this way. We do not claim for a moment that this system is perfect ; in fact, the wardens have shown signs of dissatisfaction to such an extent that an amend- ment to the law was secured at the last session of the Legislature by which every township warden will now get $20 a year and every district warden $10 a year, in addition to such pay as he may earn by actual fire fighting. The object of this provision is simply to enlist men throughout the State for the prevention of fires. You all know that a fire once started is a difficult thing to ex- tinguish. We are trying to control the situation by checking the fires in their beginnings, and it looks as though we should succeed. The idea, of course, is not new. You do it here in Pennsyl- vania in the Pocono country, where I understand that it works most satisfactorily and at a cost that is entirely reasonable. I lately learned that the same plan has been adopted in the State of Washington ; there the State government and the lumbermen's associations are working together to maintain a paid service throughout the dangerous season. Another feature of our law which is working well is that requiring every one who wants to burn brush in the neighborhood of a forest to get a permit from the fire-warden. For the last two years these permits were required only from March 10 to May 31, but the season has now been extended to the whole year, and we believe that still better results will follow. Last year we were particularly fortunate in having comparatively few fires. This past season has been unfavorable. Dry weather and high winds have caused many fires in the pine section, yet we have practically eliminated the fires caused by burning brush. The railroads are now the most serious source of fires, and we propose to try for a law which shall require every railroad within the State to construct wide fire lines along its right-of-way. A bill providing for this was passed by the State Senate last winter, but failed in the House. We are satisfied that the measure is the only practical means of lessening the damage done by railroad locomotives. You may care to know what this service costs. The State spends about $4,000 a year. This in- cludes the salary and expenses of a State Fire- warden, the badges, shovels, and other equipment furnished the local wardens, the necessary office - work, and one-half the cost of fighting fires. The other one-half paid by the local authorities amounts to less than $1,000 more. I do not believe that even with the salaries now to be paid that the total expense is likely to be much more than $5,000 a year to the State and its various munici- palities, for as the system becomes more efficient the expenses for fighting fires will be reduced. There are now 98 township wardens and about 200 district wardens. The size of the districts is somewhat irregular, yet the aim is to have one man look after not more than 8,000 acres of forest. In a good many cases he has less than one-half that area. Let me emphasize the two important features of this service — those which we believe are abso- lutely essential to the successful control of forest fires: (i) An organization whose chief purpose is X.O prevent fires, though fully equipped to fight them when necessary; (2) Sure and sufficient payment to every man in the service ; without this no man can be heartily enlisted in such work. Forest experiment stations are to be established in a number of the National Forests, one having been started in the Coconino Forest in Arizona. An important feature of the stations will be the maintenance of model forests typical of the region. JC^ / ■» *•• r.* ' FOREST LEAVES. 173 Woodlot Forestry. (Presented at the Chambersburg Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association.) PENNSYLVANIA has made admirable prog- ress in the acquisition of large tracts of forest lands in the mountains for State forests. The importance of this work is of the first magnitude, and it should be continued until all her stream-heads are fully protected and all potential forest land in the mountains that is not likely to receive conservative management under private ownership, is under State control. But this is not the only forest problem of the State, and in order to give forestry the Statewide in- terest that it demands, it seems opportune to present another phase of the question — woodlot forestry. In the eastern United States most of the woodland is in relatively small holdings, from ten to one hundred acres, and in point of numbers the farmers are decidedly in the majority as wood- land owners. In order to give forestry the vital- ity and force that will make it mean all that it should to every land owner in the commonwealth the woodlot owner must be enlisted. Where improved forest management is put in practice on any considerable number of woodlots distri- buted over the State it will be "the leaven to lighten the whole." It is so much more convincing to teach forestry by object lessons than by theoretical formula, that in each county there should be one or more model woodlots under competent supervision by the State. In some cases the State would have to ac- quire ownership or take a long time lease, but generally it would be possible to co-operate with land owners, who would furnish the land and most of the labor, granting the State full control of the management. These model woodlots should be so distributed as to represent all of the common forest types, and located with reference to their accessibility as object lessons to show what practical forestry means and what it will accom- plish when a plan of management is consistently carried out. Every woodlot of this character would be, in a sense, an experiment plot from which in time would be gathered data valuable to the State and to woodland owners generally. What is most needed is more exact information about tree growth. We know that our woodlots are in a poor condition. They have been cut over injudiciously until the proportion of valuable species has been reduced to an alarming extent, and supremacy given largely to unmerchantable species. Excessive cutting and fires have made blank spaces in the forest, thereby greatly decreas- ing production. The grazing of cattle and sheep has still further extended the open places and caused soil deterioration, until even under the best of management it will require a long time to restore normal conditions. Formerly such con- ditions were regarded as inevitable, and little done to prevent them. The best of the timber was relatively of low value with no market at all for inferior stuff— the so called "tree weeds." But conditions have changed rapidly. The price of stumpage has advanced as good timber became scarce, and prices are certain to advance much farther. Already the farmer who sold his good timber a few years ago for almost a song is now wishing he had a few of the trees left of which he has now only stumps for a reminder. Under a long period of occupation, practically all land fit for the plow has been cleared and our forest areas have been narrowed down to almost the minimum, if we are to continue to supply the timber we need. The woodland owners are be- ginning to realize that their woodlands now have a value for a second crop, and will continue to be still more valuable for a third, and a fourth crop — hence, the time has come for the adoption of more definite policy for all of our forest lands, not alone the State forests and the national forests, but the thousands of woodlots that are going to be a big factor in preserving our supply of timber. It is not so much a question of why forestry should be practiced, but how. And here is the difficulty with the woodlot. We know so little about the growth of our trees and their behavior under given conditions. Our studies are com- paratively new and our observations extend over a relatively short time. American forestry is new and must be developed. Its progress can be no more rapid than the people are willing to be educated in it. So when the forester advises the farmer in the management of his woodlot he finds it is a compromise between what is best for the continued productiveness of the forest and the extent to which the owner is willing to go in the matter. It is worse than useless to advise a wood- lot owner to do something he is unwilling to do, for he at once thinks forestry is an impractical thing and that the one offering advice is some- thing of an imposter. The private owner is not to be won over by radical methods, but must be approached with moderation and tact. The policy of the States and of the national govern- ment in offering assistance to woodland owners, in formulating plans of management for their forest lands, and in preparing planting plans is an estimable work. It cannot fail to accomplish much good in promoting better forest manage- ment, but all that can be accomplished by such work is to induce woodland owners to modify the destructive methods commonly practiced and II -) tv 174 FOREST LEAVES. adopt some methods leading towards conservative forestry. It is a step in the right direction, and if land owners generally accepted the offer of advice there would be a decided advance in the practice of forestry. That they are not doing so is due mostly to the uncertainty of returns to be derived from such change in methods. In other words, a lack of confidence in the ability of foresters to produce results. This again empha- sizes the need of a careful local study of tree growth, results of improvement cuttings and thinnings, planting, etc., so that the returns from a particular method under given conditions can be convincingly set forth to the land owner. The sooner the States take up this question in a systematic way the better, and not until then will it be able to point out the way by which the private owner may practice forestry in this genera- tion with a certainty of reward. F. VV. Besley. The Pocono Protective Fire Association. i r I iHE Pocono Protective Fire Association is five years old. It has accomplished more in that time in keeping down forest fires in that locality than any other agency in the last fifty years. Before its organization fires ran over the mountains every spring and fall, de- stroying thousands of dollars' worth of standing timber and preventing the possibility of the growth of young timber, besides destroying build- ings, fences, crops, and other property. Berry- pickers regularly burned the wild lands so as to increase the berry crop, and land owners heed- lessly burned their pasture fields, regardless of the consequences to the surrounding property over which the fires could run. Hunters and fishermen were also offenders, building fires to cook their meals, and going away leaving them with no fur- ther thought, except to put on a fresh stick or two. Neglected camp fires have been the cause of many disastrous wood fires. The railroads also throw sparks from their engines to fall in the grass and leaves along their right of way and communicate to anything that would burn. Such a state of things was very costly to the community, not only in the destruction of property, but in the time required to fight fires, taking from their work large numbers of men, who often had to put forth every exertion, sometimes for two or three days, to preserve their homes. The Association, immediately after its organi- zation, took advantage of the law permitting the court, upon the application of twenty taxpayers, to appoint deputy constables, who should also be fire wardens, and secured the appointment of war- dens in the townships of Coolbaugh, Tunkhan- nock, Tobyhanna, Chestnu thill, Jackson, Barrett, Paradise, and Pocono. They also had notices printed on muslin tacked on trees along the roads and in conspicuous places in the woods, warning all persons against starting fires, and offering a re- ward of $50 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons guilty of doing so. Wide publicity was given to this notice in the newspapers, and the reward was afterwards in- creased to $100. The Association also pledged itself to pay as promptly as possible the men called out by the wardens to assist in fighting fires, so that there would not be the delay of waiting for the county commissioners to pay them. The expenditures of the Association for the past , five years have been a little over $300 per year, amounting in all to $1,593.96. Of this amount, $297. 70 was for legal expenses, the cost of organi- zation, appointment of wardens, printing, post- age, etc. ; $830.35 was for salaries of wardens and men called out to fight fires ; $286.50 was for portable fire extinguishers for use of wardens ; and $179.44 was expended in the prosecution above referred to. The revenues are raised by assessments on an acreage basis, and have hereto- fore been at the rate of six mills per acre. No assessment was made for 1907, so that it is neces- sary to make it one cent per acre for 1908. One dollar per hundred acres is a small price to pay for the protection afforded by an Association composed of the most progressive people on the mountain. While much has been accomplished, it is neces- sary that the work be vigorously pushed, that the good results obtained by improved conditions in the last few years may not be lost. One fire would undo all the benefit of years of protection. It would seem to be to the interest of every man on the Pocono mountain to become a member of this Association, whether he had a thousand acres, or, what is of much more importance to him, simply his home on a half-acre lot. Every land owner is eligible for membership, and may become a member by applying to I. D. Ivison, Mt. Pocono, Pa. J. T. ROTHROCK, Consulting Forester, WEST CHESTER, PA. Terms upon Application. }(■? FOREST LEAVES. 175 Biltmore Forest School, BILTMORE, N. C. 0000 The Biltmore Forest School is the only technical school of forestry in this country. It illustrates its teachings on a large scale, on a tract of land owned by George W. Vanderbilt, comprising 130,000 acres of forest. The complete course covers twelve consecutive months. »•♦■ . Write for particulars, addressing C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D., Director, BILTMORE, N. C. Yale Univef gitg FoPe^t School NEW HAVEN - - CONNECTICUT The Pennsylvania State College FOUR YEAR COURSE IN FORESTRY. A thorough and practical undergraduate course in technical forestry- — preparing men for all lines of professional and applied forestry. Special attention is paid to practical field work in surveying, mapping and forest measurements. One. of the largest of the State Forest Reserves is within a short walk of the College. For information regarding entrance requirements, expenses, etc., address DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, STATE COLLEGE, PA. A two years* graduate course is offered, leading to the de- gree of Master of Forestry. Graduates of collegiate institu- tions of high standing are ad- mitted upon presentation of their college diplomas. The Summer School ot Forestry is conducted at Mil- ford, Pike County, Penna. For further information address HENRY S. GRAVES, Director, NEW HAVEN, CONN. CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILA. 30 minutes from Broad St. Statioo. BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BOTS. Illustrated Catalogue upon application^ JAMES L. PATTERSON, Head Maiter» BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rt. Rev. Ozi W. Whitaker, D.D., President. Samuel F. Houston, Vice-President. George Woodward, Secretary and Treasurer. JAMES M. BECK. WALTON CLARK. DR. HOWARD A. KELLY. JACOB 8. DIS8T0N. FRANCIS D. LEWIS. BDOAR DUDLEY PARIES. RANDAL MORGAN. FRANCIS I. OOWBN. H. GORDON MCCOUCH. J. LEVERING JONES. JAMES R. SHEFFIELD. ^ (f i 176 FOREST LEAVES. ■ »• *. Know Andorra's Trees? If Not— Why Not? FALL PLANTING DAYS ARE HERE ! BETTER GET ACaXTAINTED ! ! ONE ITEM-OUR PIN OAKS. Andorra's Pin Oaks have given all purchasers absolute satisfaction. The reason is not hard to find— they have the quality— roots and vitality The Pin Oak presents points which readily distinguish it from all others, and it is undoubtedly the most valuable for all practical purposes. The dense finely divided foliage is a beautiful shining green through the Summer months, and colors to sparkling red and yellow in the Fall. The Pin Oak is easily transplanted, and is the quickest growing of all the Oaks. As an avenue or lawn tree it is unequalled. The Pin Oak thrives in all sections, in all soils and situations.= Try Andorra's stock. EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN. OUR BOOKLET" MORE SPECfALTIES." 3d EDITION. DESCRIBES THESE AND MANY OTHERS. REMEMBER! EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN! 6 to 7 ft. Low-branched jf^'l JT"" /;"'<» 7 to 8 ft. Low-branched *' "^ '° *'° °° _ . I 25 10 00 70 00 8 to 9 ft. Low-branched; i^ to i^ in. cal ,50 ,3 50 ,„ ^ 9 to 10 ft. Low-branched; i^ to a in. cal j ' .. ,. ^ 10 to la ft. Low-branched; a to 2>^ in. cal ' ' ' a no « f o „f "^ 10 to la ft. a^ to 3 in. . ^ " '" ''o 00 Extra-heavy Specimens .•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.,3 5„-J„': 3° ~ «'5 00 Send for FALL PRICE LIST. ANDORRA NURSERIES, WM. WARNER HARPER, Prop. Box F, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA, PA. 3jj^^r-^- Philadelphia, December, igo8. No. 12. Published Bi- Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, zoxa ^Valnut St,, Philadelphia, Pa. Entered at the Philadelphia Post«Office as second class matter. CONTENTS. Editorials 177 Maine Can Limit Cutting of Private Timber 178 The Maryland Bureau of Forestry 179 Inequitable Taxation of Standing Timber 181 Pine Trees Reclaim Abandoned Farms 182 What is Practical Forestry? 183 Minnesota Forestry 189 The Forests and the Constitution 190 Subscription, $1.00 per Year. The attention of Nurserymen and others is called to the advantages ^ FoRBST Leavks as an advertising medium. Rates will be fur- nished on application. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Founded in June, 1886, Labors to disseminate information in regard to the necessity and methods of forest culture and preservation, and to secure the enact- ment and enforcement of proper forest protective laws, both State and National. Annual membenship fee. Two dollars. Life *nemhership. Twenty-five dollars. Neither the membership nor the work of this Association is intended to be limited to the State of Pennsylvania. Persons desiring to become members should send their names to the Chairman of the Membership Committee, 10x2 Walnut Street, Phila. President ^ John I^irkinbine. Vice-Presidents, Wm. S. Harvey, James C. Haydon, Albert Lewis, Richard Wood. General Secretary^ Dr. Joseph T. Rothroclc. Recording Secretary, F. L. Bitler. Treasurer, Charles E. Pancoast. (Sound I- at- Large, Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Hon. Robert S. Conklin, Samuel L. Smedley. tinance. W. S. Harvey, Chairman ; Dr. Henry M. Fisher, W. W. Frazler, Charles E. Pancoast, and J. Rodman Paul. Membership, Albert B. Weimer, Chairman : Mrs. George F Baer, Kdwin Swift Balch. Robert S. Conklin, Hon. Lucien W. Doty, Dr. J. T. Rothrock, W.W. Scranton, Dr. Samuel Wolfe, and Hon. S. P. Wolverton. Latv, Hon. W. N. Ashman, Chairman ; Henry Budd, and John A. Siner. Publication, John Birkinbine, Chairman : F. L. Bitler, S. B. Elliott, Alfred S. Haines, Alfred Paschall, and Harrison Souder. Work, "blixs,. Brinton Coxe Chairman; Mrs. George T. Heston, William S. Kirk. J. Franklin Meehan, and Abraham S. Schropp. County Organ izat ion, r^aiiMici Marshall, Chairman: Eugene tllicott, James C. Haydon, Dr. J. Newton Hunsberger, and Richard Wood. Opfick of the Association, 1012 Walnut St.. Philadelphia. EDITORIALS. WHEN the last issue cf Forest Leaves was sent to press we had r ison to be- lieve that welcome rain »ad extin- guished the forest fires which had ravaged so much of the country. But in Pennsylvania and else- where a continuation of drought conditions re- sulted in other fires, the total monetary damage of which it is difficult to estimate. In a late visit to the Adirondacks, we passed through a portion of the New York State forest reserves, which a fire had devastated, leaving a multitude of blackened tree trunks and charred forest floor. We mentally compared the forest policy of New York and Pennsylvania, for in the latter State the embers resulting from forest fires which had invaded the forest reserves had hardly cooled before the Pennsylvania State For- estry Reservation Commission were on hand plant- ing trees to replace those destroyed, and perfecting methods of obtaining whatever value remained in the standing burned timber. The illustrations in this issue are offered without comment as indicative of the terrible conditions during and after forest fires. At the Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Associa- tion, to be held in Philadelphia on December 14th, Hon. Robert S. Conklin, Commissioner of Forestry, has promised to address the Association upon Forest Fire Damages, and we bespeak for him an interested audience. J. B. ***** Few men have given the close continuous study to practical forestry that Mr. S. B. Elliott has de- voted to this subject, and the able paper which we print in this issue demonstrates that Pennsylvania is fortunate in having as a member of the Forestry Reservation Cotnmission one who is so well quali- fied to discuss the forestry problem. J. B. I ii > 1«> ^v 178 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 179 On November 26th, at the invitation of Dr. C. A. Schenck, Forester, there was a meeting at Biltmore, N. C, of gentlemen interested in forestry, who gathered from different sections of the United States, for a tour of instruction over the estate of Mr. George W. Vanderbilt, containing 130,000 acres. On this and the two succeeding days the visitors were shown the actual results obtained in the Biltmore forests during the last twenty years, being conveyed in carriages to vari- ous points of interest. Practical object lessons illustrated the successes as well as the fail- ures, in nearly all lines of forestry. Plantings on abandoned fields by way of reforestation on cutover lands, by improvement cuttings, in the primeval forests by systematic logging, etc., were inspected. A neat booklet entitled '* Biltmore Forest," prepared for the occasion, served as a guide, giving the cost in dollars and cents of the plant- ings and improvements at various places, the visitors being able to see what had been ac- complished in each instance, while additional in- formation was given on the ground. It was a most instructive and entertaining trip for those who were fortunate enough to be present, and incidentally marked the Tenth Anniversary of the Biltmore Forest School. Maine Can Limit Cutting of Private Timber. THE American Lumberman states that not long ago a gentleman interested in a theoretical way in forestry and the preservation of the timber resources of the United States, after con- sidering the fact that 70 to 75 per cent, of the timber of the United States is in the hands of in- dividuals and therefore under control, so far as control is possible, of the States and not of the national government ; after pondering the legal questions involved, bearing in mind laxity of State authority, the rivalry of States in the utiliza- tion of their natural resources and the hostility of individuals to legislation which will affect their private interests, confessed to despair of anything being accomplished in the way of forest preserva- tion except the protection of what government timber remains. Acquirement by the national government of timber lands sufficient to produce a supply of lumber for the future he acknowledged to be beyond the ability of even so wealthy a government as ours, and he did not believe the States could be depended upon or expected to adopt the necessary measures within their own boundaries. It has been questioned that the States have the right, even in the exercise of their so-called police power, to do more in regulation of timber cutting than to demand that cutting shall be so done as not to endanger adjoining property. Fire laws are conceded to be within the province of the State and in some have been adopted with success, but actually to limit cutting by the individual, to say to the timber owner he shall cut only such and such trees or trees in such a class or shall not cut at all, has commonly been thought to be be- yond the power of the commonwealth. But Maine does not think so, and a decision by the Supreme Court of that State, lately handed down, is enlightening. Six of the judges concurred in the opinion, while only one dissented, and he not on the merits of the question. The Constitution of Maine requires the State Supreme Court to pass in advance upon the con- stitutionality of measures proposed to be adopted by the legislature upon request of that body. The questions proposed by the Maine senate during the session of 1907 were in the following form, which covered every phase of the proposed legis- lation : The justices of the supreme judicial court are hereby requested to give to the senate, according to the provision of the constitution in this behalf, their opinion on the following questions, to wit : In order to promote the common welfare of the people of Maine by preventing or diminishing in- jurious droughts and freshets, and by protecting, preserving and maintaining the natural water supply of the springs, streams, ponds and lakes and of the lands, and by preventing or diminish- ing injurious erosion of the land, and the filling up of the rivers, ponds and lakes, and, as an efficient means neces ary to this end, has the legislature power under the constitution 1. By public general law to regulate or restrict the cutting or destruction of small trees growing on wild or uncultivated land by the owner thereof without compensation therefor to such owner ; 2. To prohibit, restrict or regulate the wanton, wasteful or unnecessary cutting or destruction of small trees growing on any wild or uncultivated land by the owner thereof, without compensation therefor to such owner, in case such small trees are of equal or greater actual value standing and remaining for their future growth than for im- mediate cutting, and such trees are not intended or sought to be cut for the purpose of clearing and improving such land for use or occupation in agriculture, mining, quarrying, manufacturing or business, or for pleasure purpose, or for a build- ing site ; or 3. In such manner to regulate or restrict the cutting or destruction of trees growing on wild or uncultivated lands by the owners thereof as to preserve or enhance the value of such lands and trees thereon and protect and promote the in- terests of such owners and the common welfare of the people ? 4. Is such regulation of the control, manage- ment or use of private property a taking thereof for public uses for which compensation must be made ? The opinion on the above questions is exhaus- tive, entering fully into matters of constitution- ality and of the common law. It abounds in citations of decisions by courts of Maine and other States and of the Supreme Court of the United States. The decision begins as follows : *^ We find the' legislature has by the constitution ' full power to make and establish all reasonable laws and regu- lations for the defense and benefit of this State, not repugnant to this constitution nor that of the United States.' " Following, the court quotes a decision of the United States Supreme Court which has to do with the fourteenth amendment of the Constitu- tion of the United States, as follows: ''But neither the amendment, broad and comprehensive as it is, nor any other amendment was designed to interfere with the power of the State, some- times termed its 'police power,' to prescribe regulations to promote the health, peace, morals, education and good order of its people, and to legislate so as to increase the industries of the State, develop its resources and add to its wealth and prosperity." The constitutional provision prohibiting the taking of private property for public uses without just compensation is decided by the Maine court not to be violated in this case. The decision closed as follows : Regarding the question submitted in the light of the doctrine above stated (being that of Maine and Massachusetts at least), we do not think the proposed legislation would operate to "take" private property within the inhibition of the con- stitution. While it might restrict the owner of wild and uncultivated lands in his use of them, might delay his taking some of the product, might delay his anticipated profits and even thereby might cause him some los«? of profit, it would nevertheless leave him his lands, their product and increase, untouched, and without diminution of title, estate or quantity. He would still have large measure of control and large opportunity to realize values. He might suffer delay but not deprivation. While the use might be restricted it would not be appropriated or ** taken." The foregoing considerations lead us to the opinion at present that the proposed legislation for the purposes and with the limitations named in the senate order, would be within the legisla- tive power and would not operate as a taking of private property for which compensation must be made. It is evident that if this decision be good law and as such be concurred in by the courts of other States and the Supreme Court of the United States, to which it must be referred, the States have it in their power to preserve their forest re- sources, even where held in private hands. They can say to any timber owner, " you must cut your timber so as not to destroy the forest but so as to perpetuate it for the use of another generation. You must handle your timber with reference not only to your own needs and wishes but with ref- erence to the future." To that end a minimum limit of size can be fixed as to trees which may be cut, and loggers can be required so to carry on their business as not to injure small and growing timber, and to clean up debris after their work is done. The police power of the State, which is intended to promote and protect the wellbeing of the people of the State as a whole, is thus ex- tended to cover a business which has usually been felt to be thoroughly individual and subject to no control whatsoever. The Maryland Bureau of Forestry. OUR sister State of Maryland has set about the forestry problem in the proper way. In 1906 a State Forester, Mr. F. W. Besley, was appointed, and we give below his statement of the aims of the Maryland Forestry Bureau as abstracted from the Baltimore News : In 1898 the United States Division of Forestry offered to co-operate with private timber land owners in introducing better forest management. The records show that a number of Marvland woodland owners participated in this co-operative work and adopted plans of systematic forest man- agement. This may be considered as the begin- ning of a forestry movement in the State. In 1898 Dr. William B. Clark, who is at the head ot the State Geological and Economic Survey, saw the need of investigating forest conditions in con- nection with other natural resources of the State. This led to a plan of co-operative work with the United States Division of Forestry. The plan was to take up each county separately, reporting upon its forest conditions and publishing a forest map. Under this arrangement eight of the coun- ties of the State have been studied and reports for three of them published. / 1^ V 180 FOREST LEAVES. Mr. Robert Garrett, with his brother, John W. Garrett, who owned a large tract of land in Gar- rett county, became at this time interested in the forestry work of the State. Having in mind the needs of forestry legislation to protect the forest interests, and at the same time considering the advisability of creating State forest reserves, they applied to the United States Forest Service to make an examination of their lands in Garrett county. The two objects for which the examina- tion was made were : First, to determine the prac- ticability of conservative forest management in the mountain forests ; and, second, the suitability of such lands for State forest reservations. The Forest Service reported favorably on both these propositions. The Messrs. Garrett then decided to offer their land, amounting to 19 17 acres, as a gift to the State for forest reserve pur- poses, provided the State should enact suitable forest legislation which should be a guarantee of its protection and proper administration. The time was opportune for adopting a State forest policy. The State Geological Survey, in co-operation with the forestry branch of the Gov- ernment, had demonstrated that the forest re- source of the State was one of her most valuable assets. It was apparent that special legislation was necessary to protect these interests and to provide for their conservation. Furthermore, by the en- actment of proper forest laws the absolute gift of two forest reserves was assured. The State Board of Forestry has the power to purchase land for forest culture and reserves at a price not exceeding $5 an acre ; it also may ac- cept gifts of land for State forest reserves and make rules and regulations governing the same. The State Forester, who entered upon his duties on June 25, 1906, has organized the State work along five lines, namely : 1. Ascertaining the forest resources and forest needs of the State. 2. Forest educational work. 3. Co-operative work with woodland owners and those desiring to plant forest trees. 4. Organizing the State forest reserves. 5. Inaugurating a forest warden system. Although nearly half the land area of the State is in brush and woodland, its productive capacity has been so reduced by poor forest management, or, as is generally the case, a lack of management, that it is safe to say that the woodlands are not producing one-fourth of what they could do under proper management. The lumberman who pur- chased a tract of timber was not to be blamed for cutting it in such a way as to produce the greatest immediate returns. His object was to convert the timber into cash, and, having done so, move to new fields, having no regard for the future of the forest which he had left. As a consequence of this system there are immense areas of badly de- pleted forests on which to depend for the future timber supply. The lumberman frequently left a fair proportion of young growing stock with which to renew the forest, but severe fires have followed extensive lumbering operations, rendering the already crippled forest totally unfit for further production of value. When it is considered that nearly half the land area of the State is producing scarcely one-fourth the product of w^hich it is capable under proper management, this means an immense loss in reve- nue. The depletion of the forests is imperiling the prestige of some important industries. An ex» * ample of this is the tannery business, which depends upon the forest for a cheap supply of certain kinds of bark, notably hemlock and chestnut oak. The large quantity of these trees in the western part of the State supplied the business with an abun- dance of bark and built up the industry to one of great importance. In recent years, however, with the exhaustion of the large timber tracts in this section, most of the large tanneries have found it necessary to move to new fields. Those that still exist in Maryland are running on an accumulated supply of bark, which was secured a few years ago when the supply was plentiful. According to the census figures for 1900, 1158 cords of hemlock bark was cut in Maryland that year. In 1905 the cut had dwindled to 60 cords. The value of the Maryland forest products, not including firewood, amounts to over $5,000,000 annually. When to this is added the important item of firewood, which probably one-half of the people use for fuel, and timber used on the farms, the forest products of the State will total in value about $7,500,000 annually. The forest resources are second only to those of agriculture, and in a few counties of the State they are the greatest source of revenue. With the rapid rise in the price of timber and timber products (prices have nearly doubled within the last five years), the importance of the forests is becoming better appreciated. People generally are inquiring about the present timber supply, for these steady advances in price of lumber cannot be satisfactorily answered by the local lumber dealer ; it is more far-reaching than merely local supply and demand. Maryland has been settled so long that the re- lation in area between the farm lands and forest lands has become fairly stable. The land in forest is usually the rocky and sterile soils, unsuited for agriculture, and will likely always be in forest ; hence, the period has been reached in develop- ment when a failure to apply the principles of J 7 J FOREST LEAVES. 181 forest management means not only a large finan- cial loss to the individual owner, but a loss to the State in taxes. In Germany, where natural con- ditions for growing timber are not so good as here, the average growth of forests is about 55 cubic feet per acre per year, while in this State it is likely not over 15 cubic feet per annum on the average acre of woodland. The difference is that the Ger- man forests have been under management for cen- turies, while we have scarcely begun to apply scien- tific principles in woodland management with a view to our future timber supply. Under the State law the State Forester is re- quired to give a share of his time in educational work. Since a better understanding of the aims of forestry is necessary to insure its general intro- duction as an economic question in the welfare of the State, the educational and propagandist feature has been carried on energetically. A course of lectures in practical forestry is being given to the students at the State Agricultural College ; for- estry is being presented at the State Farmers' In- stitute meetings ; also illustrated lectures and ad- dresses are given to farmers' clubs and granges in different parts of the State. Under the provision of the forestry act the State Forester is making plans for forest management on private tracts when requested to do so. Some 22 woodlots had been examined and advice given as to their proper management. It is the policy of the State to organize a forest w^arden service in all of the wooded counties where forest fires are frequent. Eleven of the 23 coun- ties have been so organized, and under the first year of the administration of the forest fire laws the damage from fires has been reduced from an annual loss of about $250,000 to a loss of about $50,000. In order to ascertain more definitely what we have in the way of forest resources and how to make the best^ use of them, a forest survey of the State by counties has begun and will be continued until there is an accurate forest map of every county, together with a full report upon the forest conditions and best methods of management for each. Field studies and forest maps have been completed for three of the counties. There has been recently added to our area of State forests a small tract of 40 acres in the central part of the State. This is about the size of the woodlot on the larger farms of this section, and will be so managed as to show the possibilities of woodlot forestry for the central counties. Maryland has made a beginning on a small for- estry appropriation. As the work is developed, its needs and advantages demonstrated, the State Board of Forestry will be able to secure larger appropria- tions and thereby greatly extend its usefulness. Inequitable Taxation pf Standing Timber. ¥R. A. C. SHAW, Principal Examiner Law Office,- U. S. Forest Service, Wash- . ington, 13. C. , in an article states that the efforts of the States to secure the reforestation of the denuded watersheds of their navigable streams and protect the farms along such streams from periodical and destructive floods have de- veloped inquiries as to why land valuable mainly for timber growing is allowed to lie idle, and in- stead of contributing its proportionate share of wealth and its tribute of taxes has become a burden to the people and the States. Although the price of lumber has ad v? need steadily for some years, the wealth produced by timber cutting and selling is taken away from localities where it was amassed and invested else- where, and in no instance in reforesting denuded timber lands. The legislatures of all of the States where such denuded areas exist are confronted with the cry, ** Unfair taxation of the timber crop and incon- siderate and excessive over-valuation of timbered lands." It takes a generation of time to grow a timber crop. The grower must stand an unusual risk from fire and depredation and must not ex- pect any return from land or crop for many years. The growers of ordinary crops reap their returns in one year, and of fruit crops in three or four years. • In many States growing crops are expressly exempted from taxation. In none is it practical to tax ordinary growing crops, and yet timber upon which the growers of other crops are de- pendent, because of its conserving effect on the streams and because of its domestic uses, is taxed annually by valuation with the land and often overtaxed, because the value of young growth is not properly estimated by hasty assessments made upon imperfect knowledge. So-called equal and uniform tax laws and the joint classification of land and timber seem to be the causes of the injustice in taxing the timber crop. Under the former, no consideration is given to the risks which are incident to, or the length of time which is necessary for, timber growing. Private capital must destroy its timber because excessive tax laws make it impossible to consider a second crop. In many States land which is chiefly valuable for timber growing has been de- nuded and become waste, and now encumbers the delinquent tax lists or produces nothing and * returns no tax. The joint classification of timber and land does not tend to secure a fair considera- tion of the timber, but does result in hasty and I ,iP -) 1 4 182 FOREST LEAVES. Bi inexpert valuations which are often most exces- sive. Many States are striving to enact laws to pro- mote timber growing and reforestation of denuded lands. Special laws have been made in many, but few of them are practical. Some provide for bounties ; others provide for exemption of land and timber for a term of years ; and most of such laws seem intended to secure a growth of timber on lands which have never grown it or to intro- duce trees which are not indigenous to the respec- tive localities. The Supreme Courts of some of the States have declared that it is legal to depart from the com- mon law classification of property and to declare that, for the purpose of taxation, growing timber shall be considered personal property and taxed separately from the land on which it grows. This action alone would tend to secure fair assessments by arousing intelligent consideration of both timber and land. The constitutions of both Colorado and Ne- tfraska expressly provide that the increased value of private lands caused by the planting of trees thereon shall not be reckoned in fixing the taxes of such lands. California has a similar statute, which, however, exempts only fruit trees and grape vines grown for orchards and vineyards. These constitutional provisions do not, however, prevent denudation, since they refer only to planted areas. It would not be fair to relieve from all taxation land upon which timber grows, and it would not be fair to exempt matured tim- ber on land suitable for agriculture. Such actions would increase unjustly the burdens of other land owners and tehd to prevent the best use of some of the land. No unfairness can, however, result in exempting, for a term of years, growing and immature timber upon land chiefly valuable for timber growing. The following States permit reasonable exemptions : Connecticut, Delaware, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Vermont and Wisconsin. Other States, by their constitutions, permit classi- fications and confine the requirements of equal and uniform rate to the class in which property is placed. Because of the constantly decreasing timber supply and constantly increasing denuda- tion of the watersheds with the resulting floods, disastrous alike to navigation and agriculture, there should be no delay in taking action to en- courage timber growing whenever such action may be taken without injury to other interests. In some States no relief can be secured except •through amendment of their constitutions. Those States which by existing constitutions permit such encouragement are fortunate, since if they act promptly capital will be attracted to them, and they will be the first to make what is now worth- less, denuded land a source of revenue and a means of livelihood to their citizens. A table has been prepared showing the States which may exempt, those which may classify and those which must amend their constitutions to secure relief in forest taxation. Pine Trees Reclaim Abandoned Farms. E' VERYWHERE in the Eastern and Southern ^ States the axe is transforming the magnifi- cent forests of the past into culled and cut- over land. The demand for lumber is so great and operations are so extensive that in a compara- tively few years those who wish to see timber in its virgin luxuriance will have to visit distant and isolated sections of the country. Under the new conditions brought about by the exploitation of the virgin forests, a type of woodlands known as the old field pine has devel- oped into commercial importance within recent years as a result of clearing away the original forests for agricultural purposes. This old field type promises to increase in value more and more with the corresponding increase in the price of wood products. Old fields are common both in the South and in the North, although they arise from diff'erent causes and become reforested with diff"erent species of trees. In the South, before the Civil War, vast areas of land were in cultivation which have since been allowed to return to forest. Many thousands of acres were often included within a single planta- tion, mostly cleared, and growing splendid crops of cotton, corn, tobacco, and many other valuable farm products. It is common to-day to see in certain sections of the South old plantations of great extent that are now growing up with loblolly, or, as it is generally^called, old field pine. The war was responsible for this neglect of cultivated land. With the freeing of the slaves the immense plantations could no longer be managed and the land was abandoned. In many cases, however, the land was impoverished through many years of cultivation, but with the use of fertih'zers will be reclaimed in the future. Farmers now point out splendid stands of pine already large enough to be lumbered, on land that they once plowed. Growth has been phenomenal, the trees being often 12 to 14 inches in diameter at an age of not more than twenty to twenty-five years. Loblolly pine bears seed prolifically nearly every year, and being light these seeds are carried long distances by the wind. The open fields offer i FOREST LEAVES. 183 IK ideal places for the young trees to start. The ground has been worked many years, and there is no young oak brush to interfere with their growth, as in the case of the stump or cut- over lands. Longleaf pine, on the other hand, seeds much less abundantly, and the seeds being heavier are not carried by the wind far from the mother trees, so that its reproduction is much less abundant. The loblolly, however, *is most aggressive in taking possession of abandoned lands and pre-eminently deserves its popular name of **old field pine." Through this natural reforestation nature has freely furnished a source of income on land that would otherwise have been unproductive all these years. Yet it has not been until recently that the old field pine was thought to have any value. There were forests of longleaf pine everywhere close at hand, and the wood was much superior for every purpose. Fence rails made from long- leaf pine last many years, but loblolly rails soon decay and must be frequently replaced. Rail- roads through the pine country would accept nothing but longleaf pine for ties. So the old fields were allowed to grow up and remain un- touched, except that occasionally the owner would cut down a few trees to prevent them from encroaching into his very door yard. Ideas are changing rapidly now as to the values and uses of certain woods. The longleaf pine is disappearing from the land, and there are few young trees to take the place of the old. Neces- sity for future wood material has resulted in many investigations and experiments with inferior kinds . of wood. Loblolly or old field pine has been found to be exceedingly durable when impreg- nated with creosote. This has given the old field pine a new value, and to-day thousands of rail- road ties are cut near the railroads and shipped to treating plants to be creosoted. Small portable mills are easily and cheaply located, and many of these are now cutting the best trees in these old field stands for lumber to be used locally among the farmers. The future lumbering will be carried on extensively in these second growth stands of old field pine. The situation in the North is very much the same. White pine is here found occupying the old fields much as loblolly pine does in the South. The seeds are light and are carried considerable distances to the open fields, where they find plenty of light and suitable soil conditions to make ex- cellent growth. Fifty years ago or more there were many small areas under cultivation which have since been abandoned, and have now grown up to white pine. Farming has always been on a small scale, but with the development of great farming interests in the West the farmer of the Northeast has been handicapped in his competition for the markets. Many of the younger generation have left the old home farms and gone to the cities for more lucra- tive employment. All this has resulted in aban- donment of old farms and fields, and many of these are growing up to pine. Ther^ is a tendency for men who left the farms many years ago to return and spend the summer months among their boy- hood surroundings. They love the native forests, and consequently encourage the growth of pine in the fields once cultivated. So there is an aesthetic as well as a commercial value attached to this young growth. The white pine of the Northeast does not com- pare in rate of growth with the old field pine of the South, but the wood is more valuable for lum- ber, boxboards, shingles, and other purposes, and the demand for second growth pine is very great. It is estimated there are 800,000 acres of abandoned land in southern New Hampshire, and a large part of this is growing up to white pine. Investigations show that it is most profit- able to lumber these second growth stands of white pine when they are fifty to sixty years old. There is a large and increasing source of wealth in our old field pine lands. It is never the object of forestry to encourage tree growth on land that is better suited for agriculture. At the same time there are vast areas uncultivated that are produc- ing no income to their owners. Such land, should be permitted to grow trees and be protected from fire and misuse until such time as they may be- come more desirable for other purposes. What is Practical Forestry? (Presented at the Chambersburg Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association.) IF asked to state the fundamental grounds upon which Practical Forestry must be established in this country, I would declare them, in order of their importance, to be tree planting, equitable taxation, and protection from fires — making these a sort of *' shibboleth " which must be intelligently proclaimed before any one could be permitted to pass over an imaginary ** Jordan " into the domain where a true conception of Prac- tical Forestry prevails. I would not do unto those who might fail to pronounce these words what the Gileadites did to the Ephraimites — slay them because they could not say *' shibboleth " — for I wish them to be not only friends but recruits id this belief, which they should surely become when- ever they understand the real conditions which prevail over substantially all those portions of our country where our future forests must be grown ; >4 7 1^ 184 FOREST LEAVES. M and when they shall have come to a knowledge of the methods practiced in those countries which have, after long experience, adopted the most profitable and satisfactory system of tree-growing for economic purposes. Tree planting is first named, for without trees there would be no forests to relieve from burden- some taxation or to protect from fires. Trees do not live always ; they have their birth, growth, and death, and to maintain a forest other trees must be grown to replace them I fully comprehend and appreciate the claim so generally made that by cutting only mature trees and those that are diseased or obstruct the growth of more valuable ones, that bv nursing and caring for those that had best grow to maturity, and by permitting seed trees to remain, reforestation will naturally take place, and to such an extent as to provide all the forest products which this country may require in the future. This would be true had enough virgin forests been left, and it is admitted that in some localities such treatment is not only admissible but advisable. However, it is not admitted, but, on the other hand, is denied that such conditions prevail to an extent at all commensurate with the needs of our country. Thus, then, the issue is fairly joined between the two systems of forest management, tree planting on the one hand and natural reforestation on the other ; and this bring us to a consideration of the question — What is Practical Forestry? To best determine what course to pursue in growing and maintaining our forests — for it can- not be denied that some course should be pur- sued— it will be well to consider for what purposes we require or demand forests — what services do they perform and what benefits do they bring? It frequently happens that the value of a thing is not understood nor appreciated until we are de- prived of it. Neither do we always comprehend, even then, why we need it. This has been de- plorably true in respect to our forests ; and while their destruction has been steadily going on we have not r*>cognized the tendency of that destruc- tion until recently ; hence, the appreciation of their loss has only just dawned upon us and we stand dazed and bewildered, not knowing which way to turn or what to do. Yet the tremendous and all-important problem confronts us and must be met. Let us see, then, first, why and for what pur- pose we desire forests, and after determining that i it will be well to understand what the experience J of older nations has been, what systems of produc- tion and preservation have proved most efficacious, I and which, if any, we should adopt. In consid- ering the purposes for which we desire forests — in fact, absolutely need them — no attempt will be made to designate these in order of their import- ance, but, rather, in the order in which our atten- tion has been attracted through their loss, which will leave the really most important feature for the last. No one can deny that forests beautify the land- scape, for a treeless country fails to measure to any acceptable standard of beauty, no matter how fer- tile the soil may be nor how well cultivated ; and an infertile region destitute of trees is a barren waste, a dreary desert. It does not follow, how- ever, that an infertile soil must always remain a barren waste, for, if climatic conditions are favor- able, a vigorous growth of trees may prevail where the ordinary farm crops will not thrive. Closely allied to the beauty of a wooded land- scape are the aesthetic, sentimental, and religious feelings which forests inspire. There is a certain, yet indescribable, grandeur in a deep wood. It is awe-inspiring. It is more ; it stimulates a rev- erential and religious feeling, and this latter feature has been felt by all people. From earliest history man has experienced a devout and reverential feeling when in the forests, and a consequent deep regard for them, although he did not under- stand why. The old Greeks peopled their woods with sylvan deities, to whom they paid devotion, and while modern nations have worshipped none of these their people have felt the same inspiration of devotion that their forbears did. The poet Bryant felicitously tells us in his */ Hymn to the Forest " : ** The groves were God's first temples. Ere man learned To hew the shaft and lay the architrave And spread the roof above them — ere he framed The lofty vault to gather and roll back The sound of anthems — in the darkling wood, Amidst the cool and silence, he knelt down And offered to the Mightiest solemn thanks And supplication." Added to the beauty of the landscape and the aesthetic, sentimental, and religious inspiration aroused by the presence of the forests, they furnish places for recreation, rest, and recovery of health ; and along with these a close approach to animate nature among the denizens of the woods. All these things have been long appreciated. With the disappearance of our forests we have come to realize the protection from erosion which they afford the soil. Not only have we learned this, but we have come to a knowledge of the fact that forests cause an equable flow of springs and streams, that disastrous floods are far less frequent, and that dried-up stream beds cannot be seen where the water-sheds are covered with a suitable forest growth. And more ; we have learned tha I ; ♦r '- M a > s ^•»f,- f'lj^^ , « '^•^ ,1|R _^, yiK^i, LU CO UJ M > i UJ CO UJ UJ « ^ ^ Cd ^ UJ CO UJ M ^ UJ cc. CO UJ UJ INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE yyy FOREST LEAVES. 185 denuding the water-sheds of the streams has de- prived us of the cheapest power for industrial purposes, and practically ruined the navigation of many of our rivers. We were slow to realize all this, but when the annual loss to the country mounted into hundreds of millions of dollars the fact dawned upon us, and we now stand aghast at what we must suffer until reforestation shall restore a normal water flow. It is not claimed that clothing our non-agricultural lands — for such are the only ones that should be devoted to for- estry— with forest growth would prevent all floods, but it is claimed that disastrous floods would be reduced to a minimum, and that dry stream-beds and failure of springs would seldom occur. But with all these benefits and advantages stand- ing to the credit of the forests, there is still one more to be considered, and one which transcends all others in importance. A people might be de- prived of all the good offices of the forests named, and yet the life of that nation or State not be irrevocably injured ; but were it to be long de- prived of what are aptly termed forest products, such as lumber, fuel, and the use of wood for the manifold purposes to which it is put, then the index hand on the dial of progress of that nation's prosperity will go backward, never again to ad- vance ; and it is to be deplored that such a con- dition actually menaces this country. Nothing short of promptly entering upon some system of forest reproduction can save us, and a solution of the important problem which this presents now confronts us. It is well, in this emergency, to learn from the experience of others rather than to make experi- ments of our own, and in the treatment of forests we have before us the results of the work of other countries, some ending in disaster and others in success. A brief consideration of their expe- riences will aid us in the endeavor to determine what is best — to determine what is Practical Forestry. History relates that Western Asia — especially Palestine — Northern Africa, and Southern Europe were once populous countries, and possessed for- ests which, for a time, supplied the needs of the people. Now, much of these regions is little better than barren waste and some of it a verit- able desert, and the population in all but Southern Europe reduced to a few nomadic and, practically, barbarous tribes. In few or none of these coun- tries was any effort made to preserve, maintain, or perpetuate their forests. They were simply de- stroyed, and there was an end of them. China is likewise a noted illustration of what forest de- struction brings about — a vast area once densely covered with a forest growth but now practically treeless, with its soil eroded and the land devas- tated by frequent and disastrous floods. In all these countries the people did just what we have done and possibly may continue to do. Do we desire the same end that has come to them ? I trust not ; but that end will come unless we do something to avert it. In another portion of the world we have an ex- ample of a different treatment of the forests. In the United Kingdom of Great Britain there has been a careful guarding of the forests for many centuries. They have been kept partly for senti- mental reasons, but largely for game preserves. Practically, no vigorous trees are cut there for commercial purposes. That country depends en- tirely upon the rest of the world for its timber, and when the supply from other climes shall fail it must go without. Only a few months ago the English Government sent an agent to this country for white pine logs of large dimensions. He came to my county of Jefferson and secured 80 car loads cut from virgin trees in that and adjoin- ing counties, much of it 40 feet long and none less than 2j^ feet in diameter. I saw 20 car loads of it, and mourned that such despoiling of our forests should occur. The inspection had been very close, and no doubt many trees had been cut that were not accepted. This, and that portion of the trees that was too small, must have pro- duced a large amount of lumber cut before we needed it here at home. And thus we suffer from England's neglect to grow her own timber. It is readily conceded that England's system is better than that of the countries first named. In fact, that country secures all the advantages of the presence of forests except the essential forest products — lumber and other necessary forms of wood. In the most important feature there is an absolute failure, and were it not that other coun- tries supply her she would be prostrate to-day, for no country can do without these. The forest system of England is, practically, what those who cry out '* stop cutting the forests ' ' would bring about in this country were their views to prevail. We should not, we cannot cease cutting mature trees. To do that would precipitate a timber famine at once in all its se- verity, a famine which we are already beginning to feel. Tree cutting must go on, but it should be done judiciously, and, what is more, two or more trees should be planted where one is cut down. While England's course is better than that of the other countries named, is it advisable for us to follow it? Surely not. Yet we are doing what is more censurable ; we do not keep, we do not permit our forests to grow ; we destroy them utterly. II V » t 186 FOREST LEAVES. I. But there is still another example of forest treat- ment before us. About two hundred years ago some portions of central Europe saw what must ensue if no efforts were made to maintain a forest growth. The first move was to cut only mature and diseased trees, caring for the immature ones and leaving trees for seed, thus trying to keep up a continuous forest growth, notwithstanding that a continuous cropping was going on. This was far in advance of what was done before, but it was found, in time, that the yield was not sufficient nor certain, as dependence on reproduction was en- tirely confined to conditions which could not be controlled. Regular production of seed, the proper distribution of it, and it falling in places where it would germinate and the young trees not be suppressed by larger ones, were so uncertain that dependence could not be placed on them. Besides, and an important thing it was, too, there could be no control of the species to be grown ; and as some species of trees were far more valu- able than others it was waste of time and effort to grow any but the most serviceable ones. These people saw, in time, that they must do what the agriculturist does with his crops — select the best species and plant the seed, or, better still, grow trees in nurseries and transplant them into the forests. They saw that by such a course there could be not only better lumber produced but a far greater yield obtained. So they turned from natural reproduction to artificial propagation — to tree planting — and by this method secured all the benefits which forests can give to man. It is true that in some cases natural reproduction is still de- pended upon, but such instances are only where the species are satisfactory or transplanting trees is difficult. In Saxony, where are the best culti- vated forests of the world, there is one acre of nursery to every i,ooo acres of forest, and out of 6,900 acres reforested in a recent year all but 800 were set out to trees. The territory not planted was seeded by what is known as *' strip cutting " — that is, cutting a strip from 150 to 200 feet wide alongside of a forest on a known seed year, thus giving the winds a chance to sow the seed on the vacant ground, should it blow in the right direction — a very uncertain event. In either case reforestation was aided by man. In the whole German Empire, parts of France, Austria, Switzerland and some other countries, forestry is made a serious study and is carried on in a business-like manner, and where that is done it is a decided success, paying large profits. We cannot truthfully say that we have nothing to guide us, that there are no experiences to indi- cate what we should do ? The roads others have traveled are plain and unmistakable. We have followed one of them thus far during our national life, and it is the one that history shows leads to the most disastrous results. We are now at the ** parting of the ways," and must determine which one we shall take. Should there be any question ? Have we not seen, can we not see in the experi- ence of others what is practical forestry and what is not ? Need I say that the road to tree planting is the proper one? That would seem to be su- perfluous, and yet a large portion of the advocates of forestry in this country do not see it. I well know, Mr. President, that I am preaching hereti- cal forestry doctrines in my insistence that we must resort to tree planting as a preventive of future ills that will come upon us if we do not. I know full well that the belief is widespread that we have ample forests, if properly treated, to supply all our wants, and that we can safely depend on natural renewal under scientific treatment. I cheerfully accord to all who hold to such belief the same sin- cerity claimed for myself, but cannot admit the correctness of that belief. I know, too, that these sentiments are not in accord with what is evidently the policy of our National Government, nor with that of many for- estry associations, but am willing to abide **the logic of events " for the justification of my belief. This may, and probably does, appear egotistical, and be considered as a vain assumption for supe- riority of judgment and knowledge. But I claim the right to consider my opinion concerning what is practical forestry of value because it is based on a long life of observation, study, and experience. If any one shall claim to have planted seeds from which trees grew and were cut into lumber before I did, he must have done that more than two thirds of a century ago. I feel justified in the belief that I am among the oldest, if not the very oldest, tree- seed planter in our country. I was born among the trees, have lived among them and studied every phase of their life, and for more than half a cen- tury of voting life have watched the process of natural reforestation and seen how slow and uncer- tain it is at the best. My ear has been laid close to nature's beating heart, and I have learned that she calls for aid in forestry as well as in agricul- ture. Hence I may be pardoned for making urgent claims for the correctness of my belief. Can it, then, be shown that our present forests cannot supply our wants for the future, that an increase in area is absolutely necessary, and that such increase, together with increase of produc- tiveness of such forests as now exist, can come only through tree planting? Let us see. When the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed a large portion of this country was virgin forest and the population did not exceed FOREST LEAVES. 187 4,000,000 souls. Now our timber- producing forests are nearly all gone and we have a popula- tion quite 82,000,000, with an annual increase from abroad of nearly a million. New industries and new purposes for wood products have sprung up, and our annual per capita consumption is more than four times what it was 130 years ago. Is it reasonable to conclude that with a rapidly increas- ing population and a rapidly increasing consump- tion per capita, and, likewise, with a rapidly lessening of forest area, the supply can continue to equal the demand for the future ? Are we not actually moving towards a total destruction of our forests from opposite directions, one by the increase of population and new uses of forest products and the other by decrease of forest area ? Had we begun, say 50 or 75 years ago, to con- serve our forests, and reserved a large area to be used for forest purposes only, such a method as is now advocated — selective cutting and natural re- forestation— would have been the correct one. But the time for that has passed ; the forest area is too small now, and reforestation by natural process is known to be a slow one. The Forest Service of the United States has issued a bulletin in which it is stated that we are consuming our forest products fully three times faster than they grow. That is, we consume in one year as much as can grow in three. Can we not see where that will lead us? Let us put a demonstration of its results as a financial proposi- tion. Suppose a man has $20,000 to live on, which, at 6 per cent., will yield $1,200 per annum. If he shall use three times as much as his capital can earn he will have used not only his $1,200 of interest but have drawn $2,400 from his capital the first year ; and so on, increasingly lessening his capital. It certainly does not require much of a mathematical calculation to see what the end would be, and to claim that the man would not, in time, become bankrupt is absurd. The only way for him to escape that end would be to, in some way, increase the earning power of his capital or lessen his expenses, and the only way for us to escape a similar result with our forests will be to increase their power of production or consume less forest products. Does any one claim that to leave them to natural reproduction, while exhausting them three times faster than they grow, will increase that power? European countries saw the fallacy of such a claim and they resorted lo tree planting, whereby they increased the amount annually grown on a given area more than three -fold. It may be claimed that I do not take into consideration the vast area of cut-over land, which does not now produce forest products but will when the so-called second growth of timber shall mature, which will add greatly to the supply and make up for that which the present forests fail to produce. I have not neglected a careful study of that feature, and am forced to say that no greater mistake can be made than to suppose that any considerable increase of supply of acceptable lumber can be expected from that source. It is granted that in the earlier days of lumbering small trees were left, and where fires were kept out they now furnish lumber for market. But, in the main, fires were not kept out, as every careful observer knows. Besides, such regions as have not been visited with fires are being cut-over, and, under modern demands, practically everything is cleared off — no seed trees being left. And this system of harvesting prevails where virgin forests are be- ing cut. But the deplorable fact faces us that fully 80 per cent, of the cut-over lands of our country have been devastated over and over again by fires until no young trees of value remain, and on much of the are^, once forest there can be found no tree growth of any kind. Where there is any it con- sists largely of worthless species — weed trees they are very appropriately named. Will yellow birch, soft maple, trembling aspen, bird cherry — some- times called fire cherry — sumac, witch hazel, or scrub oak, produce good lumber ? Surely not ; yet if these once get a foothold no valuable species can come in, even if seed trees exist, because these worthless species are fast growers in early life and suppress all others. At best, there are few seed trees left and reproduction from these will be a slow process, for valuable species of timber trees, with but few exceptions, require many years' growth before they will produce seed. We do not know yet how many years old they must be, for no record has been kept. It may be safely said that none of the conifers will do it under 35 years of age. White pine does not, to any great extent, before that time, and under present practices it is not allowed to stand much longer than that. Again, I am told to look at the great ranges of mountains of our State and see how they are covered with a growth of trees. I have done that and am doing it continually and in sorrow, and if any one will go with me and show much of value I shall greatly rejoice ; but if only short-bodied, fire-scarred, diseased and stunted growth shall be shown — as most of it is — I shall continue to mourn over their condition. To form an accurate opinion we should know what sort of timber trees we most need, what the market demands, and what species furnish the most desirable lumber. Fortunately this has been II I! I' yb i> 188 FOREST LEAVES. I ascertained. United States Forest Service Cir- cular, No. 122, states that returns from 22,396 mills show a cut, in 1906, of 37,550,736,000 board feet. Of that vast sum 48 per cent, was of the various species of pine — almost one-half. When the hemlock, spruce, fir, redwood, cypress, cedar and other coniferous woods are added to the pines it shows 82 per cent. ; and when the oaks are added it makes a sum total of 87 per cent., leaving only 13 per cent, for all others, among which will be found basswood, cucumber, poplar, cherry, ash, beech, maple, hickory, wal- nut, the gums and every other kind used. Now if any one will carefully examine the young growth coming on it will be seen that we have nothing favorable to expect. Will anyone find any such ratio of species as named? Do the valuable species stand there in any acceptable proportion ? They do not, and we must not flatter ourselves that they do ; but accept the fact. Worthless species mainly occupy the ground, and why expect good timber from them ? The Saviour said to his disciples : ** Of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes," and that is as true to-day as when uttered. If we destroy all seed trees we must not expect a reproduction. We cannot eat our cake and keep it too, and yet that is what we are trying to do with our forests. Old-time nations tried that and failed, but central European countries learned the lesson in time. I am told, however, that our conditions are un- like those of European countries referred to. So they are, at the present time, for we stand to-day where those nations did 200 or more years ago, and if we shall take a lesson from their experience we can greatly shorten the time when we shall reach their present state of tree culture. From their experience we should learn what is practical forestry. While tree planting is the foundation of practi- cal forestry it is not all. There is nothing dififi- cult in planting trees, but unless the owner shall be permitted to grow them without such a heavy tax burden being laid upon that ownership as will be prohibitory, then none will be planted. Time was when all that was necessary for one to secure an ample supply of forest products was to put his hand out and seize upon a full grown forest that cost its original owner but 262^ cents per acre, with no risks of disease, fire, or wind ; nor did he have to wait two generations for trees to grow. But to-day everything is changed — all conditions are reversed. He who endeavors to grow a forest must go without the use of his money invested in land and tree planting, run all risks of fire, wind, and disease and get no returns until his trees are mature, while we lay a heavy tax upon him for his effort to benefit posterity. When our present tax laws were framed, some 75 years ago, it was thought desirable to get rid of the forests. Now we seek to restore them, but leave it impossible for private persons or corporations to do so be- cause of excessive taxation. Our laws should be so modified that only the least constitutional tax can be laid upon lands upon which immature timber is growing until such timber is suitable for merchantable purposes. As your President has carefully and accurately gone over that subject in his admirable address, and given a statement of the effort to amend our tax laws respecting timber lands at the last session of the Legislature, I will not further discuss it except to say that in the bill referred to Mr. Conklin, Commissioner of Forestry, placed a clause exempting the farmer's wood lot from unjust taxation, and that was the first feature attacked, and it was stricken out be- fore it came up on final passage, where the bill lacked but four votes of a constitutional majority. As the present law stands it is calculated to de- ceive the farmer who attempts to grow trees. The assessor must add to the value of the farm that which he deems the trees to represent, and so makes it appear that no excessive or unequal taxa- tion results, but the fact remains that the tax must be paid on what -will yield no returns for a long time. What would be thought if the assessor put an extra value on land because the owner should choose to grow wheat on it? Yet that is exactly what must be done now in the case of land upon which there may be found young, immature timber trees growing. Again, I am told that we must not expect the individual to grow trees — that the State should do this. Are we prepared to accept government ownership of all the timber of the future ? I hope not. Even in Imperial Germany the State and Crown own but one-third of the forests, while the State in France owns only 13 per cent., and Austria owns but 7 per cent. There is, in Penn- sylvania, quite 8,250,000 acres of non-agricultural land. The State already owns about one-tenth of that. Can it secure as much as one-fourth ? I doubt it, for it is scattered all over the State, but few farms being without more or less woodland upon them. The State cannot afford to undertake the care of small isolated areas, nor will the owners sell. It is a grave question, too, whether it is ad- visable for the State to own a very large amount of timber, for such ownership would give an oppor- tunity for peculation and political deviltry that would be dangerous. Tree planting must be done by individuals, associations, trustees, public insti- tutions, corporations, and municipalities, or we must do without an adequate supply of forest }ti 1^- FOREST LEAVES. 189 products. We must come to that in time, and the sooner the better. Of course, the State can and must do much, and it has entered upon the work in good eainest. To this end it is not only purchasing land for for- est reservations and establishing nurseries for young trees to set out on these reservations, but is educating young men to care for them in a sci- entific and practical manner. I consider the Mont Alto Forestry Academy the most practical forestry school in the world — that is, the one best fitted to meet present conditions in this country. Had we mature forests, as in Europe, we could add to the curriculum of the school, but for the next half of a century the main efforts in forestry, in this couiitry, must be to grow trees. In the school is taught that which constitutes practical forestry, and I want to add here what I have frequently and publicly said before, that the man who con- ceived and elaborated the plan for that school de- serves a monument — and that man is Dr. J. T. Rothrock. It was my great pleasure to address the students of the high school of his town re- cently, and to tell them they should build that monument in their hearts, and by their hearty re- sponse I am sure they have done so. But if we shall plant trees and their owner shall not be burdened with unjust and unfair taxation, we are still confronted with the disastrous fires which are permitted to devastate our forests. This annual destruction must be stopped. It can be, for it is not tolerated in Europe. Through a competent committee this Association formulated a bill, presented to the last Legislature, holding railroads responsible for damages done through negligence and indifference. It was a good bill ; and its framers had taken great care in its prepara- tion, but like the tax bill it failed to pass. All this shows that the people, and through them their representatives, must be educated to a realization of the absolute necessity of suppressing forest fires. They must come to a knowledge of the fact that property in forests should be held as sacred as in houses, bonds, or mortgages. I have endeavored to show that practical for- estry in this State, at least, lies in planting trees, giving relief from unjust taxation, and protection from forest fires, and that the basis of all is tree planting. We do much when we plant trees. It goes beyond the sentimental and invades the domain of practical life. To show that, I beg to offer some verses by Henry Abbey, entitled, *^ What do We Plant?" ** What do we plant when we plant the tree ? We plant the ship which will sail the sea ; We plant the mast to carry the sails; We plant the planks to withstand the gales — The keel, the keelson, and beam and knee ; We plant the ship when we plant the tree. "What do we plant when we plant the tree? We plant the houses for you and me. We plant the rafters, the shingles, the floors ; We plant the studding, the lath, the doors, The beams and siding, all parts that be ; We plant the house when we plant the tree. " What do we plant when we plant the tree? A thousand things that we daily see. We plant the spire that out-towers the crag ; We plant the staff for our country's flag; We plant the shade from the hoi sun free ; We plant all these when we plant the tree. S. B. Elliott. I Minnesota Forestry/ ry^HE thirteenth report of General C. C. Andrews, the Forestry Commissioner of Minnesota, for the year 1907, shows that, according to the reports of local fire wardens, the damage from forest fires in the past 13 years has averted only $29,819 annually, being but $16, 145 in 1907. At the time of the great Hinckley forest fire, 1894, in which 418 persons perished, there was a law against starting forest fires, but there was no one particularly required to have it en- forced. ** If the present law had been in force," says the Commissioner, *'the Hinckley fire would not have occurred. ' ' There are sketches of forests visited by the Commissioner ; also returns of the output of the Minnesota forests the past season. Though less than usual, the output was about a billion feet. There were 500 logging camps and 20,000 men employed at $26 a month and board. Forestry utilizes third- and fourth-rate — sandy, hilly, and rocky — land that is unfit for agricul- ture, and is an investment, not an expenditure. As a plan of reforestation, the Commissioner recommends a constitutional amendment provid- ing an annual tax of three-tenths of a mill on each dollar of taxable property in the State, the proceeds to be used in the purchase of land for the State adapted for forest, and for the produc- tion and maintenance thereon of forest according to forestry principles by the Forestry Board. This tax would amount to only 30 cents on every thousand dollars, but in a few years would yield $300,000 annually. After experience, the State could acquire and plant 37,500 acres annually; and in 80 years, the time required for pine on forestry land to reach its fiscal age, the State would have 3,000,000 acres of forest, from which 675,000,000 feet of timber could be annually cut perpetually. Letters from many prominent I 7 % ^ 190 FOREST LEAVES. citizens of the State commending this plan are printed. The Commissioner would not oppose exempt- ing 80 acres of forestry land for each owner from tax to promote the production of timber thereon, but, as it would have to be watched by the State, he would not favor exempting more than 80 acres for each owner. The Commissioner is expressly required by law to disseminate information on forestry, and the report contains matter to that end, namely : sketch of the progress of United States government for- estry ; report by a committee of the National Academy of Science on a plan of forest adminis- tration ; act of Congress changing the boundary and somewhat reducing the area of the Minnesota National Forest, and Mr. Pinchot's letter approv- ing the same ; opinion of the Supreme Court of Maine that the State has power to regulate cutting of trees on private land ; and sketches of forestry in seventeen European States. The Forests and the Constitution. ~—^^ ft IT is the wise policy of this State to encourage tree growing so far as its Constitution will permit it. It has established State forest reservations, which are excellent so far as they go. There are many millions of acres of land under private ownership which once were forested and can still giow trees more profitably than any- thing else, and these bare acres ought to be grow- ing trees for the benefit of the streams of the present generation and the lumber supply of the next. These' lands have so little money value that the taxes upon them are nominal. Should the owners start a good stand of pine or hardwood trees upon them the sagacious assessor thinks the land is made thereby more valuable, and he increases the tax assessment accordingly. The trees will not come into the market for merchantable timber for at least thirty years, and the owner will not consent to pay taxes for the sake of posterity to that extent. So tree growing is discouraged and idle lands are allowed to become covered with worthless brush, subject to periodical visitation by forest fires. The State has tried to remedy this by providing for a rebate in the taxes on land devoted to tree growing of 80 i)er cent, per annum for thirty-five years. As it takes fully that long to develop a crop of trees, their apparent partial exemption means that a tree crop shall be taxed at full value only when mature. If the law required that taxes be collected monthly instead of yearly, and the tax collector should tax wheat and corn each month on their full market value, there would be little farming in the State. In the same way as trees are taxed every year when it takes thirty years to mature a crop, tree growing on a large scale by private parties is made impossible in Pennsylvania. Our Constitution says: ''All taxes shall be uni- form on the same class of subjects. ' ' This is an un- wise provision, as it prevents exemption dictated by public policy and obviously for the public in- terest. This tree rebate tax is of this character. The Superior Court declares it unconstitutional. It says that to reduce the amount of taxes of land on trees so used as to encourage the growth of forest trees is an exemption law within^ the pro- hibition of the Constitution. . ^ -^ We are not willing to concede that our Consti- tution and our forests cannot live together. If the tax on the trees and the tax on the land were levied separately, just as the land and the coal under it are taxed separately, the trees could be taxed justly and with uniformity without the obnoxious rebate or exemption. Horses in this State are not taxed until they are four years old, and no one says that it is unconstitutional to spare the colts. On the same principle all trees can be taxed, if they must be taxed at all, when thirty years old, and no one should complain that the saplings are spared. This would be uniformity in taxation and make it possible, under the present State Constitution, for private enterprise and capital to aid the State in reforesting the denuded hillsides of our once heavily wooded Common- wealth.— Philadelphia Press, ^^ In several European countries a new way has been found of turning sawdust to account. The sawdust, chiefly pine and fir, is ground with mill- stones. The sawdust flour is sold to the dynamite fac- tories to be mixed with nitroglycerin, and forms the body or absorbent for that high explosive. It is also in demand for the manufacture of cheap blotting-papers. It is shipped in bags, or in bales of about 40 cubic feet, made by means of high pressure. J. T. ROTHROCK, Consulting Forester, WEST CHESTER, PA. Terms upon Application. Jt? FOREST LEAVES. 191 Biltmore Forest School, BILTMORE, N. C 0000 The Biltmore Forest School is the only technical school of forestry in this country. It illustrates its teachings on a large scale, on a tract of land owned '/ '* by Geo^Jc W. Vanderbilt, comprising 130,000 acres of forest. The complete course covers twelve consecutive months. "^ Write for particulars, addressing C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D., Director, biltmore, N. C. The Pennsylvania State College FOUR YEAR COURSE IN FORESTRY. A thorough and practical undergraduate course in technical fbrestr}' — ^preparing men for all lines of professional and applied forestry. Special attention is paid to practical field work in surveying, mapping and forest measurements. One of the largest of the State Forest Reserves is within a short walk of the College. For information regarding entrance requirements, expenses, etc., address DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, state college, pa. Yale DniVEF^itpoiiB^t School NEW HAVEN - - CONNECTICUT A two years* graduate course is offered, leading to the de- gree of Master of Forestry. Graduates of collegiate institu- tions of high standing are ad- mitted upon presentation of their college diplomas. The Summer School of Forestry is conducted at Mil- ford, Pike County, Penna. For further information address HENRY S. GRAVES, Director, NEW HAVEN, CONN. CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILA. 30 minutes from Broad St. Station. BOARDINO SCHOOL FOB BOYS. Tllustrated Catalogue upon applieaHon, JAMES L. PATTERSON, Head Matter. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rt. Rev. Ozi W. Whitaker, D.D., President. Samuel F. Houston, Vice-President. Georoe Woodward, Secretary and Treasurer. JAMES M. beck. WALTON CLARK. DR. HOWARD A. KELLY. ;AC0B 8. DISSTON. FRANCIS D. LEWIS. EDGAR DUDLEY PARIES. RANDAL MORGAN. FRANCIS I. GOWEN. H. GORDON MCCOUCH. J. LEVERING JONES. JAMES R. SHEFFIELD. \»m*wmw ' ■i.iHii ii ^ u) A •-♦ 192 FOREST LEAVES. Know Andorra's Trees? If Not — Why Not? FALL PLANTING DAYS ARE HERE ! BETTER GET ACaiTAINTED ! ! ONE ITEWI-OUR PIN OAKS. , Andorra's Pin Oaks have given all purchasers absolute satisTfjf.foon. The reason is not hard to find— they have the quality— roots and vitality The Pin Oak presents points which readily distinguish it from all others, and it is undoubtedly the most valuable for all practical purposes. The dense finely divided foliage is a beautiful shining green through the Summer months, and colors to sparkling red and yellow in the Fall. The Pin Oak is easily transplanted, and is the quickest growing of all the Oaks. As an avenue or lawn tree it is jnequalled. The Pin Oak thrives in all sections, in all soils and situations,= Try Andorra's stock. EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN. OUR BOOKLET "MORE SPECIALTIES:' 3d EDITION. DESCRIBES THESE AND MANY OTHERS. SPECIAL OFFER. REMEMBER! EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN! Each Per lo Per xoo 6 to 7 ft. Low-branched $^ oo $» 50 $6o oo 7 to 8 ft. Low-branched ^ 25 10 00 70 00 8 to 9 ft. Low-branched; i^ to H^ in. cal 150 I3 5° 125 00 9 to 10 ft. Low-branched; i^ to 2 in. cal 2 00 17 50 i35 00 10 to 12 ft. Low-branched; 2 to 214 in. cal 2 50 22 50 150 00 10 to 12 ft. 2^ to 3 in 3 50 30 00 275 00 Extra-heavy Specimens $3 50 to 10 00 Send for FALL PRICE LIST. < ANDORRA NURSERIES, WM. WARNER HARPER, Prop. Box F, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA. PA, Title: Forest leaves, v. 1 2 Place of Publication: Philadelphia Copyright Date: 1909 Master Negative Storage Number: MNS# PSt SNPaAg061 .3 r ^^./2 ■ > J I* ^ \ ^^a^kr Vol. XII. Philadelphia, February, 1909. No. i. Published Bi-Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, xoia Walnut St„ Philadelphia, Pa. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as second class matter. CONTENTS. Editorial i Governor Stuart and Forestry 2 Progress of Forestry in Pennsylvania and Forest Fire Ravages in 1908 2 Narrative of the Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association - The Illustrations g Address of Mr. John Birkinbine, President of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association 3 Report of the Council of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association.... 9 Treasurer's Report u Report of the General Secretary n President Roosevelt and Forestry 12 Subscription, $1.00 per Year. Tk€ attention 0/ Nurserymen and others is called to the advantages •f Forest Lbavbs as an advertising medium. Rates will be fur- nished on application. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Founded in June, 1886, • '"^S*^ »0-fe, Mrs Brinton Coxe. Chairman; Mrs. George T. Heston ' W.lham 8 Kirk, J. Franklin Meehan, and Abraham S Schropp ' \^TP^ gr^^«/ifa//^«, Samuel Marshall, Chairman; Eugene fellicott, James C. Haydon, Dr. J. Newton Hunsberger, and Richard Wood. OFFICa OF THE ASSOCIATION, 10I2 WaLNUT St.. PHILADELPHIA. EDITORIAL. THE Twenty-Third Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association was replete with interest, and the attendance demonstrated the hold that forestry has upon the intelligent portion of the community. The reports all showed that progress was being made, and the financial statement (which we present in another column) indicated the satisfactory condition of the organization. The keynote of the discussion was the import- ance of individual effort in awakening public opinion to the importance of enforcing the laws affecting forest fires, and modifying those which impose oppressive taxation upon wooded areas. The personnel of the attendance was such as any organization could well be proud ; men and women who devote their talents to advancing the well being of others were present, a majority having won distinction or occupying positions ot honor. The leadership which Pennsylvania has attained in forest reform was emphasized, and an earnest desire to maintain this leadership was evident. In our columns will be found the reports and abstracts of the addresses which, being extempo- raneous, were not stenographically recorded, but our pages cannot chronicle the enthusiasm which prevailed. j g * * * * ** ' Senator Smoot, in an address before the Con- servation Conference at Washington, D. C, said : '* One of the urgent tasks before the States is the immediate passage of tax laws which will enable the private owner to protect and keep productive under forest those lands suitable only for forest cover. Taxes on forest land should be levied on the crop when cut, not on the basis of a general property tax— that unsound method of taxation long abandoned by every other great nation." I << 1402 30 FOREST LEAVES. Governor Stuart and Forestry. TTON. EDWIN S. STUART, Governor of X^ Pennsylvania, in his Biennial Message to ^ the Legislature, said : **The material development of the State de- pends largely upon the treatment and care of natural resources. This subject is commended for your careful consideration. The preservation of the forests is indispensable in maintaining and regulating the water supply. The annual consumption of timber is now more than three times its annual growth. At the pres- ent rate of growth and consumption, the day is not far distant when the scarcity of wood will be felt in our homes as well as in our industries. Equally serious is the waste of soil, due to the destruction of forests. Forests regulate the dis- tribution of rainfall and lessen the frequency and destructive effects of flood and freshet. The great drought of 1908 wrought irreparable damage, and its results emphasize the necessity of acquiring, maintaining, and preserving forests. The annual floods, especially in the Pittsburgh district, causing loss of life and enormous destruc- tion of property, could be controlled in large degree, and probably be prevented, by attention to farm cultivation at the headwaters, by proper forestation of the non-agricultural lands within the various water-sheds, by reforestation of de- nuded areas, and by attention to details of stream control. Pennsylvania early recognized the vital import- ance of conserving the forests, and created a De- partment of Forestry, conferring upon it broad powers and granting it large appropriations. A State Forestry Academv has been established, and is being conducted with gratifying results. There- in young men are taught the principles of scien- tific and practical forestry. After graduating they are employed as foresters on the Pennsyl- . vania reservations. This Forestry Academy, I am informed, is the only institution of its kind in the western hemisphere. The last Legislature appropriated, for the two fiscal years beginning June i, 1907, $500,000 for the purchase of forestry-lands, and $200,000 for the purchase of seedling-trees, the payment of forest rangers, and for other necessary expenses incurred by the Department of P'orestry. While Pennsylvania was one of the first States to undertake the conservation and development of her forests, and has made a commendable begin- ning, now owning 837,500 acres, with 110,000 acres under contract, — it is to be hoped that the State will ultimately be the owner of several mil- lion acres of forest reservation, and that all owners of non -agricultural land will, at an early date> devote it to the growing of trees. I respectfully recommend that the policy of the State in acquir- ing forest reserves be continued. There is scarcely a square mile of Pennsylvania territory which is not intersected by a stream. Many of these are mighty rivers of great volume and length ; others are of very rapid flow, — con- stituting immense sources of water supply. AU spread fertility and prosperity along their borders, and promise support to a teeming population, so long as they are preserved in their original abund- ance and purity The preservation of water in its virgin purity, for domestic purposes, should be held steadily in view. Pennsylvania's possession of other valuable resources, such as coal, iron, lumber, oil, and natural gas, has diverted the at- tention of the people from the prime importance of protecting her water-sheds. Hillsides are de- nuded, and farms too often lie idle." Progress of Forestry in Pennsylvania and Forest Fire Ravages in 1908. (Address by Hon. Robert S. Conklin, Commissioner of Forestry of Pennsylvania, at the Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association.) IT is a pleasure to meet with you to-day and present a few facts with regard to the work of the Pennsylvania Department of Forestry during the past year, and some figures relative to the numerous and destructive forest fires which recently occurred within our borders. With an appropriation inadequate to the neces- sities of a vigorous and progressive system of ^ improvement and reforestation of the area which /' the Commonwealth now holds for forest reserves,^ much of our energy has been exerted in acquiring lands. During the past year 64,566 acres have been added to the State's holdings, making to date 817,057 acres actually paid for. In addition, we have about 125,000 acres under contract, to be conveyed when the State's title examiner certifies to a marketable title. I hope that by the end of Governor Stuart's term of office the forest reserves of the Commonwealth will aggregate 1,000,000 acres. The average cost of the lands to date is $2.25 per acre. Yet the purpose in mind will not be attained until the Legislature makes liberal appropriation for the care and improvement of these reserves. We all realize that the lands purchased are, to a large extent, closely cut over, and we must either wait for a natural growth of trees to come or plant young trees. In many regions the planting of trees is abso- FOREST LEAVES. lutely necessary. For this purpose the Depart- ment has established three large nurseries — one at Mont Alto, Franklin County ; one at Asaph, Tioga County ; and one at Greenwood Furnace, Huntingdon County. In addition, smaller nurse- ries are conducted by the foresters in charge of reserves in other portions of the State. It is estimated by those in charge of the three principal nurseries that next spring there will be available for planting on the reserves about 3,000,000 young trees, mostly white pine. Other species include Scotch pine, European larch, Norway spruce, white ash, oak, walnut, hickory, and tulip poplar. This, however, is a small percentage of what should be planted yearly. The Legislature ought to make it possible for the Department to have available in its nurseries for planting each year, for the next twenty years, 20,000,000 young seedlings. This would impress one, at first thought, as being enormous, but that number of seedlings would plant only about 7,400 acres. The annual cost to raise and plant these trees would be about 575,000. Upon thousands of acres of the lands held by the Commonwealth there is now coming on sub- stantial stands of young timber, but on many others the coming growth, while it will act as nurse trees for a growth of better trees, will never make good lumber, and must be cleared out just as soon as it has served its purpose. Quantities of it also are too dense and requires thinning. This also will cost money. A system of roads, trails, and fire lanes is essen- tial. Without these all other work is of little value. The reserves must be made easily accessi- ble through their entire area if substantial results are desired. They also serve as bases from which to combat fire and form permanent barriers against the spread of a general forest conflagration. At the State Forest Academy the Department is educating young men to care for the State's reserves. The graduates thus far have proved by their work in the field that the State has made no mistake in establishing the school. During the spring fire season of this year con- ditions were favorable because of the generally abundant rains, and losses from forest fires were not large. The fall season, however, was very disastrous. The drought began with July and continued until the middle of November, with rainfall very much below normal. High winds prevailed, producing great dryness in the woods. When a fire was once started, it was very difficult to suppress it. The fire-fighters, upon numerous occasions, felt that they had entirely extinguished a fire and left for their homes ; but had barely reached the settlement when report of a fire in the vicinity of the one just extinguished was brought to them. The cause for this was that the fire had burned so deeply into the ground that it followed the roots of trees and the leaves and humus lying between the rocks for a considerable distance before it would break out again on the surface. A fresh fire practically was the result. It was fighting fire under conditions that had not existed for many years, and it is to be hoped may not occur again for years to come. The fires during the past season were caused largely by railroads and incendiarism. Of course, some were the result of carelessness by persons burning over new land for clearing, and careless- ness of hunters and of persons traveling through the woods. The acreage of forest fire losses for the current year throughout the State will aggregate about 850,000 acres of burned area, and the cost to the State and counties for extinguishing fires will amount to $125,000. The area of land belonging to the State burned over will not exceed 30,000 acres, or 3^ per cent, only of the entire State holdings, or 3^ per cent, of the whole area burned over. From statistics compiled in the office of the Department, it is shown that railroads are the large offenders, producing at least 41 per cent, of all known causes. To reduce the number of fires set by locomo- tives, we have requested the Railroad Commission to direct that representatives of the different rail- roads operating in this State appear before the Commission and show what precautions they are taking to prevent forest fires being set by their engines, and what provisions they have made for the extinguishment of the same ; whether or not they have provided their engines with adequate spark-arresters ; whether these are of a kind most effective for the purpose ; and whether their employees observe the rules with respect to their usage. Also, that the railroads be required to place before the Commission the devices they are at present using to prevent sparks from escaping from their engines. It is submitted that the Railroad Commission, with its large powers, is competent to deal with this problem, and ought to do so. Many roads take little or no precaution to prevent fires. With the probability of a citation from the Commission staring them in the face, it is hoped to procure some relief from this seemingly increasing danger. Recommendations have been made, from time to time, to have legislation passed compelling FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. lumbermen to burn the slashings resulting from their operations, in order to lessen danger of fire. It should be borne in mind that there are two sides to this question. The contracts under which lum- bering operations are now being carried on were made without contemplating any such additional expense. The added expense would be a burden which the timber man should not be asked to pay. Should the law be so drawn that it would apply only to contracts made after its passage, then sub- stantial provision could be made against it, and its application would not be a hardship. Until the Legislature undertakes to regulate generally the cutting of woods by corporations or indi- viduals, which, it would seem, it has a right to do under its general reserved police power, and which idea is approved in the Maine decision, it is prob- able the burning of slashings might be postponed with fairness to all. If fire can be kept out of the slashings, it is better that they remain and decav upon the ground. The fire warden act of 1907 is undoubtedly an improvement upon the original act, but it still retains features which will never be of effective service to this State, one of which is making con- stables ex-officio fire wardens. The association of the ordinary constable with an effective fire warden service is simply out of the question. We may well imitate other States in this regard. Let the Department appoint an efficient officer for this purpose in every township ; let him be responsible to the State only ; then let the State pay the entire cost of extinguishing fires in the first instance, afterward collecting from the counties, instead of having the counties pay first. I believe much better results will be obtained, and with less cost. At present, forest land in Pennsylvania is taxed just as all other property, and usually at a higher rate. There is no present law which favors timber culture. The abatement of tax idea is exploded by the courts, and we believe rightly so. The working of the abatement laws never was effective, and the laws themselves are far too cumbersome. We need an automatic, self-executing statute to accomplish the needed relief for overburdened forest land, and believe the auxiliary reserve bills introduced into the last session, but which failed of passage, will accomplish this result. They will be re-introduced into the coming session, and, in all fairness to every interest concerned, should be passed. The working of the general Department Act of 1901 is in the main satisfactory, but it could be amended and strengthened in a number of par- ticulars. This has been shown by actual practice in the application of its provisions. The Depart- ment ought to have greater control, or rather a wider latitude of control, of its lands than is per- mitted by the opinion of the Attorney-General bearing on this statute. There are many ways in which it is possible for the Department to make revenue for the Commonwealth, but if it is bound down to a rigid construction of the bare language of the statute, it will be hampered where it other- wise ought not to be. Later legislation has re- placed some of the provisions of the act. That portion of it relating to the building of roads has become obsolete, and the portion prescribing penalties to be applied for violation of the pro- vision relating to setting fire or stealing timber could be put into a much more useful shape. In fact, it would be better to remove the penal clauses altogether from the original act, and have these included in a new general penal statute re- lating to the protection of the reserves. One feature of the work of the Department which is prominently coming to the front, is the conservation and use of the water supply and the water-power found upon the reserves. Vast quantities of water are constantly running away without any real benefit being derived therefrom by the people generally. It is possible so to mould our legislation that the Department would be allowed to utilize the water-power now unem- ployed. In many instances the rate of descent in our mountain streams is so great that it would be possible to erect power plants throughout the length of the stream at short distances. The water having been used in producing power by passing through one plant, would almost immedi- ately enter another, and in this way we could pro- duce power which would find ready sale in any community and be the means of adding comfort to the lives of many at little cost, and at the same time would produce considerable revenue for the Department. It is the endeavor of the Forestry Commission to protect with heavy timber planting the head- waters of all our streams, and by these means augment the flow of water. It is also the policy of the Department to give every facility consistent with good business management to communities near the reserves, that they may be enabled to procure a copious and pure supply of water for municipal uses. This power has already been conferred upon the Department by the Act ot April 14, 1905. Thus far the borough of South Renovo made use of the privilege, but the result of this one experiment has been so highly gratify- ing that the Department is quite willing to enter into similar relations with other municipalities. We believe that the act creating a fixed charge upon reserve land, of two cents per acre for road purposes and three cents per acre for school pur- poses, after a trial of three years, might be changed with the hope of attaining better results. The experience has been that the two cents per acre paid to the township road supervisors to make up the loss in road taxes by withdrawing State lands from taxation, which charge was primarily in- tended to be used for the repair of roads in the reserves, is almost wholly diverted from its origi- nal purpose, and public highways in the reserves are almost wholly neglected. Some of them have become impassable, and the money that should be used to put them in a passable condition is wil- fully diverted to other purposes. While the Department is regularly paying the amount fixed by statute, it feels that the money thus expended is being paid to little or no purpose. A criticism to be made of the remaining provision of this act, that requiring the payment of three cents per acre for school purposes, while generally fair, ought to be computed upon a different basis. W^e find that the greater the number of acres acquired in any township, the more likelihood there is of a decrease in the number of school children. The purchase by the State of small farms and clearings from individual owners causes them to remove from the township altogether or else to go to the more settled portions of the townships. We be- lieve that a fairer way of distributing this aid would be to make it so much per capita per school child. There would be absolute fairness in this method, and the inequality now existing would be eliminated. A township containing 20,000 acres of State Forest Reserve would, under the present law, be entitled to $600.00, whether its schools contained 6 pupils or 600. It seems, therefore, that a better method of distribution ought to be devised. The Department stands ready to make examina- tions for individuals and other private owners who desire advice with respect to their forest land holdings, and who wish to have planting plans made for the purpose of conducting private forestry. A number of such examinations and reports have been made in the last two years, and the Department is in frequent receipt of such re- quests. We are ready to do this without expense to the owner, and believe that we may be of con- siderable assistance in this direction to those who are ready and willing to start the growing of private forests. To encourage this idea, there- fore, all the assistance that we can give is at the command of the citizens of the Commonwealth. We further believe that the Department will soon be in a condition, by reason of large nurse- ries now being established, to raise forest trees for distribution to farmers and others who will be willing to receive the trees, plant them, and care for them in a manner so as to insure their future growth and protection. This can and ought to be done at very little expense ; certainly not more then the actual cost of raising the trees. The Legislature will be asked this winter to confer such authority upon the Department, and while we may not be able immediately to comply with all requests, yet it is practically certain that with- in a year we will be able to do so. The endeavor of the Department also is to bring the State Forest Academy, at Mont Alto, up to the highest grade and degree of proficiency. The students are carefully selected for physical and mental ability ; their training is long and severe ; the discipline maintained is such as will imbue these young men with a sense of the dignity and worth of their calling, and by these means we will soon have in the employ of the State as fine a body of young men, well -trained for the purpose, as can be fcwnd anywhere in America. All that we ask is that sufficient money be provided by the Legislature to enable the De- partment to carry out the plans it has formed for the conduct of this Academy. With the money provided, the Department certainly will very gladly attend to every other detail which may arise in the conduct of this school. Narrative of the Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. THE Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association was held at 10 12 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, on Monday, December 14th, at 3 p.m., President Birkinbine in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were dis- pensed with, and the Reports of the Council, the Treasurer, the Addresses of the President and General Secretary, also of Hon. Robert S. Conk- lin, Commissioner of Forestry, were presented, and will be found on other pages of this issue. The following amendment of Article HI. of the Constitution was presented and unanimously adopted in order to provide for sustaining or per- petual membership of organizations who desired to become connected with the Association, and also eliminate some obsolete features. ** There shall be four classes of members : **dJ. Active members, who, upon election by the Council, shall be assessed two dollars per annum, said assessment being due on the first day of January for the year following. ^^ b. Life members, who, upon election by the Council, shall pay into the Treasury of the Asso- ciation the sum of twenty-five dollars. w 6 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. *' c. Sustaining or perpetual members. Organi- zations which, upon election by the Council, shall pay the sum of one hundred dollars. ''//. Honorary members, who, for distinguished services in advancing forestry, shall be recom- mended by the Council and approved by the Association at an Annual Meeting. They shall not be assessed for dues. '' Sustaining members will be entitled to a rep- resentative, who shall have all the privileges of membership, and an alternate." At the close of Mr. Conklin's address the meet- ing was thrown open for an interesting discussion. Mr. Wm. S. Harvey, President of the Philadel- phia Commercial Museum, and the newly-elected President of the American Forestry Association, was called on, describing briefly the National Forests and the revenue derived from them ; also the need of the White Mountain and Southern Appalachian forest reserves, which are again being advocated at the present session of Congress. In speaking, he credited the Pennsylvania Forestry Association with being responsible for his interest in forestry. Dr. Henry S. Drinker, President of Lehigh University, spoke of the necessity of co-operation between the State and National organizations, and had been struck by the names of persons men- tioned by Mr. Harvey as interested in foresty, through one of whom his institution had become associated with the Pennsylvania Forestry Asso- ciation. He expressed a willingness to do mis- sionary work for the organization. Mr. George H. Wirt, Director of the Forest Academy at Mont Alto, called attention to the disastrous forest fires which occurred last fall, and reported that on the South Mountain Reserve of 45.000 acres there was but little damage. This was attributed to the fact that the students at the Academy were ready at all times to go out with apparatus to fight the forest fires, and in no case did a fire last more than two hours. The students were trained, knowing just what to do, and with thirty at command it was possible to accomplish more in one hour to suppress a forest fire than a deputy fire warden, with twice the force of ordi- nary men, could do in two hours, for the students always strike at the head of the fire, and not along the side lines. Prof. Hugh P. Baker, of the Forestry Depart- ment of the Pennsylvania State College, said that it had been stated that during what had been called the past ** fiery" months with the unpre- cedented droughts, $1,000,000 a day had been lost through forest fires. The Forest Service, at an expense of $35,000, had been able to put out the fires on the National Forests, and if Pennsyl- vania could have had the money represented by the losses this fall through forest fires, it could have increased its forest reserves to a million acres, and be in position to stop forest conflagrations. Dr. Wm. P. Wilson, Director of the Commercial Museum, thought it was important to be able to properly bring the necessity of forestry legislation to the attention of members of the State Senate and House of Representatives. New persons were coming into the Pennsylvania Forestry Association each year, and probably the organization could outline some systematic manner in which the Legislature could be quickly canvassed as to the advisability of supporting good forestry measures. He pledged himself personally to try to convince members of the Legislature. Prof. R. W. Hall, of Lehigh University, ex- pressed the wish to aid the Association in any way possible. Mr. B. Witman Dambly, of Skippack, Pa., inclined to the opinion that needed public senti- ment in favor of forestry could be obtained through the newspapers, which would be glad to print notices, and the local legislators could in this way be influenced, and anything asked for by the Asso- ciation granted. Mr. Samuel S. Smedley, of Bala, Pa., invited the Association to meet in the early summer in the Pocono Mountains. They could there be shown what had been accomplished in the way of reforesting a tract which, fire swept when first secured, had been protected, and now showed a good growth of young trees. Mr. T. L. Hodge, Secretary and Treasurer of the Pocono Fire Protective Association, stated that they had been able to obtain the co-operation of the Delaware & Lackawanna Railroad in pre- venting and subduing forest fires. Heretofore, it had been necessary to have men stationed along the railroad to put out the fires started by sparks from the locomotives, which was the cause of the greater proportion. This fact had been proved to the officials of the railroad, who had given specific instructions that the operating department should co-operate in preventing forest fires, and also gave money to the Association. The section men were to aid the Association employees, and had been equipped with fire extinguishers. Dr. J. W. Harshberger, of the University of Pennsylvania, was of the opinion that it would be well to crystallize the sentiment in favor of forestry in this State, so that when the time came for legis- lation members would know what to do. I^st year he had received letters from Washington to write to local Congressmen and request co-opera- tion in securing needed forestry laws, and a simi- lar course might be followed by the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. He also referred to the increase in forest growth in the Pocono Mountains since the formation of the Pocono Fire Protective Association. Hon. Robert S. Conklin, Commissioner of For- estry, stated that it was a difficult thing to reach the members of the Association in time to be of • assistance in legislation, even by letter. Bills were presented, had a first and possibly a second reading immediately, and were then brought lip promptly for third reading, so that in some cases members might not be able to communicate with legislators until after final action had been taken. Mr. T. L. Hodge stated that the Pocono Fire Protective Association at first offered $50, which was subsequently increased to $100, for the arrest and conviction of persons, starting forest fires. Only six fires had been started by berry-pickers, the most being caused by railroads. Messrs. B. Witman Dambly and Samuel Mar- shall were appointed as tellers of election, and, on counting the ballots, declared the following officers unanimously elected : President, John Birkinbine. Vice- Presidents y Wm. S. Harvey, James C. Haydon, Albert Lewis, Richard Wood. General Secretary, Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. Recording Secretary, F. L. Bitler. Treasurer, Charles E. Pan coast. Council. At Large, Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Robert S. Conklin, Samuel L. Smedley. Adams County, C. E. Stable. Allegheny County, Wm. A. Baldwin, H. M. Brackenridge, Hon. Geo. W. Guthrie, Thomas H. Johnson, G. M. Laughlin, George M. Lehman, Wm. Wade. Beaver County, Charles H. Stone. Berks County, Mrs. George Brooke, J. H. Stembergh. Blair County, Jos. S. Silly man. Bradford County, C. S. Maurice. Burks County, Mrs. Geo. T. Heston, Dr. Howard Pursell. Cambria County, Hartley C. Wolle. Cameron County, Charles F. Barclay. Carbon County, M. S. Kemmerer. Centre County, Prof. Hugh P. Baker. Chester County, Henry T. Coates, Alfred S. Haines, Wm. S. Kirk, Samuel Marshall. Clarion County, Jos. M. Fox. Clearfield County, James P. O' Laughlin. Clinton County, C. .S. McCormick. Columbia County, John R. Townsend. Crawford County, E. O. Emerson, Jr. Cumberland County, Frank C. Bosler. Dauphin County, Miss Mira L. Dock, E. C. Felton. Delaware County, W. W. Montgomery, Charles Potts, Dr. Samuel Trimble. Chas. S. Welles. Elk County, C. H. M'Cauley. Erie County, Isaac B. Brown. Fayette County, Hon. Nathaniel Ewing. Forest County, T. D. Collins. Franklin County, Geo. H. Wirt. Greene County, A. H. Sayers. Huntingdon County, Mrs. William Dorris. Indiana County, M. C. Watson. fefferson County, S. B. Elliott. Lackaxvanna County, W. W. Scranton. Hon. L. A. Watres. Lancaster County, J. H. Baumgardner, . Prof. E. O. Lyte. Lawrence County, David Jamison. Lebanon County, Mrs. Bertham Dawson Coleman. Lehigh County, Dr. J. M. Backenstoe, Luzerne County, Mrs. Eckley B. Coxe, Sidney R. Miner, Gen. Paul A. Oliver, Gen. H. W. Palmer, Col. R. Bruce Ricketts, L A. Stearns. Lycoming County, Hon. J. Henry Cochran, Dr. B. H. Detwiler. McKean County, F. H. Newell. Mercer County, Jonas J. Pierce. Mifflin County, Frank G. Kennedy, Jr. Monroe County, Edwin R. Booth. Montgomery County, Dr. J. M. Anders, Dr. H. M. Fisher, W. W. Frazier, Dr. J. Newton Hunsbei^er, Prof. J. Shelly Weinberger, Dr. Samuel Wolfe. Montour County, H. T. Hecht. Northampton County, John Fritz, Dr. J. S. Hunt, Abraham S. Schropp. Northumberland County, G. R. Van Alen. Perry County, Mrs. John Wister. Philadelphia County, Hon. W. N. Ashman, Henry Budd, Henry Howson, 1. Franklin Meehan, J. Rodman Paul, Albert B. Weiraer, Dr. W. P. Wilson. Pike County, Arthur M. Adams. Potter County, Arthur B. Mann. Schuylkill County, Wm. L. Sheafer, Heber S. Thompson. Somerset County, H. D. Moore, M.D. Sullivan County, S. E. Dunn. Susquehanna County, Edgar A. Turrell. Tioga County, H. L Fick. Union County, Andrew Albright Leiser. Venango County, James Denton Hancock. Warren County, Hon. H. H. Cumings. Washington County, Wm. Parkison Warne. Wayne County, Alonzo T. Searle. Westmoreland County, Hon. Lucien W. Doty. Wyoming County, James W. Piatt. York County, Dr. L C. Gable. On motion, the meeting adjourned, after a ses- sion which was enjoyed by all who were present. M 8 FOREST LEAVES. The Illustrations. OUR illustrations in this number of Forest Leaves are given for the purpose of show- ing the work of the Department of For- estry of the State in the way of saving growing and mature timber. The young hardwood grove in Henry Valley, Perry County, on what is known as the Pennyparker Reserve, shows a growth of rock oak and white oak on ground which had been lumbered over, probably thirty years ago. This particularly valuable tract has already reached an age at which it is practically safe from destruc- tion from forest fires, unless they be of unusual severity. It is safe to say that the State of Penn- sylvania has now by good luck obtained possession of a good many thousand acres of young timber which is as promising as that shown by the illus- trations. The debris left from previous lumbering operations has practically entirely decayed ; it is gone, and is therefore not a further menace in the way of adding fuel to a forest flame. The smooth bark and tall straight stems of this timber show that it is of splendid quality. There are several other regions of the State in which equally good examples of hardwood growth on the State's holdings could be shown. The Licking Creek ground in Mifflin and Juniata Counties contains several thousand acres, probably as good as that shown in Henry Valley. The other illustration represents a grove of ma- ture hemlock in Snyder County, along Swift Run, which was obtained through the influence of Hon. A. C. Hopkins from the heirs of Ario Pardee, Mr. Hopkins was at the time a most active and useful member of the State Forestry Reservation Commission, and it is proper to say that even since, obliged by pressure of business to relinquish his position on the Commission, his interest and use- fulness still add greatly to the strength of the Com- mission. This hemlock timber is one of the few survivals of the original hemlock forest of the State, and serves to show the enormous wealth of this timber which the State once possessed. It is interesting to trace the increasing value of hemlock in Pennsylvania. Originally the State received for this land, when covered with a dense forest similar to that shown in the illustration, 26^ cents per acre. Some twenty years ago, a tract of 14,000 acres of virgin hemlock sold (pr a few dollars per acre. About six years ago this same tract was sold for $67.50 per acre. It is proper to ask what a source of wealth this would have been to the State if it could have been retained until the present time and placed on the market at its actual value ? It should be borne in mind, too, that a large portion of the hemlock timber cut in earlier years was taken solely for the bark, and the timber which now commands such a price in the market was allowed to remain on the ground ; and the worst feature of all this is that most of the profit realized from slaughtering these trees for the bark now finds its final resting place in the city of Bos- ton instead of the State of Pennsylvania. Furthermore, ground from which this hemlock has been removed is practically unfit for agricul- ture, and for even those portions which could be cultivated there exists no demand to-day for farm- ing purposes. The ground is swept over by fire, the humus burned, and the soil washed by the summer torrents into the valley below, each year becoming poorer and harder to restore to a pro- ductive condition. The question may be asked : why not cut this mature hemlock ? For two reasons : First, there exists a positive demand all over the State that such areas of mature timber as we have succeeded in obtaining be retained by the State as object lessons for future generations. Second, These trees serve as seed producers from which there will be gradually spread, under proper protection, a young hemlock growth in the adjacent areas. J. T. ROTHROCK. Address of Mr. John Birkinbine, Presi- dent of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. (Presented at the Annual Meeting, December 14, 1908.) THE attention to conservation given by con- ferences at Washington is an indication of progress welcomed by members of our organization which, for nearly a quarter-century, has been insistent and persistent in advocating care and protection for an important natural resource. Awakening of interest and apparent enthusiasm concerning conservation will do much to advance the national welfare, if this enthusiasm is directed along practical lines ; but if it is based on theoretical deductions, academic conclusions, or becomes a fad, the value of the present move- ment will be lessened. The possibility of the latter undesirable result is suggested by the proceedings of the late con- ference in Washington, which, as reported in the daily press, lay greater stress on the past than on the present status, and prophecies as to the number of years in which our coal, ores, or forests will be exhausted seem to attract more attention than the record of progress which the use of these has made possible. Few of these prophecies are based upon sufficient data to make them reliable ; most of them are speculative, while facts are obtainable J Forest Leaves, Vol. xii., No. i Forest Leaves, Vol. xil, No. i. YOUNG HARDWOOD ON PENNYPACKER STATE FOREST RESERVATION PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. MATURE HEMLOCK ON STATE FOREST RESERVATION. SWIFT RUN, SNYDER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. FoRKST Leavks, Vol. xii., No. i Forest Leaves, Vol. xil. No. i I YOUNG HARDWOOD ON PENNVPACKER STATE FOREST RESERVATION PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. MATURE HEMLOCK ON STATE FOREST RESERVATION. SWIFT RUN, SNYDER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE FOREST LEAVES. which demonstrate the basis of national advance- ment, and we may use this data to study possible economies. The full text of the proceedings may place different colorings upon the addresses, but as reported they give prominence to calculations as to when various resources will be exhausted, rather than to emphasizing the advances made and suggesting remedial measures. It is well to take account of stock and to look forward, but it is also well to glance backward, judge of the results obtained, and see in what measure conditions may be bettered. As our natural resources are given us to use, and by their use our country has achieved its proud position among nations, true conservators do not combat the use but oppose the abuse and waste of resources. Disclaiming intention to be critical or to reflect upon the purpose or knowledge of those who make prognostications, my feeling is that the true friends of conservation are those who reduce consumption or prevent waste. He who enlists his genius to lessen the fuel consumption per unit of power or of product, does more to conserve our coal supply than he who labors to demonstrate mathematically the reserves of coal or ore in deposits whose extent and character are imper- fectly known ; and he who applies to use an otherwise waste product aids conservation by re- ducing the drain upon a natural resource. He who aids in checking a forest fire, plants or pro- tects trees, or reduces waste in felling or fabricat- ing lumber, does more to advance forestry than he who, in a comfortable library, prepared labored discussions on what will happen when forests are exhausted. A study of present conditions lead to the conclusion that, unless wisely directed, the present interest in conservation may decline, because its practical value is subordinated. The name of our organization indicates the re- source in which its members are specially in- terested, but no more ardent supporters can be found for conservation of other resources than in the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. Its work has been along practical lines, seeking in its early history to enlist the co-operation of the lumber interest, and some of the most active members are engaged in lumbering or kindred industries. The legislation which has placed Pennsylvania at the fore in practical forestry was fathered by this association, and we should continue to sup- port all efforts to maintain the State in advance of others. That it holds this position is evident from the character of the forestry legislation of Pennsylvania, which insures for the 817,000 acres of reserves such administration as makes forests products of value to the State as they mature. New York with greater area of reserves has locked them up by constitutional amendment, and can obtain no returns from them, except by tedious proceedings involving a popular vote with its uncertainties. Pennsylvania's position is also emphasized by its Forest Academy, where young men are trained for practical work, by its Sanitaria, established for the care of citizens suffering from tuberculosis, by its efforts to conserve water supplies, and by its tree nurseries and reforestration policy. Our function is to sustain our Forestry Reserva- tion Commission and our Health Commission, to support legislation which provided for reforestra- tion, or which secures greater protection from forest fires by bringing punishment upon the party originating such fires. We also should aid in securing an adjustment of taxation which will encourage the maintenance of forests by private owners to supplement the State reserves. We can advance the cause of forestry more by such means, and by encouraging substitutions for wood, or by utilizing what is now wasted, than in bewailing conditions brought about by measures which this organization has long advocated. Let us frankly face the future, recognizing what has been accomplished by securing national and State reserves, by improved methods of use, by better forest fire laws, by forestry education, by the utilization of waste, by replanting and improve- ment cutting, and encourage all means of im- provement. Report of the Council of the Pennsyl- vania Forestry Association. THE Pennsylvania Forestry Association dur- ing the past year has been recognized more than has heretofore been the case. Committees were present by invitation at the meeting of the Allied Agricultural Organizations at Harrisburg on January 20th ; also at the hear- ing before the Agricultural Committee of the House at Washington, D. C, when the desira- bility of the proposed Southern Appalachian and White Mountain forest reserves was discussed, but which failed to become a law, for although passed by the Senate, it did not receive the ap- probation of the House; as well as at the meeting of the Pennsylvania Arbitration and Peace Con- ference in Philadelphia, May 16-19. The Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce for- warded resolutions in regard to the conservation of our natural resources. These were acknowl- edged, and the interest and co-operation of the Association expre^ed, particularly in regard to forestry. »l! 10 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 11 On May 13, 14, and 15, there was held at Washington, D. C, at the invitation of President Roosevelt, a Conference of Governors of States, representatives of national organizations and some invited guests. During these three days the sub- ject of our natural resources was thoroughly dis- cussed by men of national reputation. Among the matters under consideration was the conserva- tion of our forests, the good seed there sown being instanced by the fact that in several of the States, where this subject had previously been given little thought, the Chief Executives called attention to the importance of looking after this source of national wealth, inaugurating measures to aid in securing maintenance of the timber supply. The Forest Service has continued its good work in administering the national forests, which now cover an area of about 165,000,000 acres, in a con- servative manner. Additional national forests of 201,480 acres in Florida and 14,080 acres in North Dakota have been lately set aside by presi- dential proclamation. The former is the first accession to the national forests in the eastern sec- tion of the country, where for five years there has been constant agitation for the establishment of national reserves in the Southern Appalachian and White Mountains, but all bills with this object in view failed to secure Congressional approval. | From June 9 to 1 1 the Pennsylvania Forestry Association held a meeting at Chambersburg, Pa., i where a number of papers on various phases of forestry were presented, most of which have been published in Forest Leaves. At the invitation , of the Department of Forestry of Pennsylvania a j visit was paid to the Mont Alto section of the i South Mountain reserve, where, after being wel- | comed by the Commissioner of Forestry, the Forest Academy, with its partially completed new \ dormitory, the nursery with its 3,000,000 of seed- lings, and the beautiful Mont Alto Park were in- spected. The 30 young men who are students at the Academy are given practical and theoretical instruction in forestry, raising and planting of seedling trees, thinning or improvement cutting, fighting forest fires, etc., so that they will be in position after graduation to properly adminster the reserves to which they are assigned. While at Mont Alto a visit was paid to the South Moun- tain Camp Sanatorium, through the courtesy of the Commissioner of Health, where the extensive improvements were explained to the visitors. This camp, which was originally inaugurated in a small way several years ago by our Secretary, Dr. J. T. Rothrock, will soon be in condition to ac- commodate 400 patients, of whom, roughly speak- ing, it is expected nearly two-thirds will be dis- charged with the dreaded disease controlled. On the following day trolleys were taken to Caledonia Park, on the Caledonia section of the South Mountain reserve, where another session was held and a small nursery inspected. This meeting afforded those who were present an opportunity to see the good work the Forestry Reservation Commission is doing on a portion of its 817,000 acres of reserves. Here could be seen the small seedlings in the nursery, others which had been replanted several years ago in some vacant fields, while near the Sanatorium are some fine specimens of pine trees, about 30 years old, growing in a field. Here were examples of thinning and improvement cuttings, fire lanes, roads, etc., the whole forming a splendid object lesson. Arbor Days, both those proclaimed in tne spring by the Governor and that in the fall named by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, were generally observed, especially by the schools throughout the State. I At the time of the last Annual meeting there i were 1,551 names on the roll of the Association. ' Since that time there have been no new mem- bers, while 22 have died, and 53 resigned or dropped, making a present membership of 1,586, a net gain of 35. ^1 r During the year the question was brought up 01 so changing the Constitution and By-Laws as to permit of a Sustaining Membership, at a fee of $100. That is to enable an organization which is practically perpetual to become a member of the Association, and make full payment at the time of joining. We regret to chronicle the tremendous losses incurred this fall by forest fires, about 850,000 acres of timber land being reported as burned over in Pennsylvania, while in other States the damage was even more appalling. While a part of these fires is no doubt attributed to an un- precedented drought, there should be some means found of mitigating these annually recurring losses, if they cannot be entirely prevented. ' With the opening of the new year the Legisla- 1 ture of Pennsylvania will convene in its biennial i session, and if any change in the present fire laws are needed they should receive careful considera- tion. The most important question of a reduction in some just and equitable manner of taxation on lands which are being reforested, or those already timbered, must receive attention at this session. The Law Committee is now taking this matter up in connection with the State Forestry Reservation Commission, and we trust our members will en- list the interest of Senators and Representatives in securing the passage of the legislation asked for. If this is not soon secured the present flourishing lumber industry will be greatly hamp- ered, and the mills forced to move elsewhere, as it will not pay for private interests to reforest cut- over lands without some relief from taxation. We desire to thank the press throughout the State, the Women's Clubs, many municipal or- ganizations, etc., who have all lent their aid to the cause of forestry. We wish our members would take more interest in obtaining new members for the Association, as if the number on our roll could be doubled, it would give the organization more weight, and put it in a position to issue Forest Leaves as a monthly. F. L. Bitler, Recording Secretary. Treasurer's Report. — .<• THE fiscal year of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association ends December i, 1908, and the statement of finances on that date was as follows : Treasurer' s Statement to December /, igoS. Dr. To balance on hand December 1 , 1907, . . % 956 li Cash, annual dues to November 30, 1908, . 2169 00 Cash, donations and subscriptions, . . 159 00 Cash, sale of Forest Leaves and advertise- ments, . . . . . . . 217 35 Cash, interest on Life Membership bonds and deposits, 382 50 Cash, Life Membership fees, . . . 300 00 Cash, Sustaining Membership fee, . . 100 00 Cash, sale of badges, . . . . . '9 00 Total, ..... By cash, sundries, postage, oflfice rent, etc., Publication of Forest I.eaves, . Assistant Secretary's salary, Official Badges, .... Meetings, ...... Life Membership fund, Membership Committee, expenses of, . Money invested, .... Balance on hand December I, 1908, . Total, Invested, Invested, Invested, Forest Leaves Fund. • • • • • Life Membership Fund. . . . • • General Fund. 292 96 Cr. % 477 98 964 64 600 00 2 50 114 99 400 00 134 92 1225 16 4 00 368 77 292 96 $1963 42 $2435 00 %l^^2s 31 Charles E. Pancoast, Audited and found correct. Treasurer. William S. Kirk. Albert B. Weimer Report of the General Secretary. OUR Secretary of the Association has given his statement of the work of the society. And our Commissioner of Forestry has made a report of the doings of the State Department of Forestry. There remains but little of importance for your General Secretary to speak of, especially as our President gives us his usual clear statement of the broader relations of Forestry in Pennsyl- vania. I will content myself with a few remarks upon one or two topics which suggest themselves. For- estry took a new departure, so far as State, or Na- tional grounds, are concerned, when Pennsyl- vania lent her forest preserves to the solution of the tuberculosis problem. There was a marked propriety in it, because there the afflicted ones could be more readily removed from possibility of conveying the disease to others, and because also they were themselves placed under the atmos- pheric conditions supposed to be most favorable to their recovery. The idea was promptly taken hold of, and money wisely and liberally appropriated by the Legislature of this State for the work. The wave of public approval still seems to be rising higher. Further appropriations are hoped for by the friends of the movement. This is all well. The question, however, still presents itself in another form. If it is good and altogether a duty to deal thus with the sick, would it not be a still wiser and more immediately useful thing if steps were taken to prevent people from becoming invalids ? I see no reason why this most important step should not be taken immediately by the Depart- ment of Forestry, if a small appropriation were granted by the State. National health is after all the most important public asset to conserve. I would suggest, that if, say fifteen thousand dollars were appropriated, three suitable recrea- tion camping grounds, might be opened on the State Forest Reservations, where during the six warmer months of the year those of our citizens who are not on the sick list, but who require rest and change to keep them from becoming sick, and who are financially unable to go to costly summer resorts, might take their tents and go into camp. Such people, as a rule, derive infinite benefit at a minimum of expense. This could be easily done. To clear the ground, furnish flooring and provide a medical attendant and drugs, would be all that the State need do. The campers could do the rest. This sum of $15,000 would be expected to last for two years. That is, $7,500 a year, divided be- tween three camps would allow each $2,500 a year. I do not know of anything more needed, or more 12 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 13 promising, or which would be more of a money saver to the State. There is another use to which forests might be put. I mean now not State, but private forests, i.e., deer-farming. It is a fact, that every animal we have now under domestication came to us from a wild condition. There is but one reason why deer should not be added to the list, except the absurd legal restriction which denies to a man who has raised deer in captivity, in a closed park on his own ground, fed and protected them as ne- cessary, just as his other cattle, the right to kill and sell them just as he would sheep, pigs, or turkeys. If existing game laws conflict they should be modified to bring them within the limits of com- mon sense. At a time when the price of meat is almost prohibitory to thousands of desirable citi- zens, it is a crime to place obstacles in the way of another source of food-supply to the nation. It is quite within the limits of truth to say, that thousands of deer could be raised and sold in this State each year without injury to the hunting in- terests ; and without injury to the growing timber. The Federal government has this subject now under consideration of the proper officers. There is no reason why Pennsylvania, which has led in so many other forestry reforms, should not move in this matter at once. There is but one restric- tion necessary in this problem : — that is, that the deer so slaughtered and sold shall have been raised and cared for in captivity and were actual bona fide property of the seller. We have not yet realized the full size of the forest restoration problem. It is absolutely necessary for the future of this State that forests be restored as speedily as possible on a rocky and denuded hill- side. This warning cannot be too often or too loudly sounded. To plant one square mile with seedling trees would require more than half a mil- lion seedlings. More than ten million trees would be required for twenty square miles ; I make this estimate low (lower than I think it ought to be made), in order to avoid anything which savors of exaggeration ! Suppose we were to plant out twenty square miles of our poor, unproductive hillsides each year, the State would still be becoming impover- ished because of the soil which was being washed down the slopes toward the ocean level faster than our trees produced it above. It is a serious problem, but the longer we balk and hang back the more serious it will become ! The newspapers of the day tell us that England proposes the following (taken from Public Ledger): ''The Royal Commission appointed to consider the question of afforestation as a palliative for un- employment, has recommended a plan for the planting of 9,000,000 acres in Great Britain and Ireland over a period of 80 years, about 150,000 acres to be afforested annually, and the work to employ 18,000 men in the winter months [equal to 234 square miles]. ''The report says the scheme should be financed by a loan, the interest to be defrayed by taxation. It is estimated the forests would be self-supporting after 40 years, and that after 80 years their income would reach $87,500,000. The commission in- cludes H. Rider Haggard." That some such plan will come to the front here, eventually, is more than likely, for t\yo reasons : ist, because it will appeal to the people ; and 2d, because it will be necessary. The prosperous perpetuity of this Sate demands at least six thousand square miles of forest on the 7 g highlands (more would be still better), and the f^ British plan appears to be the most effective ot any so far evolved. J. T. Rothrock. President Roosevelt and Forestry. IN his last Annual Message to Congress, Presi- dent Roosevelt again strongly recommended caring for the forests of the Nation, and his remarks on the subject are as follows : "If there is any one duty which more than another we owe it to our children and our chil- dren's children to perform at once, it is to save the forests of this country, for they constitute the firsfand most important element in the conserva- tion of the natural resources of the country. There are, of course, two kinds of natural resources. One is the kind which can only be used as part of a process of exhaustion ; this is true of mines, natural oil and gas wells, and the like. The o*^her, and of course ultimately by far the most import- ant, includes the resources which can be improved in the process of wise use ; the soil, the rivers and the forests come imder this head. Any really civilized nation will so use all of these three g^-eat national assets that the nation will have their benefit in the future. Just as a farmer, after all his life making his living from his farm, will, if he is an expert farmer, leave it as an asset of in- creased value to his son, so we should leave our national domain to our children, in increased value and not worn out. There are small sections of our own country, in the East and in the West, in the Adirondacks, the White Mountains and the Appalachians, and in the Rocky Mountains, where we can already see for ourselves the damage in the shape of permanent injury to the soil and the river systems which comes from reckless deforestation. It matters not whether this deforestation is due to the actual reckless cutting of timber, to the fires that inevitably follow such reckless cutting of timber, or to reckless and uncontrolled grazing, especially by the great migratory bands of sheep, the unchecked wandering of which over the country means destruction to forests and disaster to the small home makers, the settlers of limited means. Shortsighted persons or persons blinded to the future by desire to make money in every way out of the present, sometimes speak as if no great damage would be done by the reckless destruction of our forests. It is difficult to have patience with the arguments of these persons. Thanks to our own recklessness in the use of our splendid forests, we have already crossed the verge of a timber famine in this country, and no measures that we now take can, at least for many' years, undo the mischief that has alreadv been done. But we can prevent further mischief being done ; and it would be in the highest degree reprehensible to let any consideration of temporary convenience or tem- porary cost interfere with such action, especially as regards the national forests which the nation can now, at this very moment, control. All serious students of the question are aware of the great damage that has been done in the Mediterranean countries of Europe, Asia, and Africa by deforestation. The similar damage that has been done in Eastern Asia is less well known. A recent investigation into conditions in North China by Mr. Frank N. Meyer, of the Bureau of Plant Industry of the United States Department of Agriculture, has incidentally furnished in very striking fashion proof of the ruin that comes from reckless deforestation of mountains, and of the further fact that the damage once done may prove practically irreparable. So important are these investigations that I show in vivid fashion the appalling desolation, taking the shape of barren mountains and gravel and sand-covered plains, which immediately follows and depends upon the deforestation of the mountains. Not many cen- turies ago the country of Northern China was one of the most fertile and beautiful spots in the entire world, and was heavily forested. We know this not only from the old Chinese records, but from the accounts given by the traveler, Marco Polo. He, for instance, mentions that in visiting the provinces of Shansi and Shensi he observed many plantations of mulberry trees. Now there is hardly a single mulberry tree in either of these provinces, and the culture of the silkworm has moved farther south, to regions of atmospheric moisture. As an illustration of the complete change in the rivers, we may take Polo's statement that a certain river, the Hun Ho, was so large and deep that merchants ascended it from the sea with heavily laden boats ; to-day this river is simply a broad, sandy bed, with shallow rapid currents wandering hither and thither across it, absolutely unnavigable. But we do not have to depend upon written records. The dry wells and the wells with water far below the former watermark bear testimony to the good days of the past and the evil days of the present. Wherever the native vegetation has been allowed to remain, as, for instance, here and there around a sacred temple or imperial burying-ground, there are still huge trees and tangled jungle, fragments of the glorious ancient forests. The thick, matted forest growth formerly covered the mountains to their summits. All natural factors favored this dense forest growth, and as long as it was permitted to exist the plains at the foot of the mountains were among the most fertile on the globe, and the whole country was a garden. Not the slightest effort was made, however, to prevent the un- checked cutting of the trees or to secure reforesta- tion. Doubtless for many centuries the tree cut- ting by the inhabitants of the mountains worked but slowly in bringing about the changes that have now come to pass ; doubtless for generations the inroads were scarcely noticeable. But there came a time when the forest had shrunk sufficiently to make each year's cutting a serious matter, and from that time on the destruction proceeded with appalling rapidity, for, of course, each year of de- struction rendered the forest less able to recuper- ate, less able to resist next year's inroad. Mr. Meyer describes the ceaseless progress of the de- struction even now, when there is so little left to destroy. Every morning men and boys go out armed with mattox or axe, scale the steepest moun- tain side, and cut down and grub out, root and branch, the small trees and shrubs still to be found. The big trees disappeared centuries ago, so that now one of these is never seen save in the neigh- borhood of temples, where they are artificially protected ; and even here it takes all the watch and care of the tree-loving priests to prevent their destruction. Each family, each community, where there is no common care exercised in the interest of all of them to prevent deforestation, finds its profit in the immediate use of the fuel which would otherwise be used by some other family or some other community. In the total absence of regu- lation of the matter in the interest of the whole people each small group is inevitably pushed into a policy of destruction which cannot afford to take thought for the morrow. This is just one of these matters which is fatal to leave to unsupervised in- dividual control. The forests can only be pro- tected by the State, by the nation ; and the liberty I 14 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 1& » of action of individuals must be conditioned upon what the State or nation determines to be neces- sary for the common safety. The lesson of deforestation in China is a lesson which mankind should have learned many times already from what has occurred in other places. Denudation leaves naked soil ; then gullying cuts down to the bare rock, and meanwhile the rock waste buries the bottomlands. When the soil is gone men must go, and the process does not take long. This ruthless destruction of the forests in northern China has brought about, or has aided in bringing about, desolation, just as the destruc- tion of the forests in central Asia aid in bringing ruin to the once rich central Asian cities ; just as the destruction of the forests in northern Africa helped toward the ruin of a region that was a fertile granary in Roman days. Shortsighted man, whether barbaric, semi- civilized, or what he mistakenly regards as fully civilized, when he has destroyed the forests, has rendered certain the ultimate destruction of the land itself. In northern China the mountains are now absolutely barren peaks. Not only have the forests been destroyed, but be- cause of their destruction the soil has been washed off the naked rock. The terrible consequence is that it is impossible now to undo the damage that has been done. Many centuries would have to pass before soil would again collect, or could be made to collect, in sufficient quantity once more to support the oldtime forest growth. In consequence the Mongol Desert is practically extending eastward over northern China. The climate has changed and is still changing. It has changed even within the last half century as the work of tree destruction has been consum- mated. The great masses of arboreal vegetation on the mountains formerly absorbed the heat of the sun and sent up currents of cool air which brought the moisture-laden clouds lower and forced them to precipitate in rain a part of their burden of water. Now that there is no vegeta- tion, the barren mountains, scorched by the sun, send up currents of heated air which drive away instead of attracting the rain clouds, and cause their moisture to be disseminated. In conse- quence, instead of the regular and plentiful rains which existed in these regions of China when the forests were still in evidence, the unfortunate in- habitants of the deforested lands now see their cro|>s wither for lack of rainfall. While the • seasons grow more and more irregular, and as the air becomes dryer certain crops refuse longer to grow at all. That everything dries out faster than formerly is shown by the fact that the level of the wells all over the land has sunk perceptibly, many of them having become totally dry. In addition to the resulting agricultural distress, the water-courses have changed. Formerly they were narrow and deep, with an abundance of clear water the year around, for the roots and humus of the forests caught the rain water and let it escape by slow, regular seepage. They have now be- come broad, shallow stream beds, in which muddy water trickles in slender currents during the dry seasons, while when it rains there are freshets and roaring, muddy torrents come tearing down, bring- ing disaster and destruction everywhere. More- over, these floods and freshets, which diversify the general dryness, wash away from the moun- tain sides and either wash away or cover in the valleys the rich fertile soil which it took tens of thousands of years for nature to form, and it is lost forever, and until the forests grow again it cannot be replaced. The sand and stones from the mountain sides are washed loose and come rolling down to cover the arable lands, and in conse- quence, throughout this part of China, many for- merly rich districts are now sandy wastes, useless for human cultivation and even for pasture. The cities have been, of course, seriously affected, for the streams have gradually ceased to be navigable. There is testimony that even within the meniory of men now living there has been a serious dimi- nution of the rainfall of northeastern China. The level of the Sungari River, in northern Man- : churia, has been sensibly lowered during the last 50 years, at least partly as the result of the indis- criminate cutting of the forests forming its water- shed. Almost all the rivers of northern China have become uncontrollable and very dangerous to the dwellers along their banks, as a direct re- sult of the destruction of the forests. The journey from Pekin to Jehol shows in melancholy fashion how the soil has been washed away from whole valleys, so that they have been converted into deserts. In northern China this disastrous pro- cess has gone on so long and has proceeded so far that no complete remedy could be applied. . . . What has thus happened in northern China, what has happened in Central Asia, in Palestine, in North Africa, in parts of the Mediterranean countries of Europe, will surely happen in our country if we do not exercise that wise fore- thought which should be one of the chief marks of any people calling itself civilized. Nothing should be permitted to stand in the way of the preservation of the forests, and it is criminal to permit individuals to purchase a little gain for themselves through the destruction of forests when this destruction is fatal to the well-being of the whole country in the future. ' ' Biltmore Forest School, BILTMORE. N. C. 0000 The Biltmore Forest School is the only technical school of forestry in this country. It illustrates its teachings on a large scale, on a tract of land owned by George W. Vanderbilt, comprising 130,000 acres of forest. The complete course covers twelve consecutive months. Write for particulars, addressing C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D., Director, BILTMORE, N. C. The Pennsylvania State College FOUR YEAR COURSE IN FORESTRY. A thorough and practical undergraduate course in technical forestr)' — preparing men for all lines of professional and applied forestry. Special attention is paid to practical field work in surveying, mapping and forest measurements. One of the largest ' of the State Forest Reserves is within a short walk of the College. For information regarding entrance requirements, expenses, etc., address DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, STATE COLLEGE, PA. J, T. ROTHROCK, Consulting Forester, WEST CHESTER, PA. Terms upon Application. , CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILA. 30 minutes from Broad St. Station. BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BOYS. Tlluatrated Catalogue upon application, JAMES L. PATTERSON, Head Master. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rt. Rev. Ozi W. Whitaker, D.D., President. Samuel F. Houston, Vice- President. George Woodward, Secretary and Treasurer. JAMES M. BECK. WALTON CLARK. DR. HOWARD A. KELLY. JACOB 8. DISSTON. FRANCIS D. LEWIS. EDGAR DUDLEY PARIES. RANDAL MORGAN. FRANCIS I. QOWEN. H. GORDON MCCOUCH. J. LEVERING JONES. JAMES R. SHEFFIELD. li 16 \4 FOREST LEAVES. Know Andorra's Trees? If Not — Why Not? ONE ITEM-OUR PIN OAKS. Andorra's Pin Oaks have given all purchasers absolute satisfaction. The reason is not hard to find — they have the quality — roots and vitality The Pin Oak presents points which readily distinguish it from all others, and it is undoubtedly the most valuable for all practical purposes. The dense finely divided foliage is a beautiful shining green through the Summer months, and colors to sparkling red and yellow in the Fall. The Pin Oak is easily transplanted, and is the quickest growing of all the Oaks. As an avenue or lawn tree it is unequalled. The Pin Oak thrives in all sections, in all soils and situations, =Try Andorra's stock. EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN. OUR BOOKLET "MORE SPECIALTIES," 3d EDITION, DESCRIBES THESE AND MANY OTHERS. SPECIAL REMEMBER! EVERY TREE A SPECI Each 6 to 7 ft. Low-branched $i oo 7 to 8 ft. Low-branched i *5 8 to 9 ft. Low-branched; ij4 to i|^ in. cal i 50 9 to 10 ft. Low-branched; i^ to 2 in. cal 2 00 10 to 12 ft. Low-branched; 2 to 2)4 in. cal 2 50 10 to 12 ft. 2^ to 3 in 3 50 Extra-heavy Specimens $3 50 to 10 00 Send for PRICE L.IST.-^| EN! Per xo $8 50 10 00 13 50 17 50 22 50 30 00 Per xoo $60 00 70 00 125 00 135 00 150 00 275 00 ANDORRA NURSERIES, WM. WARNER HARPER, Prop. Box F, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA, PA. Vol. XII. Philadelphia, April, 1909. No. 2, Published Bi-Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, loia Walnut St„ Philadelphia, Pa. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as second class matter. CONTENTS. . ijji "" > i»y- "^^^^ ^m 'Editorial 17 Editorial Correspondence — In tne Mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico 18 Spring Arbor Day Proclamation ^ ^9 Proposed Pennsylvania Forestry Legislation 19 Proposed Forest Taxation in Pennsylvania 21 Correspondence in Regard to Forest Fires 22 Virgin Hemlock on Pennypacker Reservation 24 Minnesota on the Taxation of Timber Lands 24 United States Timber Facts 25 Forestry in Maine 25 Hawaii's Forests 26 Why Pennsylvania Needs Forestry 28 Subscription, $1.00 per Year. 7%/ atttntion oy Nurserymen and others is called to the advantages ^ FoRBST Lbavbs as an advertising medium. Rates will be fur- nished on application. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Founded in Junb, 1886, Labors to disseminate information in regard to the necessity and methods of forest culture and preservation, and to secure the enact- ment and enforcement of proper forest protective laws, both State and National. Annual member ship fee, Two dollars. Life membership, Twenty-five dollars. Neither the membership nor the work of this Association is intended to be limited to the State of Pennsylvania. Persons desiring to become members should send their names to the Chairman of the Membership Committee, 1012 Walnut Street, Phila. President ^ John Birkinbine. Vice- Presidents , Wm. S. Harvey, James C. Haydon, Albert Lewis, Richard Wood. General Secretary^ Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. Recording Secretary, F. L. Bitler. Treasurer ^ Charles E. Pancoast. Council-at- Large, Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Hon. Robert S. Conklin, Samuel L. Smedley. Finance, W. S. Harvey, Chairman ; Dr. Henry M. Fisher, W. W. Frazier, Charles E. Pancoast, and J. Rodman Paul. Membership, Albert B. Weimer, Chairman ; Mrs. George F. Baer, Edwin Swift Balch, Robert S. Conklin, Hon. Lucien W. Doty, Dr. J. T. Rothrock, W.W. Scranton, Dr. Samuel Wolfe, and Hon. S. P. Wolverton. Law, Hon. W. N. Ashman, Chairman ; Henry Budd, and John A. Siner. Publication, John Birkinbine, Chairman ; F. L. Bitler, S. B. Elliott, Alfred S. Haines, Alfred Paschall, and Harrison Souder. Work, Mrs. Brinton Coxe. Chairman ; Mrs. George T. Heston, William S. Kirk, J. Franklin Meehan, and Abraham S. Schropp, County C7r^ff/2a/i<7», Samuel Marshall, Chairman; Eugene iLllicott, James C. Haydon, Dr. J. Newton Hunsberger, and Richard Wood. Opficb op thb Association, loia Walnitf St.. Philadblphia. EDITORIAL. THE Arbor Day proclamation of Governor Stuart has the ring of true conservation, for it includes with forest preservation and protection, their intelligent use as creators of shade, producers of forest and lumber, protectors of soil and equalizers of stream flow. It recog-- nizes the educational influence upon the rising generation resulting from days specifically desig- nated and commends as wise legislation the pro- vision for officially announcing Arbor Day. While remarkably brief, the proclamation cov- ers practically the forestry problems of propaga- tion, preservation, protection, popularization and utilization. The topographical and climatic conditions which prevail in Pennsylvania, with an area of 45,000 square miles from sea level to 2,800 feet above that distance, make it advisable to designate two dates separated by intervals of three weeks (viz., April 2 and 23) giving to all citizens the option of either upon which to plant trees or to take other special action as fitting celebrations. This course detracts from the general effect which would follow an observance by the entire State of one particular day, but for the reasons named the designation of the dates is advisable. The tone of Governor Stuart's proclamation gives assurance to the friends of forestry through- out the State that any of the legislation which is now pending as mentioned in other columns of this issue will receive from the Chief Executive careful consideration. J. B. n» 1» 'I* ^ 1^ The Pennsylvania State Forestry Academy is mailing regularly to the press of this State clip- pings in regard to forestry. This is an eff"ort we commend, and regret the crowded condition of our columns prevents our inserting some of them in this issue. 18 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. Editorial Correspondence— In the Moun- tains of Oaxaca, Mexico. A LATE interview, published by the Mexi- can Herald, claimed that Mexico need not fear timber exhaustion, mainly because of the inaccessibility of the supply ; but a fairly intimate knowledge of our sister republic does not corroborate this view, and the ready acquiescence of President Diaz with President Roosevelt's de- sire for international conservation indicates that he, as chief magistrate, recognizes the necessity of preserving and protecting the timber supply. This is written in a locality where conditions favor forest growth ; the elevation of the valley is 6,000 feet above sea-level, and about it lie moun- tains from one to two thousand feet higher, mostly covered with trees, while no railroad is within 75 miles and no continuous wagon road within 50 miles. The section is accessible only by trail, the climate is favorable, and, although there is a rainy and dry season, .the latter is broken by occa- sional showers, so that it is not an arid region. Although even in winter the days are warm, cool nights and occasional frosts prevail. Geographi- cally, the position is latitude 17° north of the equator. In following the trails over the steep mountains and across the barrancas the absence of large trees is noticeable, and those which are of considerable size are gnarled and twisted. On the hills the pine and oak, and along the streams cypress, pre- vail, the latter often assuming large proportions, but are usually merely a border adjacent to the stream-bed. While the habitat or environment have undoubtedly affected the tree growth, it is probable that man has had much to do in creating the conditions which exist. The absence of sprouts or healthy undergrowth which may in time replenish the forest is attribut- able to large droves of sheep and goats which leave in their wake little in the way of vegetable growth. Although this is a mountainous section, accessi- ble only by difficult trails, it maintained a popula- tion before William Penn became interested in what is now Pennsylvania, as is proven by ruins and other relics found in the vicinity. For cen- turies the inhabitants have depended upon wood for fuel. It constitutes their camp fires, and charcoal furnishes heat for their hrassieros, on which the food is cooked in the Mexican homes. For smelting ores and for use in towns and cities charcoal is employed, but the small size of meilers and the waste in packing on the backs of animals result in a small yield from a given volume of wood carbonized. 19 The adobe houses are one, or at rriost two stories in height, the roofs and, in the case of two-story buildings, the second floor being supported on heavy beams or vigas, sheathed with slabs to sus- tain the tiling. Doors and windows and window gratings are heavily made, because the Mexican uses an axe or an adze and seldom a saw, but one viga or one plank being obtained from a tree felled for the purpose. The low buildings and the area they cover, the method of hewing out all timber, and the almost universal application *of wood, even for many purposes where we are used to metal, suggests that more timber is cut for a house of Mexican construction than for one in the United States which accommodates an equal number of persons, even if built entirely of wood. It is sel- dom that the chips or waste obtained in preparing lumber are used, but are left to decay, the wood or charcoal merchant preferring to cut other ma- terial wherever most convenient. It can hardly be expected that even in a section so sparsely populated such procedure could be fol- lowed for centuries without deteriorating the wood supply, especially as the best trees are first sought for, and if, as is probably true, a denser population at one time occupied this portion of Oaxaca, the demand upon the forests may have been greater than now. To-day a land owner or municipality permits the cutting of timber at 12 i^ centavos a tree, the purchaser being privileged to select such trees as he desires. This price is equivalent in American money at the present time to 6 3^ cents. In the lower country, or "• terra Calienta," the tropical growth encourages mahogany and other special woods to develop, but these being, as a rule, nearer the seacoast, rapidly become features of trade. In the mountain sections of northern Mexico, where the climate approaches more to that of the temperate zone, and where a sparser population has utilized the forests, there are better growths of oak and pine than in the section from which this is written, but it is evident that a forest protective policy is necessary for the Republic of Mexico. Although as this is written a forest fire in Southern Oaxaca attracts attention, these are not as common as in the United States, and a feature of interest also is that forest fires sel- dom ravage the country. This is remarkable when the number of places along the trail, which show that a pack train has halted and the niozos cooked their scanty meal, are observed, but the small fire employed and the care which these In- dians take in extinguishing the fire after it has served its purpose indicates that in this particular they are in advance of the hunters and visitors in the woods of the United States. J. B. Spring Arbor Day Proclamation. IN the name and by authority of the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania. Executive Depart- ment. Proclamation. The annual observ- ance of Arbor Day has fostered public sentiment in favor of the preservation of the forests, their protection from fire and other enemies, and their intelligent use for commercial, industrial and other purposes. It has emphasized in the public mind the value of trees for shade, for fruit, for timber, for holding the soil and conserving the streams. It has made the rising generation familiar with the best methods of planting trees and for promoting their growth. It has led to the beautifying of the public parks and the grounds about homes and school houses. The custom of observing Arbor Day, which is now almost universal throughout the civilized world, should be encouraged and perpetuated. Wise legislative enactment has made it the duty of the Chief Executive to name one or more days as Arbor Days for the State of Pennsylvania. Therefore, in furtherance of this laudable cus- tom, and by authority of law, I, Edwin S. Stuart, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby issue this, my Proclamation, designat- ing Friday, April second, and Friday, April twenty-third,A. D., 1909, as Arbor Days through- out the Commonwealth. Two days have been designated so that every section of the State may find a day for tree plant- ing suited to its climatic conditions. Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State at the City of Harrisburg, this seventeenth day of March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and nine, and of the Commonwealth the one hundred and thirty- third. Edwin S. Stuart. By the Governor : Robert McAfee, Secretary of the Commonwealth. Proposed Pennsylvania Forestry Legislation. IN addition to the bills on taxation, which are given in full in another column, the follow- ing relating to forestry have been introduced in the Legislature and are advocated by the Depart- ment of Forestry : — H. R.^ i^. Authorizes the Department of For- estry to grow and distribute young forest trees to those who will plant and care for them. The seedlings are to be sold by the Department at a reasonable charge, not in excess of the actual cost of production, the purchaser bearing the transpor- tation charges and agreeing to plant the seedlings under the direction of the Department of Forestry, care for and protect them. H. R,, i^y. Is to create a system of fire wardens to prevent and suppress forest fires on woodlots and wild lands, the Commissioner of Forestry being the Chief Fire Warden, with authority to appoint suitable district fire wardens. These district fire wardens are empowered to employ other persons to assist in extinguishing forest fires, the wardens re- ceiving 25 cents per hour and expenses and other persons 15 cents per hour. In each township or borough the district fire warden may appoint as- sistant fire wardens with the same authority, who shall be paid 20 cents per hour and expenses. A proper record is kept of the expenses, and at the end of each calendar year the Auditor General ap- portions the amounts he has expended in this manner among the different counties who are to pay one-third of the expense incurred. During the months of April and May and from September 15 to November 15, known as the fire seasons, the fire wardens may, at the discretion of the Commissioner of Forestry, be required to keep daily patrol, receiving therefor a stated sum not in excess of $25 per month. These fire wardens also have the right to arrest persons violating the laws. The sum of $300,000 is appropriated for this purpose. This bill would seem to be a con- siderable improvement over having constables act as ex-officio firewardens, creating an independent force without local prejudice, reporting to and managed from a central office. H,R,,i^g. Provides that all forest reserves shall be subject to an annual charge of two cents per acre for school purposes, provided no school district shall receive in any one year more than $500, and no school district shall be entitled to receive any sum under this act unless a tax of not less than four mills on the dollar of assessed valua- tion be levied and collected. Warrants to be drawn by the Auditor General after approval by the Commissioner of Forestry. This bill is com- mendable for the reason that it removes the objection to the present law under which the larger the area acquired by the State in a given township the greater the payment, whereas any increase in the quantity of land owned by the State in any given township the less money is needed for school purposes. The road appropria- tion in the old act is removed from the bill for the reason that the Legislature is asked to transfer ' the roads in the reservation to the Department to keep in repair (see H. R., 286). H. R. , 257. Provides for the protection of the State forest reserves, specifying the penalties for disobeying the rules and regulations of the De- partment of Forestry, being a codification of the 20 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 21 present law. It aims to form a uniform system of protection for State lands. H. R., 244. Is a companion act to 257, being | designed to protect woodlands not owned by the State from being set on fire, having timber stolen from or damaging the trees thereon. H. R,^ 286. Transfers to the Department of Forestry the control and management of all public highways, not improved State highways, border- ing on or lying within the State forest reserves. It gives full authority to open, amend, grade, im- prove and keep in repair all roads. The expense to be provided for in the appropriation made for the Department of Forestry. This takes the place of the old act requiring the State to pay two cents per acre of forest reserves as a road tax. Under this present law but little of the money thus paid out is expended on the roads bordering on or within the reserves, and the new act is to remedy this defect. H. R. 46p. Is to amend sections i, 3, 7 and 8 of the Act establishing the Department of Forestry. It gives to the Forestry Reservation Commission increased privileges, in leasing rights of way, land for water-power plants, to employ forest rangers, etc. These amendments are com- mendable, placing the Forestry Reservation Com- mission in position to better administer the forest reserves which are in their care, and secure revenue to the State from them. If. R. ^42. Is for appropriations for the ex- penses of the various Departments of the State Government. The portion referring to the De- partment of Forestry amounts' to $564,500 for two years. No deductions should be made from this appropriation, which includes the amounts to be paid to the Commissioner of Forestry, his assistants, forester«j, forest rangers, for surveys, labor, traveling expenses, etc. JI. R. ^jj. Provides for an appropriation of $16,000 for the salaries of instructors, stationery, maintenance, etc., and $1,000 to equip the laboratories. It would also seem commendable if an appropriation of $19,000 additional were made of which $16,000 could be wisely used in completing the dormitory building, the balance of $3,000 to be utilized in furnishing it. This would put the Forestry Academy in position to properly care for all its students. If, R. S57' Sets aside $100,000 for the pur- chase of lands for forest reserves, also $300,000 for a similar purpose for the fiscal year beginning June I, 1909, and an equal amount for the fiscal year following. H. R,y 813, Is for an appropriation of $3,500 for the purchase of the herbarium of 20,000 speci- mens and the scientific botanical library of 260 books and 280 pamphlets belonging to Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. The herbarium and library to be placed in the State Library at Harrisburg, to be known as the ** Rothrock Herbarium and Scienti- fic Library." This is a valuable collection of scientific material and literature which has been gathered by Dr. Rothrock in a long series of years, which it would be difficult, if not impossible, to duplicate. We trust it will be purchased and maintained as a fitting memorial of Dr. Rothrock, who has done so much to forward the cause of forestry in Pennsylvania. H. R., 826. Is to establish recreation camps within the forest reserves and making an appro- priation of $15,000 therefor. It is proposed to have the Commissioner of Forestry select thre^ ** Recreation Camps," to be open to receive campers in such numbers and at such times as he may elect. Wooden camp floors are to be pro- vided, also a suitable overseer for each camp. ^ This is in line with the general idea of having the State forestry reserves serve as outing grounds for the people. Other bills which relate to forestry are : — H. R., 775. Designed to protect trees growing by the roadsides and within road limits, and pro- viding for a penalty of $5.00 for each tree injured or destroyed, and if not paid imprisonment for not to exceed 30 days. B. R., 226. Is to regulate the management of timber lands in Pennsylvania for the purpose of preventing floods and drought, conserving the water supply and securing favorable conditions of waterflows. It proposes to give the Department of Forestry the power to make reasonable rules and regulations and to issue permits for the cut- ting of timber, etc., within the State. Any violation to be punished by a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days. H. R., 228. Provides for the purchase and dis- tribution of tree seeds by the Commissioner of Forestry, who also has the power to appoint two persons to travel through the State and explain the benefits of such planting. It appropriates $3,200, which includes salaries of $800 per annum for the two agents above mentioned. This bill was defeated. B. R,, 2SJ. Permits the acquisition of forest or other suitable lands by municipalities for the purpose of establishing municipal forests and providing for the administration, maintenance, protection and development of such forests. This is to enable the municipalities to acquire by pur- chase, gift or condemnation, tracts of land (subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Forestry, who is also empowered to make rules for govern- ment and administration) for municipal forests, which, in some instances, may conserve and pro- tect the water supply. This is a new departure, and follows the European idea of communal forests. Proposed Forest Taxation in Pennsylvania. THE two following acts have been introduced in the Legislature by the Department of Forestry to create a just method of taxing private forest lands, and we trust our members will use their influence with Legislators to secure their enactment : — If. R.y j8j. To define and establish auxiliary forest reserves, and providing a penalty for the violation thereof. Section i. Be it enacted, etc.. That in order to encourage the growing of such trees as will at the proper age be suitable for merchantable tim- ber and sawed lumber, whether such be of natural reproduction or from seed sown or trees planted out or all combined, all surface lands which may be set apart according to the provisions of this act and exclusively used for growing such trees are hereby constituted a separate and distinct class of lands to be known as auxiliary forest reserves. • Sec. 2. When any owner of surface land upon which trees are growing shall desire and elect to have such land placed in the class established by Section i of this act, such owner shall notify the Commissioner of Forestry of his desire in manner and form to be prescribed by said Commissioner. Said notice shall contain a description of the land, its location, boundary, and character, and state, as far as practicable, the species, number and size of trees per acre, and also their condition, and whether they are of natural reproduction or are from seed sown for the purpose, or have been set out on said land, and such other information as the Commissioner of Forestry may require. If, upon receipt and consideration of this notice, the Commissioner of Forestry may deem the condi- tions such as to warrant action on his part to determine whether such lands should rightfully be placed in the class established by Section i of this act, he shall cause the same to be examined by some person learned in the principles and prac- tices of forestry and a report made to him thereon, and if, upon receipt and consideration of such report, he shall conclude that such land should be placed in the class established by Section i of this act, he shall so declare and certify to the Commissioncs of the county in which said land is located. Sec. 3. Upon receipt by the County Commis- sioners of such certificate of the Commissioner of Forestry it shall be their duty at once to place said surface land in the class established by Sec- tion I of this act, and keep the same therein for a period of at least twenty years or thereafter until the trees growing thereon shall, in the judgment of the Commissioner of Forestry, become suffi- ciently large and suitable for merchantable timber and sawed lumber, or the land shall be devoted to other purposes ; provided, however, that the cer- tificate of the Commissioner of Forestry shall not become operative to place said surface land in the class established by Section i of this act until the owner of said surface land shall have agreed in writing with the Commissioner of Forestry to care for and treat the trees growing thereon according to the instructions and directions of the Commis- sioner of Forestry, and until such trees shall become suitable for merchantable timber and sawed lumber, and if any such owner shall at any time fail to care for and treat the trees growing on said land as agreed with the Commissioner of Forestry, and due proof thereof shall be made, the Commissioner of Forestry shall remove said sur- face land from the class established by Section i of this act. The County Commissioners shall there- upon proceed to recover from the said owner for the use of the county and township by an appropriate action at law the diff*erence in the amount of tax which would have been paid by the said owner under the prevailing rates which existed on similar lands in said county and the rate provided for auxiliary forest reserves, with costs of suit, and to be recoverable from the time when such lands were placed in the class of auxiliary forest re- serves. Sec. 4. Whenever the trees growing on said surface land shall become suitable for merchant- able timber and sawed lumber, and the owner thereof shall desire to cut and market the same, he shall give to the Commissioner of Forestry at least three months' notice prior to the time when it is his desire to begin such cutting and market- ing. The Commissioner of Forestry shall then make an examination of said lands and designate for the owner the kind and number of trees most suitable to be cut for the purpose for which the owner desires to place the same upon the market, if, in the judgment of the Commissioner of Forestry, there be any such, and the cutting and removal of said trees so designated shall be in accordance with the instructions of the Commis- sioner of Forestry. Sec. 5. If the owner of said surface land shall faithfully carry out the instructions of the Com- missioner of Forestry with regard to the removal and marketing of such mature or other trees as may be designated in the instructions of the said 22 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 23 Commissioner, and shall immediately replant other trees of valuable species for timber and sawed lumber, or so protect the young growth and stool shoots that the said land may immediately become covered with young forest growth, and shall do so in accordance with the instructions of the Com- missioner of Forestry, then such surface land shall remain in said class established by Section i of this act, otherwise the Commissioner of Forestry shall notify the County Commissioners that the said lands are not being maintained in accordance with the written agreement of the owner and the instructions of the Commissioner of Forestry, in which event the County Commissioners shan'im- mediately remove said lands from the class estab- lished by Section i of this act. All expenses attendant upon the examination of the said surface lands by the Commissioner of Forestry shall be paid out of moneys appropriated for the mainte- nance of the Department of Forestry in like manner as other expenses for maintenance of said Depart- ment are now paid. Sec. 6. The owner of the said auxiliary forest reserves shall at all times have the right to re- move therefrom trees which may be killed by fire, thrown or broken by the wind, or injured by other natural causes, and shall, under the direction of the Commissioner of Forestry, be privileged to make necessary thinnings or re- moval of undesirable species of trees in order to improve the condition of the remaining trees, and under the same direction may be privileged to remove therefrom such timber from time to time as may be necessary and essential for use upon the cleared lands of the said owner for general farm purposes. Sec. 7. That all acts or parts of acts incon- sistent herewith be and the same are hereby repealed. H. R., j86. To provide for the taxation of auxiliary forest reserves : — Section i. Be it enacted, etc. That all sur- face lands which shall hereafter be classified and set apart as auxiliary forest reserves shall be as- sessed for the purpose of taxation in an amount not in excess of $1 per acre, and shall continue to be so assessed so long as the said lands shall remain within the class designated as auxiliary forest reserves; provided, however, that if said surface lands be underlaid with coal, iron ore, oil or other valuable minerals, said mineral or minerals may be separately assessed. Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the County Commissioners to furnish each year to the sev- eral assessors of the county a statement of the names of the owners, and a sufficient description of the tracts which have been classified as aux- iliary forest reserves, and the several assessors shall place no greater value per acre upon such surface lands than is provided for in this act. Sec. 3. Whenever timber on lands which shall be included in the class of lands known as auxiliary forest reserves shall be cut and marketed, the owner of said lands shall pay to the County Commissioners for the use of the county an amount which shall be equal to sev- enty-five cents per thousand feet stumpage for such coniferous timber and fifty cents per thou- sand feet stumpage for such broadleaf timber as may be cut and marketed from said lands, and said amount shall be ascertained by statement under oath furnished to the said commissioners by the owner of the lands setting forth the number of feet of such coniferous and broadleaf timber respectively. Should the County Com- missioners be dissatisfied with any such return, the Court of Common Pleas in any such county, on petition of the commissioners, shall appoint a board of three appraisers, who shall go upon the land in question, estimate the quantity of timber cut and marketed, and make a return thereof to the court, which said return shall then be made the basis of the estimate provided for in this section. The said appraisers shall be duly sworn or affirmed before entering upon their work, and either party who shall be dis- satisfied with the report of the appraisers shall have right of appeal to the Court of Common Pleas of the county. The said appraisers shall be allowed their expenses and a compensation to be fixed by the court, both to be paid by the County Commissioners. Sec. 4. This act shall take efi'ect onlv begin- ning with assessments, which shall be made for the purpose of levying taxes for the fiscal year one thousand nine hundred and ten. Correspondence in Regard to Forest Fires. • kAST fall Pennsylvania was visited by many destructive forest fires, the total area burned over approximating 850,000 acres. A number of letters were received from members in regard to these fires, and we offer the follow- ing excerpts of some, which will be of interest. ** I have some three thousand acres of beautiful timber on part of which I have a summer home being the foothills of Laurel Hill. I have been burned over every year or two for the nine years I have occupied the place. I have seen at a dis- tance the fires being started, as the one of last October. Early in the morning, at a distance of about two miles, we could see a light smoke. I first sent men to endeavor to put the fire out, and went up in a tower to get a view of the fires. Sitting there fires could be seen started about every half mile, just about as fast as a man could walk, this continued for a couple of miles south of my place Now I am satisfied that the fires are not started to burn me or anyone else out. There is an Association adjoining of Pittsburghers, own- ing twelve hundred acres above which the fire started, but I feel rather certain that bad people set fire to these mountains to see the excitement, get the pay of 20 cents an hour, day and night, which they have been doing, and also be hauled out to the scene of the fires in wagons. Twenty cents an hour is an outrage to pay people to set fire to us. The State or County should not pay more than 12^ cents per hour, and make it obli- gatory on the County Commissioners to appoint several deputies or fire wardens, who would com- pel people to go to a fire. The Fire Commis- sioner of our township lives four miles away on the far side of the valley from where the woods are, and it is a perfect farce. I have been burned out now three or four times, and am going to cut the timber off, let it go, and stop forestry. These meetings and paper articles on how to do forestry are of no use if we do not have some patrol for a few weeks during the month of October to catch these parties who set fire to us. They used to say that it was the work of hunters building fires, but I doubt this very much from my experience." Our correspondent has good reason to feel ag- grieved, but we trust that he will not resort to the drastic method of denuding his property, and that the story he tells may be an incentive to encour- age rigid enforcement of our forest fire laws, and such equitable method of taxation as will assist owners of wooded areas to preserve them. We however cannot agree to the strictures upon the pay allowed by the State. If the employment was not of a temporary character, or the work was less severe, the pay would be excessive. But when the law calls men from the pursuit of their regular duties, and forces them to work amid heat and smoke the compensation should be fairly liberal, at least above the ordinary day wage rate. The trouble referred to was rather with the warden than with the men who obeyed his call to fight fires. If such instances are reported promptly to the Forestry Reservation Commission with proper evidence we are sure that the matter would re- ceive attention, and a few examples of dismissal would work a reform. Another member from Somerset County says : **I beg to make a few suggestions in regard to forest fires. Never before in the history of our county has there been so many acres burned over in one season as there were this fall. Of course we never had such a long continuous drought. As far as I can learn none of the fires originated from residents burning brush. They were nearly all started maliciously by parties unknown. I be- lieve if the law was changed, so as to make it the duty of the fire wardens to patrol the forests in time of danger, there would be less fires, as the law now stands the constables get no pay until a fire is started. We had three fires in Middlecreek township which burned over about 1,000 acres, doing thousands of dollars damage, and we be- lieve that if the constable had been in the w^oods — with a Winchester rifle — none of the fires would have been started. The first part of the editorial in the August number of Forest Leaves is well said. Surely our next legislature will be more generous in an appropriation for preserving our forests from fires ; $20,000 a year is an insignifi- cant sum compared with the matter at stake. The Legislature should make an appropriation for the constable and his deputies to patrol the woods in time of danger and watch for the miscreants who apply the match. As far as I can learn there have been only two persons arrested for setting fire to the woods in this county, and these were two foreigners who built a fire and were ignorant of the damage it might do. Our county paid out over $10,000 for fighting fires. This sum is in- significant with the hundreds of thousands of dollars damage to the young timber and the leaf humus." The suggestion of a forest patrol is worthy of careful consideration, and we hope that this will soon be a feature of forest legislation. Still another member from Tioga County writes: ** We notice two things wrong here. First, the railroad companies should be responsible for all forests destroyed by them with fire. Second, the fire fighters are almost worthless people who will set fire in order that they may get a few days vacation in the woods. I had, a little experience this last season. I helped build a fire guard about three miles in length. The work was well done and the fire safe. A few days later a smoke was rising at the farther end of the guard. On arriving there four men were setting in the dry leaves. I was not a welcome visitor, but in less than an hour had the fire under control without their help. Now those four men get just as much for their work as I did for mine, but their object was to get one more day in the woods. One of these men was a non-property holder, and appointed by the constable as deputy fire warden. The other three men were about of the same stripe." I 24 FOREST LEAVES. We may expect that some who represent the State are negligent, but as they are public ser- vants each citizen should feel it his right and his duty to report neglect on their part. House Bill No. 147, now in the Legislature, provides for all these complaints. Virgin Hemlock on Pennypacker Reservation. THE illustrations of this issue simplyare a con- tinuation of the same idea that was pre- sented in our last issue — namely, to show that amid all the desolated area which the State has been obliged to purchase to preserve the very soil itself from utter destruction, some well- timbered and productive areas are found. It is safe to say that some of the very best timbered land in this Commonwealth now belongs to the State. The only misfortune connected with the work is that it was not commenced earlier enough to secure more such timber. J. T. Rothrock. Minnesota on the Taxation of Timber Lands. IN 1907 the Legislature of Minnesota appointed a Tax Commission, whose duty it was to go over the whole system of taxation carefully, reporting on the same to the legislative body of that State. This Commission has just submitted its first biennial report ; included in this is an ex- haustive chapter on the taxation of logs and timber. Under the law at present the real prop- erty of which the timber is a part is taxed, and after the trees are logged they become personal property, being listed in the town or district where the business is being carried on, and where transported out of the State, to be assessed and taxed in the taxing district where found on May i. The advantages and disadvantages of the system are given at length. The Commission states, after going thoroughly into the subject, that *^all of the suggestions made regarding the taxation of timber lands have as their fundamental principle the separation of the value of the land from the value of the timber. While this has been the practice in Minnesota in making an assessment the law has not per- mitted the exemption of the timber from taxation. The assessor in Minnesota separates the land and the timber for convenience in making the valua- tion. The argument advanced for exempting timber lands from taxation (on the timber only) is to encourage better forestry methods and to check the rapid denuding of these valuable prop- erties. It is a question how much encouragement would be given by exempting timber from annual taxes when interest charges are greater than the amount of the tax, and in consequence the prin- cipal deterrent to holding timber for long periods of time." '*It has been suggested that the land itself should be taxed upon a nominal assessment, while the timber on the land should remain exempt from taxation until it is cut. When cut a tax of so much per thousand feet should be levied against it. Upon this point the Vermont Tax Commission, in its report for 1908, say : * This subject is a comparatively new one in this country, and we have not, as on many others, the benefit of the experience of other States. The evil effects, however, of the present method of taxation as applied to forests are so obvious and are working such injury to these vital interests that we believe the Legislature should take some action. The merits of the proposed method appear to us to be clear. A tax of 30 cents per thousand feet of lumber and 30 cents per cord of wood cut for manufacturing purposes would produce an annual revenue of $150,000. When it is considered that this tax is to be paid but once in the lifetime of a tree, and that it would be paid out of unearned increment, it cannot be regarded as burdensome, A strict enforcement of existing law would almost certainly result in wholesale deforestation of the most speedy and destructive character. The law contemplates and requires the appraisal of tim- ber land as of all other property -at its * true value in money,' Timber-bearing land is now generally appraised at a fraction of its just value. To sud- denly raise the appraisal to comply with the statutory requirement, including the full value of all standing timber, and to levy local rates of taxa- tion on this appraisal year after year would impose a burden which owners of this class of property would not endure when it could be avoided by immediate close cutting. It seems to us that some- thing, even in the way of experiment, is better than to allow the present conditions to con- tinue.' " While not adopting the views set forth by the . Vermont Commission, the Minnesota Commission believes the plan has merit worthy of serious con- sideration. The State Forestry Commissioner, General Andrews, accepts the principle of the plan but is opposed to the extension of the exemption area to more than 40 to 80 acres owned by one individual. Such treatment would unquestionably tend to hold back the sales of timber lands to the lumber companies, but it would not be an incen- * tive to the companies to check their cutting opera- tions on lands already under their control. . . • ml'.:?- FoRKST Leavks, Vol. xii., Xo. 2. ri,-?' I ii '; -^'«- - ..■ -r tin/ '" •. ¥* ^ r *4 • ' '^':- • -T^-' •-«fH 4,''*-. 5 '^■- t - <• i- ^ ig •? • •*■ i?r: • * ' ,^ ^'f -.•f^.^ / ' ^,/.' ** ^i?*^- : '*<«-«, 3? ^.- , ■ 1 ^ --•>>>**i*<^- 'i-<.^6if*. ■ • i'*' t ' • •'-V*. --'. ■4 /■•••'' V 1 ^<»^ . ■"»■'. --.>>' ' ^/w'-^?- •^K^^r^' 'lifc-*- ;-' • X • ' '«k * '-1^''*^ • <*»~>*~ ' V /4^ ^S^, -^f « VIRGIN HEMLOCK FOREST. PENNYPACKER RESERVATION. PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. VIRGIN HEMLOCK FOREST. PENNYPACKER RESERVATION, PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. -.-^*** % FOREST LEAVES. 25 ''The problem of taxing timber and timber lands is not met by merely changing the place of taxation, but can be met only by a revision and a restatement of the present law, in which is recog- nized the difference between the land and the timber, and that timber is a crop which is reaped but once in many years, and therefore taxable but once instead of annually as at present. ' ' United States Timber Facts. THE United States, according to the report of the Section of Forests of the Conservation Conference, now has 550,000,000 acres of forested lands, or about one -fourth of the total land are.a of continental United States. The original forests covered not less than 850,000,000 acres. Forest reserves cover about one-fourth of the total, and contain one-fifth of the timber standing ; privately owned forests cover the bal- ance. Scientific forestry is now practiced on 70 per cent, of the publicly owned forests, and on less than i per cent, of the private forests. The total yearly growth of our forests is less than 7,000,000,000 cubic feet. There is taken from the forests each year, including waste in log- ging and manufacture, 23,000,000,000 cubic feet. There is used annually in the United States 100,000,000 cords of fire wood, 40,000,000,000 feet of lumber, more than 1,000,000,000 posts, poles and fence rails, 118,000,000 staves, 133,- 000,000 sets of heading, 500,000,000 barrel hoops, 3,000,000 cords of native pulp wood, 165,000,000 cubic feet of round mine timbers and 1,250,000 cords of wood for distillation. Not less than 50,000,000 acres of forest lands are burned over annually, and since 1870 forest fires have each year destroyed an average of 50 lives and $50,000,000 of timber. One-fourth of the standing timber is left or otherwise lost in logging ; the loss in the mill is from one-third to two-thirds of the timber sawed, and the loss in the mill product from seasoning and fitting for use is from one-seventh to one- quarter. The boxing of long leaf pine for tur- pentine has destroyed one-fifth of the forests worked. In other words, in the United States only 320 feet of lumber is used for every 1,000 feet that stood in the forests. The lumber cut has increased less than 15 per cent, in the last ten years, but the average price at the mill of all kinds of lumber has risen 49 per cent. We invite by overtaxation the misuse of the forests, and destroy by fire in one year enough timber to supply the whole nation for three months. We should plant, to protect farms fvoxn winds and to make stripped and treeless lands produc- tive, an area larger than the States of Pennsyl- vania, Ohio and West Virginia combined ; so far lands planted to trees make a total area less than Rhode Island. By reasonable thrift we can produce a constant timber supply beyond our present needs, and with it conserve the usefulness of streams for naviga- tion, power, irrigation and water supply. The private owners (3,000,000) must be educated, forest fires stopped, reduce waste by careful log- ging and other methods, and leave cut-over lands productive ; by preservative treatment make the timber logged go further ; also avoid needless waste in the mill, factory and use. Taxes must be adjusted and treeless lands planted. Forestry in Maine. THE friends of forestry in Maine are inter- ested in a proposed act for the preservation, '• perpetuation and increase of the forests in the State of Maine. It proposes to create a State Forest Commission, to consist of a Forester and six Assistant Foresters. The Forester is to have charge of all State forests, including the power to reforest and regulate cutting, provide young trees for planting by individuals at cost, and regulate cutting in the auxiliary State forests, also to fight forest fires throughout the State. The State forests are to comprise all the areas now owned, or which will be hereafter acquired by the State, which are now covered by trees, or which will hereafter be planted to trees by the State. The Forester is also to recommend to the Governor and Council such tracts of lands as he deems most advantageous for preserving existing forests and in reforesting barren areas, especially on the principal watersheds. When appropriations are made for such purchases as are recommended by the Forester and approved by the Governor and Council, the tracts shall be taken in the name of the State and the owner justly compensated therefor. Auxiliary State forests are to include all areas owned by private individuals and now covered by trees, or which shall be planted to trees for use as fuel or manufacture. When the owners of these auxiliary forests desire to cut trees an application is filed with the Forester stating the amount of logs, etc., it is desired to cut, the .«?tumpage price, or, if sold for a gross sum, this is to be given, together with location of the trees. A license 'is then issued by the Forester, which can be revoked if the law in regard to cutting Illj^ 26 FOREST LEAVES. li FOREST LEAVES. 27 \l such forests is not conformed to. Any person failing to comply with this provision shall be punished by a fine not to exceed ^i,ooo. This license, however, is not required for clearing land for agricultural purposes, buildings, etc., unless the wood so cut is sold for fuel or used for manufacture. No spruce or pine trees under lo inches in diameter 4 feet from the ground shall be cut, except where necessary for the clearing of roads, or yards, except on written authority from the Forester. All trees are to be sawed down, and are not to be cut more than 12 inches above the ground. All debris is to be burned at such time as there is not less than 8 inches of snow on the ground. At least three pine or spruce seed-bearing trees are to be left standing on each acre cut. There are special sections in regard to marking logs, forestry plans, permits and scalers. As. to taxation, all growing trees on auxiliary State forests within the State are exempt from taxation. States assessors, etc., shall for the pur- pose of taxation, appraise the soil only in the auxiliary forests, independent of the value of the growth thereon and independent of the area of any great pond, and assess on the soil a tax in the same manner and at the same rate that other prop- erty is taxed. All persons or firms owning auxiliary State forests, in cutting trees therefrom, shall pay to the State Treasurer or to tax collectors in mu- nicipalities where the soil is located an excise tax of five per cent, upon the stumpage value of all trees so cut during the year ending the first day of May, the value of the stumpage to be determined by the assessors who assess the soil on which the trees were cut, who will be aided by copies of the licenses and returns made to the Forester. The State will credit each county assessing the soil with an amount which shall bear the same ratio to the amount of excise tax received on stumpage from such tracts for the year prior to such credit as the rate of the county tax bears to the rate of the State tax. Proper provision is also made for applications for abatement of taxes, sworn returns of cut, etc. One Forest Warden is also to be appointed by the State Forester for every 200,000 acres of for- est land, who shall receive a salary not to exceed ^1720 per year and necessary expenses. Local fire wardens shall be appointed by the Forester, who will receive when on duty $2.00 per day and ex- penses, and serve at such times as may be directed. All railroads are to keep their rights of way through forests cleared of unnecessary inflammable material, and none of this is to be burned when the Forester notifies the railroad that the condi- tions are such as to endanger adjoining forests. The railroads are also, required to patrol their rights of way through the forests when in the judgment of the Forester such patrol is necessary for the protection of these forests. No fires are allowed to be built in State or auxiliary State forests unless in enclosed stoves or in stoves and fireplaces in permanent enclosed buildings. $100,000 per annum is set aside for carrying out the provisions of this act, and any unexpended balance is to remain in the treasury' for use in ex- traordinary expenditures such as may arise by reason of fires in extremely dry seasons. Hawaii's Forests. MR. RALPH S. HOSMER, Superintendent of the Division of Forestry of the Terri- tory of Hawaii, has issued his report for the year ending December 3 1, 1907; together with A. Gartley, he also prepared for Territorial Con- servation Commission, the report of the Committee on Forests, which was presented on November 14, 1908, and as this gives a succient account of the forest resources of Hawaii, the following data taken from it will interest our readers : — For a clear understanding of the forest situation in Hawaii it is necessary that one be acquainted with the conditions of topography and local climate. Lying in the belt of the northeast trade winds and being mountainous it follows that the Hawaiian Islands have a climate characterized by contrasts. On the windward slopes of the moun- tains is an area of high precipitation ; in the lee- ward districts scant rainfall, even approaching aridity, is the rule. These facts, coupled with the remarkable porosity of the soil, due to its volcanic origin, have a very direct bearing on the forest situation. There are two main classes of forest in Hawaii. Both are of economic value ; one because it helps to conserve the water needed for irrigation, power development and domestic supply ; the other be- cause it produces wood and timber. The forests of the former class are as a rule situated on the moist, windward slopes of the higher mountains. They are essentially '' protection forests " in that their main value rests in the water that can be got from them. Those of the latter class, the commer- cial forests, are found in the districts where be- cause of the absence of running streams watershed protection does not figure. The forests of the first class are by long odds the most important, for in Hawaii the relation between sustained stream flow and a watershed protected by a forest cover is intimate and peculiarly direct. The importance of the forest is generally recog- nized in Hawaii and has led to a strong public sentiment in favor of forestry. This finds expres- sion in a Territorial Forest Service charged with the creation and administration of forest reserves and with the prosecution of other forest work. During the past five years under a definite forest policy systematically followed sixteen forest re- serves have been set apart, with an aggregate total area of 444,116 acres. Of this area 273,912 acres, or 61 percent., is land belonging to the Territorial Government. The other 39 percent, is in private ownership, but for the most part the owners of the lands, fully aware of the benefits of forest protection, co-operate actively with the Territorial Government in the management of the forest reserves. There are three main types of forest in Hawaii, the Koa and Ohia forest lying between the eleva- tions of 2,000 and 6,000 feet ; the Mamani forest, a pure stand of another native Hawaiian tree found on the upper slopes of the higher mountains ; and the introduced Algaroba forest, which occurs at the lower levels on the leeward side of each of the larger islands. The typical Hawaiian forest is of the first type. The forest consists of a dense jungle of trees, high growing shrubs, tree-ferns and climbers, with much undergrowth and a heavy ground cover of ferns and bracken. Altogether it is a plant com- munity admirably adapted for the conservation of moisture, for preventing erosion and for serving as a reservoir to feed the springs and streams that rise within its bounds. The most important trees are Ohia Lehua {Metrosideros polymorpha^ and Koa (^Acacia Kod), The forest in all the forest reserves is of this type. A recent compilation of the forest areas of the Territory shows that the Koa and Ohia forest covers approximately 1,175,000 acres. Of this area it is estimated that eventually about three- quarters of a million acres will be included within forest reserve boundaries, of which about 70 per cent, will be Government land. Above the level of the Koa and Ohia forest, on the slope of Mauna Kea (elevation 13,825 feet), on the island of Hawaii, is found a nearly pure stand of another native Hawaiian tree, Mamani {Sophora chrysophylla). This forest occurs in a belt lying between the elevations of 6,000 and 8,500 feet. The area of the Mamani forest on Mauna Kea is 63,500 acres. Mamani occurs else- where in the Territory but does not at the present time form what may be called forests. It is, how- ever, spreading rapidly so that in future years it will play a much larger part than it does now. Mamani makes excellent fence posts, for which purpose the trees in the upper forest belt are cut for local use. No accurate figures as to the num- ber cut are now available. Otherwise this type of forest is unimportant commercially. The Algaroba (^Frosopis juliflord) is the mes- quite of the southwest. This tree was introduced into the islands in 1837. It has now spread so as to cover between 50,000 and 60,000 acres below an elevation of 1,000 feet in the leeward districts of the larger islands of the group. It is spreading rapidly along the leeward coasts, and is also gradu- ally climbing to a higher elevation. The Algaroba forest is the largest single source of fuel supply in the Territory. It is estimated that over 3,000 cords are sold annually in Hono- lulu. The price varies from $12 to $14 a cord, delivered. The Algaroba forests are further of value be- cause the pods make good stock feed and also because the tree is one of the important plants locally for bee food. It is estimated that for the calendar year 1907 the total amount invested in apiaries and other equipment for the manufacture of Algaroba honey was $125,000, and that the gross receipts for Algaroba honey products for the year were over J 2 5, 000, The two Hawaiian woods of commercial im- portance are Koa and Ohia Lehua. Both are heavy, close-grained hardwoods. Koa is used for interior finish, furniture, cabinet work and ven- eering. The fact that none of the native trees in Hawaii furnish construction timber has led to extensive tree planting, both by the Territorial Government and by private interests. This work has been going on for the last thirty years, and is constantly increasing in extent and import- ance. The trees printipally planted are several kinds of Eucalyptus, the Australian Ironwood and Silk Oak and the Japanese Cedar. Wood and timber cut from the planted forests in Hawaii is now being used for fence posts, railroad ties, bridge timbers and wagon work. Practically all the construction timber used in Hawaii is imported from Puget Sound and Northern Cali- fornia, mainly Redwood and (Douglas) Fir. It may perhaps be pertinent in closing this statement to note that a forest fire law similar to that of California was enacted by the Terri- torial Legislature at the Session of 1905. Since its enactment there have been few fires of consequence, due in part to a better public sentiment created by the presence of the law on the statute books and to the interest aroused in the matter at the time of the enactment of the law. 28 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 29 1 lift >i Why Pennsylvania Needs Forestry. (By Hugh P. Baker, United States Forest Service, in Charge Depart- ment of Forestry, The Pennsylvania State College.) YZ) ECAUSE the present forestry movement is of I J recent origin in this country does not argue that it is a new practice or profession. Japan has practiced forestry for the past twelve hundred years, and Germany and other countries of Europe have had well-developed systems of for- estry for one hundred years or more. Even in this country during our Colonial period those who made our laws and considered the future of our country kept the protection of our forests con- stantly in mind, and many regulations were passed in behalf of the forests. Exeter, which is now the State of New Hampshire, as early as 1640 made regulations as to the protection of forests and the planting of oak. William Penn in 1682 ordained that '' the grantee must keep one-sixth part of his land in forest." As early as 1780 all of the thir- teen colonies had forest fire laws. Before 1820 our government had appropriated considerable sums for the purchase of forest lands to provide for future supplies of ship-building timbers, and even went so far as to begin the planting of live oak forests. It is somewhat surprising, in view of the early efforts of our thirteen colonies and later of the United States, that our Congress during the past year could find no precedent for the purchase of lands in the Appalachian and White Mountains to be reserved for the protection of the head- waters of navigable streams. But all the early laws regarding the protection and perpetuation of for- ests soon became obsolete, because of the vastness of the forests and the tremendous struggle through which our forefathers went in subduing the forests for agricultural purposes. The forests harbored the marauding Indian, and as the early settlers pushed west they cleared the forest not only for the de- velopment of agriculture, but to protect their homes against wild animals and wilder Indians. In one sense the forest was an enemy to be over- come, and the past two or three generations have actually thought in terms of forest destruction, with no idea as to forest conservation. IV/iaf Forestry Means. — By forestry we mean the businesslike management of forests. This meaning varies somewhat according to the section in which it is considered. Throughout the prairie region people understand forestry as tree planting ; in other sections it is understood to be the protec- tion of forests from fire ; and in still others we are glad to say that it is getting to be considered as the careful lumbering of our forests with the idea of insuring future forests. During the early days of our interest in forestry it was looked at largely from a sentimental standpoint, which might be illustrated by the first line of the poem, * ' Woodsman, spare that tree. ' ' In some instances the sentiment was carried a little too far, and there are States which have laws preventing the cutting of timber on State lands. We are now, while not doing away with the sentiment, learning that if forestry cannot be considered as a business propo- sition it has no place in this country, and the forester of to-day may be described as a man with an axe on his shoulder who knows how and when to use it. Why Forestry is Needed in This Country, — There is no one who has thought of our needs in forestry but has asked himself as to the reasons for this need. If we could all see the millions of acres of bare hillsides and ridges in this State and other States of the east and west which were for- merly covered with splendid forests we would need few arguments to convince us of the wisdom of practical forestry. The fact that we are tremen- dous consumers of all kinds of forest products should make us consider the future supply of these products, and what future generations are to do when the virgin supply is gone. We use annually in this country 500 board feet of timber for every man, woman and child ; in Europe less than 60 board feet is used. One or two examples of the consumption of timber may be of interest in em- phasizing our need for forestry. In something over 300,000 miles of railroad in this country there are about 2,800 ties to the mile. This means that 800,000,000 ties are constantly in use to be replaced every five to ten years. The amount of wood used in ties each year is equivalent to 600,- 000 acres of forest, which would be about one- fortieth of Pennsylvania, and we would be a rich State if one fortieth of Pennsylvania was forested heavy enough to produce all of the ties used in this country, even for a period of five years. Another example which may be of interest is the way in which we are using fence posts in Pennsyl- vania. According to the last census Pennsylvania has 8,204,000 acres actually in agricultural crops, but there are about 18,000,000 acres out of the total area of the State, which is 28,790,400 acres, given as improved or unimproved land within farms. The 18,000,000 acres in farms is equal to 28,125 square miles. Assuming that it requires 2,000 posts to fence a square mile, it requires 56,250,000 posts to fence our farms. At 10 cents each, which is a very low price, it costs this State $5,625,000 every eight to twelve years for fence posts alone. An average acre of timber of size suitable for posts will produce about 3,500 — three to five inch round posts. It would thus take 16,071 acres every eight to twelve years to produce the posts which we use in this State alone. The last census estimates that 1,000,000,000 fence posts are set in this country each year. If these posts were set 16 feet apart they would make a fence 121 times about the greatest circumference of the earth. Such statistics could be given almost without end, show- ing that we are exceedingly prodigal in the use of our forests. The tremendous consumption of forest products has been necessary, perhaps, to make possible our wonderful development. The trouble is that we are using up our timber resources three times as fast as they are being produced. After careful investigation, the U. S. Forest Service states that we are on the verge of ^ timber famine, and that within forty to fifty years we will have used up all of our virgin forests. Is it not time that our gov- ernors get together and people talk forestry? Surely our government and our industrial life will be tested as never before when we reach the end of our great natural resources. Disappearance of Forests Due Largely to Waste. — The chief regret and shame to us as a nation and as a State will be that we brought this timber famine upon us, not so much by what we actually used, but by what we have wasted during the pro- cess of utilization, and have allowed to waste by forest fires. In 1907 the largest cut of any one species was the yellow pine of the south. Mr. Long, of the Long-Bell Lumber Co., estimated that in that year over 20 per cent, of the yellow pine trees were left in the woods at the time of ^^^'g^'^%' The amount so left is equal annually to a good stand of timber on over 300,000 acres. As the logs come from the forest there is waste at the mill, in the planing mill, and finally too much waste in the use of the lumber for construction and other purposes. Such waste is the rule rather than the exception, and similar figures could be given for species other than the yellow pine. Fire the Greatest Enemy of the Forests. — The most shameful thing is that the greatest waste which has been going on in our forests has been the result of ever-occuring fires, and our people have been so busy taking care of their own little selves that they have been and are standing help- lessly by and letting these fires continue. It was estimated that during the past fall months when fires were burning throughout the country that standing timber to the value of ;(; 1,000, 000 was destroyed each day. During these **firey" months just past there was fortunately compara- tively little loss of human life or destruction of personal property, but every now and then in this country we have such terrible fires as that which occurred at Hinkley, Minnesota, in the early 90's, when 500 lives were destroyed and over $25, 000,- 000 worth of property went up in smoke. Not a fire occurred last fall which, with reasonable ex- penditure of funds, could not have been prevented. In Germany and other European countries to-day fire is one of the least of the enemies of the forest. There preventive measures have been made so effective that fire is actually not a serious problem. The U. S. Forest Service estimates that $3,000,- 000 to $4,000,000 properly expended in the forest regions of this country annually would make it impossible to have any serious fires, and yet last fall $1,000,000 a day was being destroyed, and the probable total destruction for the fall months would be between $80,000,000 to $100,- 000,000. Last year, on the national forests, which aggregate 168,000,000 acres in extent, the Forest Service, at an expenditure of $30,000 to $40,000, kept all fires from 99 per cent, of the total area, showing what we can do easily in any forest region of this country at a comparatively small expense. The value of timber lost by fire in Pennsylvania last fall alone is such that if the State could have in money what was burned up it is safe to say that all the forest lands of the State could be protected from fire for a period of ten years, and the present area of the State reserves increased to 1,500,000 acres. The State Forestry Reservation Commission of Pennsylvania is doing a splendid work in establishing reserves and pro- tecting them from fire, but they need more funds, and they should receive the help of every citizen of the State in getting these funds. The destruction of the standing timber by fire is not the only loss to the forest. The forester calls his seedlings and young trees in the forest his growing stock, and the value of this growing stock for the production of future forests is often nearly as great as the value of the merchantable timber in the forest. If a commercial nurseryman has the young trees in his nursery destroyed by fire resulting from the carelessness of some indi- vidual or corporation, there would be no trouble in his getting full damages in any court in the land, yet any man who seeks to get damages for the destruction of the growing stock in his forest* is laughed at to day. The time is, however, rapidly coming when the value of this growing stock will be fully appreciated, and there will be no trouble in getting damages for the destruction of such property. Another loss from fire which is not ordinarily considered is the loss to the forest from the destruction of the humus which covers the forest floor. This humus, which is formed by the decay of leaves and debris, has a very large water capacity, and acts like a sponge in holding rain and snow water and giving it off gradually to springs and streams. When the 30 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 31 Ijii ill i humus is destroyed by fire the water rushes rapidly from our hillsides, and we have freshets and floods and drying of springs, such as occurred last fall throughout this State. The humus has also a very great manurial value, and as the fertility of our . agricultural soils is exhausted we will turn, as the Europeans have, to the humus of the forest as a fertilizer, and where not removed too extensively from the forest it may become an important source of organic material for the enrichment of agricul- tural land without very serious injury to the forest. Finally, not only is the humus destroyed by fire, but over large sections the soil itself is so burned that it will be years before sufficient soil can again accumulate to support forest growth. In the absence of the humus, melting snow and rain- water washes the soil from hillsides in vast quan- tities, covering and destroying farm lands and filling our navigable streams and harbors. We believe in the improvement of our water-ways, and yet if some of the vast amounts which have been expended in this country for water-way improve- ment could be spent at the head-waters of the streams in protecting and maintaining the forest, very much less would have to be spent in dredg- ing and deepening channels. Future of Petmsylvaiiia Forests,— ^om^ may be asking, after what has been said, if anything is left in Pennsylvania with which to practice forestry. There is by all means, but the present condition of the mountains and hillsides of the State has been and is a standing shame before our people. Thousands and thousands of acres have been made barren wastes that a little money may be accumulated, and it is going to take more money than was received from the sale of the for- ests to so re- forest these wastes that we may prevent floods, make our navigable streams really navigable and bring these waste lands back to a condition of profit with returns coming annually to the State. Much timber is still standing in the State, largely in the form of woodlots and isolated tracts, and it is probable that portable sawmills will operate for many years to come. Our climatic conditions are very favorable for excellent forest growth, and with proper support our State Forestry Reserva- tion Commission should be able, as years go by, to so re-forest the barren and non-agricultural lands that they will not only pay for their protec- tion and care, but become a source of great revenue to the State. In view of the statements made, which all know to be more than theories, there are people who still say that substitutes will be found for our timber, and that all of this talk about forest pro- tection and re-forestation is foolishness. We know that the use of steel and cement and other materials has grown tremendously in this country and will continue to increase, yet the mere fact that the use of these materials is increasing argues a great increase in the use of timber. With all the trials that have been made of substitutes it is not clearly proven that cement or any metal will ever replace timber for railroad ties, pavements, fence posts, etc. In fact, a number of our rail- roads have made careful tests of cement and steel ties, and after these tests are erecting treating plants with the idea of using ties from rapid grow- ing soft woods properly treated with creosote, even though they require a tie-plate and screw spike. Furthermore, there is a constantly increasing use of wooden pavements in European countries, and many cities in this country are laying more wooden pavements than any other kind. Our lumbermen have been charged unjustly with .destroying the forests. If our system of tax- ing the forest as a crop was as equitable as our system of taxing agricultural crops our lumbermen would be as anxious to conserve the timber as anyone. As our forests are now taxed, lumber- men are simply forced to cut the forests or have them taxed out of existence. When the time comes that forests are taxed as other agricultural crops, that is, when the crop is harvested, then our lumbermen and large corporations generally will turn to forestry, as they are already convinced that it is a good business proposition. The Forest a Renewable Resource. — Pennsyl- vania can and will m^eits 8,000,000 to 10,000,- 000 acres of agricultural lands a very important factor in the progress of the State, and the value of these agricultural lands will increase more rapidly after our supplies of coal and metal are gone. The encouraging thing about forestry is that, even though we have very largely exhausted our vast timber resources, a forest is a renewable resource, and can be made a constant source of income for all time to come. We must not forget that there are 10,000,000 to 15,000,000 acres in Pennsylvania better suited to forest trees than any other crop. These lands can be made to produce not only a large part of our needs in timber and conserve our waters, but as the virgin supply of timber in other parts of the country disappears, our forests can be made so profitable that' they will go far towards relieving the people of our Commonwealth from taxation. Reforestation and proper forest management will come slowly, and the help of every one is needed. Each can help in preserving our forests by giving cordial support to our efficient State Forestry Reservation Commission, to the Penn- sylvania Forestry Association which first empha- sized our need for forestry and which has been and continues largely instrumental in furthering present forestry activities through the State, the forest schools of the State and the United States Forest Service. Not only feel that the movement should be supported, but act, and keep everlasting at it. Let those who represent you in the Legislature and Congress know that we are in earnest, and be- lieve in the necessity of these things, and the forests of our State will be protected and perpetu- ated and be made a source of pride and of profit to our people. J. T. ROTHROCK, ; Consulting Forester, WEST CHESTER, PA. Terms upon Application.' Biltmore Forest School BILTMORE, N. C 0000 The Biltmore Forest School is the only technical school of forestry in this country. It illustrates its teachings on a large scale, on a tract of land owned by George W. Vanderbilt, comprising 130,000 acres of forest. The complete course covers twelve consecutive months. Write for particulars, addressing C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D., Director, BILTMORE, N. C. The Pennsylvania State College CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, FOUR YEAR COURSE IN FORESTRY. A thorough and practical undergraduate course in technical forestry' — preparing men for all lines of professional and applied forestry. Special attention is paid to practical field work in surveying, mapping and forest measurements. One of the largest of the State Forest Reserves is within a short walk of the College. For information regarding entrance requirements, expenses, etc., address DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, ' STATE COLLEGE, PA. CHESTNUT HILL, PHILA. 30 minutes from Broad St. Station. BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BOTS. Illustrated Catalogue upon application, JAMES L. PATTERSON, Head Master. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rt. Rev. Ozi W. Whitaker, D.D., Fre^ident. Samuel F. Houston, Vice-President. George Woodward, Secretary and Treasurer. JAMES M. beck. WALTON CLARK. DR. HOWARD A. KELLY. JACOB 8. DISSTON. FRANCIS D. LEWIS. EDGAR DUDLEY FARIE8. RANDAL MORGAN. FRANCIS I. GOWEN. H. GORDON MCCOUCH. J. LEVERING JONES. JAMES R. SHEFFIELD. i 32 FOREST LEAVES. [I ^ 11 Know Andorra's Trees? If Not Why Not? ONE ITEM-OUR PIN OAKS. Andorra's Pin Oaks have given all purchasers absolute satisfaction. The reason is not hard to find— they have the quality— roots and vitality The Pin Oak presents points which readily distinguish it from all others, and it is undoubtedly the most valuable for all practical purposes. The dense finely divided foliage is a beautiful shining green through the Summer months, and colors to sparkling red and yellow in the Fall. The Pin Oak is easily transplanted, and is the quickest growing of all the Oaks. As an avenue or lawn tree it is unequalled. t The Pin Oak thrives in all sections, in all soils and situations.= Try Andorra's stock. EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN. OUR BOOKLET "MORE SPECIALTIES r 3d EDITION. DESCRIBES THESE AND MANY OTHERS. SPECIAL OFFER. REMEMBER! EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN! 6 to 7 ft. Low-branched . „??„ *«" '" /."'* 7 to 8 ft. Low-branched ..'.'.'.'.'.'. , ° Jo oo o "" 8 to 9 ft. Low-branched; i>i to i^ in. cal. . .' .' .' .' .' .' ; , 5' '° °° ^° °° 9 to lo ft. Low-branched; i^ to 2 in. cal. .... ^ ^ „ „ ' 10 to la ft. Low-branched; a to 21^ in. cal. , ,„ '^' °° 10 to la ft. 2|^ to 3 in. . . . ' 'V "5° '5° 00 Extra-heavy Specimens . .■.■.■.■..■.■.■.■.■.-.•. $3 50 to to o^ '" " ''' °° ■ySend for SPRING PRICE LIST. "8^ ANDORRA NURSERIES, WM. WARNER HARPER, Prop. Box F, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA, PA. i hff^^a^y-. Vol. XII. Philadelphia, June, 1909. No. 3. Published Bi- Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, loia Walnut St„ Philadelphia, Pa. Entered at the Philadelphia Pojt-Ofl5ce as second class matter. CONTENTS M "^^^k.aam Editorials 33 Mt. Pocono Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association 34 Pennsylvania's New Forestry I egislation 34 Forestry by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company 36 The Trees in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pa 37 Correspondence in Regard to Taxation and Forest Fires 37 Woodlot Advice 39 The Illustrations 40 Trees on the Farm 40 Chestnut Growth on South Mountain 41 Work of the U. S. Forest Service in 1908 41 Forest Fires in Massachusetts 42 Practical Forest Conservation 43 Amendments to the Forest Laws of New York 43 An Act for the Protection of Woodlands in New Jersey 44 Maryland's Forest Reserves 4«; The Calaveras Big Tree National Forest Bill 46 Subscription, $1.00 per Year. The attentton 0/ Nurserymen and others is called to the adz'antages 0/ FoRHST Lbavbs as an advertising medium. Rates ivill be fur- nished on application. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Founded in Junb, 1886, Labors to disseminate information in regard to the necessity and methods of forest culture and preservation, and to secure the enact- ment and enforcement of proper forest protective laws, both State and National. Annual member ship fee. Two dollars. Life membership. Twenty-five dollars. Neither the membership nor the work of this Association is intended to be limited to the State of Pennsylvania. Persons desiring to become members should send their names to the Chairman of the Membership Committee, 1012 Walnut Street, Phila. President, John Birkinbine. Vice-Presidents, Wm. S. Harvey, James C. Haydon, Albert Lewis, Richard Wood. General Secretary, Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. Recording Secretary, F. L. Bitler. Treasurer, Charles E. Pancoast. Council at- Large, Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Hon. Robert S. Conklin, Samuel L. Smedley. Finance, W. S. Harvey, Chairman ; Dr. Henry M. Fisher, W. W. Frazier, Charles E, Pancoast, and J. Rodman Paul. Membership, Albert B. Weimer, Chairman : Mrs. George F. Baer, Edwin Swift Balch, Robert S. Conklin, Hon. Lucicn W. Doty, Dr. J. T. Rothrock. W.W. Scranton, Dr. Samuel Wolfe, and Hon. S. P. Wolverton. Law, Hon. W. N. Ashman, Chairman ; Henry Budd, and John A. Siner. Publication, John Birkinbine, Chairman ; F. L. Bitler, S. B. Elliott, Alfred S, Haines, Alfred Paschall, and Harrison Souder. Work, Mrs. Brinton Coxe. Chairman ; Mrs. George T. Heston, William S. Kirk, J. Franklin Meehan, and Abraham S. Schropp. County Organization, "Si^vMx^X Marshall, Chairman; Eugene Ellicott, James C. Haydon, Dr. J. Newton Hunsberger, and Richard Wood. Offiok of thb Association, 1012 Walnut St.. Philadelphia. EDITORIALS. MEMBERS of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association have received circular no- tices of the summer meeting of the or- ganization on July 7, 8 and 9, and this circular has been reprinted in this issue so that our read- ers may be advised of the pleasant time in store for such as can attend. The custom of the Association has been to hold an assembly each year in some portion of the State where there are features interesting to those en- rolled as friends of forestry, to permit of confer- ences which aid in a better understanding of forest problems, and inspections of some features of forest development. At the Chambersburg meeting of 1908 the Mont Alto and Caledonia reserves and the Forest Acad- emy demonstrated the value of the work of the Pennsylvania State Forestry Reservation Commis- sion, and the meeting at Mount Pocono next month will show to those who attend, by excellent forest growth, the influence which private owner- ship exerts and, as at other meetings, instructive papers and discussions are provided. It is hoped a large attendance will demonstrate the continued interest of the members of the Association in the work undertaken, and we are confident all who can be present will be profited thereby. Pennsylvania has much mountain scenery of which to be proud, and the number of resorts in the mountains is rapidly increasing as testimony to the healthful influences which they exert, but without forests there would be no inducement for the location of hotels or cottages, and there can be no better place for a meeting of the Pennsyl- vania Forestry Association than among the woods. J. B. . ^ if^ % ^ i(i We give considerable space in this issue to the laws concerning forestry which were added by the 34 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 35 f I I «ii last Legislature and the Governor of the State, and, in addition, have called attention to some of the proposed legislation which failed. These new laws and the influences they exert will be the subject of public discussion at the Mount Pocono meeting, July 7-9, and we trust that such a discussion will not only demonstrate what can be accomplished by these laws, but also awaken interest which will result in their being carried out witlh energy and decision. J. B. Mt. Pocono Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. THE Summer meeting will be held at the Pocono Manor, near Mt. Pocono, Monroe County, Pa., July yth-gth, 1909. On the evening of July 7th, and on the two days following, there will be meetings for the presentation of papers, discussions, etc. Dr. J. T. Rothrock opening the meeting with an illustrated lecture on ** Desolate Pennsylvania." On July 8th (or should the weather be unpropitious on the day following) a visit will be made to the Pocono Lake Preserve to inspect the property, partake of luncheon and enjoy a launch ride on the Lake at tfie invitation of the management. • The terms at the Pocono Manor for members of the Association are $3.00 per day (American plan) or $4.00 with bath. Those expecting to attend the meeting will communicate with Mr. F. L. Bitler, Recording Secretary, 10 12 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa., and a more detailed program will be forwarded later. Mt. Pocono is on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, and the abbreviated train schedule given below, shows the time of leaving Philadelphia and Scranton and arrival at Mt. Pocono. Leave Philadelphia (P. R. R.) 7.02 a.m. 8.43 a.m.* 1.03 p.m.* 3-33 p.m.* Leave Scranton (D. L. & W. R. R.) 7.55 a.m.* 10.20 a.m. 12.40 p.m. 3.40 p.m.* Arrive Mt. Pocono 11.58 a.m. 1. 18 p.m. 5.13 p.m. 8.00 p.m. Arrive Mt, Pocono 8.55 a.m. II. 31 a.m. 1.39 p.m. 4. 14 p m. Arrive Scranton (D. L. ,V£ W. R. R.) 1. 00 p.m. 1.55 p.m. 6. 14 p.m." 9.00 p.m. Arrive Philadelphia 12.55 p.m. 3.53 p.m. 6.00 p.m. 9.00 p.m. * Have Pullman car. France spends annually upon her State forests 95 cents per acre; Switzerland, $1.32 ; Prussia, $1.58, and Saxony, $2.32.— U. S. Secretary of Agriculture. Pennsylvania spends 1 1 }4 cents. Pennsylvania's New Forestry Legislation. IN the April issue of Forest Leaves mention was made of forestry legislation pending. Unfortunately, two important acts providing for a reduction of taxes on forest lands, or those in process of reforestation, were defeated in the House. A resume of the action taken on the different proposed laws shows the following : H. R. , I J. Authorizes the Department of For- estry to grow and distribute young forest trees to those who will plant and care for them. The seedlings are to be sold by the Department at a reasonable charge, not in excess of the actual cost of production, the purchaser bearing the transpor- tation charges and agreeing to plant the seedlings under the direction of the Department of For- estry, care for and protect them. Passed by the Legislature, approved by the Gov- ernor, and will be known as Act 69. H. i?., 7^7. Is to create a system of fire warden*; to prevent and suppress forest fires on woodlots and wild lands, the Commissioner of Forestry being the Chief Fire Warden, with authority to appoint suitable district fire wardens. These district fire )vardens are empowered to employ other persons to assist in extinguishing forest fires, the wardens re- ceiving 25 cents per hour and expenses, and other persons 15 cents per hour. In each township or borough the district fire warden may appoint as- sistant fire wardens with the same authority, who shall be paid 20 cents per hour and expenses. A proper record is kept of the expenses, and at the end of each calendar year the Auditor General ap- portions the amounts he has expended in this manner among the different counties who are to pay one-third of the expense incurred. During the months of April and May and from September 15 to November 15, known as the fire seasons, the fire wardens may, at the discretion of the Commissioner of Forestry, be required to keep daily patrol, receiving therefor a stated sum not in excess of $25 per month. These fire wardens also have the right to arrest persons violating the laws. The sum of $300,000 is appropriated for this purpose. Passed by the Legislature and approved by the Governor, who, however, reduced the appropria- tion to $50,000. H. R., i^g. Provides that all forest reserves shall be subject to an annual charge of two cents per acre for school purposes, provided no school district shall receive in any one year more than $500, and no school district shall be entitled to receive any sum under this act unless a tax of not less than four mills on the dollar of assessed valua- tion be levied and collected. Warrants to be drawn by the Auditor General after approval by the Commissioner of Forestry. This bill is com- mendable for the reason that it removes the objection to the present law under which the larger the area acquired by the State in a given township the greater the payment, whereas any increase in the quantity of land owned by the State in any given township the less money is needed for school purposes. The road appropria- tion in the old act is removed from the bill for the reason that the Legislature is asked to transfer the roads in the reservation to the Department to keep in repair (see H, R,, 286). Passed by the Legislature and approved by the Governor, but the $500 limit was stricken out. //. R.y 775. Designed to protect trees growing by the roadsides and within road limits, and pro- viding for a penalty of $5.00 and costs for each tree injured or destroyed, and if no* paid impris- onment for not to exceed 30 days. Passed by the General Assembly, approved by the Governor, and known as Act 58. J/. R., Jjj, Permits the acquisition of forest or other suitable lands by municipalities for the purpose of establishing municipal forests and which, in some instances, may conserve and pro- tect the water supply. Passed by the General Assembly, approved by the Governor, and will be known as Act 79. H, R.y ^42. Is for appropriations for the ex- penses of the various Departments of the Stare Government. The portion referring to the De- partment of Forestry amounts to $564,500 for two years. This appropriation included the amounts to be paid to the Commissioner of For- estry, his assistants, foresters, forest rangers, for surveys, labor, traveling expenses, etc. Passed by the Legislature with an appropriation o( $429,500, which was approved by the Gov- ernor for $374,500. ^' ^••> 553' Provides for an appropriation of $20,000 for the salaries of instructors, stationery, maintenance, etc., and $1,000 to equip the labor- atories. As recommended by the Association, an appropriation of $19,000 additional was made, of which $16,000 is to complete the dormitory build- ing, the balance of $3,000 to be utilized in fur- nishing it. Passed by the Legislature and approved by the Governor. ^' ^"> 557' Sets aside $100,000 for the pur- chase of lands for forest reserves, also $300,000 for a similar purpose for the fiscal year beginning June I, 1909, and an equal amount for the fiscal year following. This was approved for $100,000. The following bills were defeated : — ! H, R , 226. To regulate the management of timber lands in Pennsylvania for the purpose of I preventing floods and drought, conserving the water supply and securing favorable conditions of waterflows. It proposed to give the Department of Forestry the power to make reasonable rules and regulations and to issue permits for the cut- ting of timber, etc., within the State. Any vio- lation to be punished by a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days. H. R., 228. Provides for the purchase and dis- tribution of tree seeds by the Commissioner of Forestry, who also has the power to appoint two persons to travel through the State and explain the benefits of such planting. It appropriates $3,200, which includes salaries of $800 per annum for the two agents above mentioned. H. R,, 244. Is a companion act to 257, being designed to protect woodlands not owned by the State from being set on fire, having timber stolen from or damaging the trees thereon. ^' J^", 2S7' Providing for the protection of the State forest reserves, specifying the penalties for disobeying the rules and regulations of the Department of Forestry, being a codification of the present law. It aims to form a uniform sys- tem of protection for State lands. This bill was passed by the Legislature, but disapproved by the Governor for the reason, that the bill makes no discrimination between mali- cious and accidental fire, and he further criticised the provision which allows no appeal where a fine of $10.00 or less is imposed. He also objects to the provision allowing suit to be brought either before a magistrate or begin immediately in the Quarter Sessions Court. The provision of the law relating to fines of $10.00 and under, appears to follow similar legis- lation which has been in force in the State for years, and while the provision for the beginning of suits would probably change the course of criminal proceedure at present, may not prove a hardship. H. R. , 286. Transferred to the Department of Forestry the control and management of all public highways, not improved State highways, border- ing on or lying within the State forest reserves. It gives full authority to open, amend, grade, im- prove and keep in repair all roads. The expense to be provided for in the appropriation made for the Department of Forestry. This was to take the place of the old act requiring the State to pay two cents per acre of forest reserves as a road tax. Under this present law but little of the money thus paid out is expended on the roads bordering on or within the reserves, and the new act was to remedy this defect. 36 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 37 ii I .;( 11 Hi ! i //. R., j8j. To define and establish auxiliary forest reserves, and providing a penalty for the violation thereof. H. R,, j86. To provide for the^ taxation of auxiliary forest reserves: — That all surface lands which shall be classified and set apart as auxiliary forest reserves shall be assessed for the purpose of taxation in an amount not in excess of ^i per acre. When the timber was cut 75 cents per 1,000 feet board measure was to be paid for coniferous timber and 50 cents for broad leaf timber taken from such auxiliary forest reserves. Both 383 and 386 which are companion bills were defeated. Most of the timbered land in this State is in the hands of private owners and it is unfortunate that legislation cannot be secured to encourage these owners to preserve the timber, and reforest cut over land, with attendant benefi- cent results to the commonwealth at large. Existing laws practically force cutting of wooded areas owing to a constantly augmenting rate of taxation and prevent reforestration. Several cases have been brought to our attention where this has proved true. H. R.y 46^. To amend sections i, 3, 7 and 8 of the Act establishing the Department of Forestry. It gives to the Forestry Reservation Commission increased privileges, in leasing rights of way, land for water power plants, to employ forest rangers, etc. These amendments were in- tended to place the Forestry Reservation Com- mission in position to better administer the forest reserves svhich are in their care, and secure revenue to the State from them. //. A\, 8 1 J. For an appropriation of $3,500 for the jnirchase of the herbarium of 20,000 speci- mens and the scientific botanical library of 260 books and 280 pamphlets belonging to Dr. Joseph . T. Rothrock. The herbarium and library to be placed in the State Library at Harrisburg. H. R., 826. To establish recreation camps within the forest reserves and making an appro- priation of $15,000 therefor. It was proposed to have the Commissioner of Forestry select three ** Recreation Camps," to be opened to receive campers in such numbers and at such times as he may elect. In 1908 the students of the Pennsylvania State Forest Academy planted 147,000 white i)ine, 3,300 Norway spruce, 6,000 ash, 1,000 walnut, 2,200 catalpa. These seedlings were two years old when planted. They have all showed very good growth, and comparatively few died. The seedlings were all raised in the nursery connected with the Academy. Forestry by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. THE Pennsylvania Railroad planned to set out this spring more than 1,000,000 trees. '• This will make a total of 3,430,000 trees which have been planted in the last three years to provide for some of the Company's future require- ments in timber and cross ties. Heretofore the Company's forestry operations have been confined to ^ limited area between Philadelphia and Altoona. This year, however, 65,000 trees are being set out on tracts of land near Metuchen and New Brunswick, N. J. In addition, there are to be planted 207,000 trees near Conewago, Pa.; 186,000 in the vicinity of Van Dyke; 334,000 at Lewistown Junction; 7,000 at Pomeroy, and 205,000 at Denholm. The bare places in the locust tree plantations, which were started some years ago, are being filled in with new seedlings, in order that these may follow as a second growth after the older trees have been removed for fence posts and other purposes. Of the trees that were set out this spring, 893,000 are red oak ; 40,000 Scotch pine ; 29,000 locust ; 14,000 hardy catalpa ; 14,000 pin oak ; 5,000 European larch ; 3,000 chestnut ; 3,000 yellow poplar; 2,000 black walnut, and 1,000 white pine. The policy of encouraging reforestation on the part of the public has been actively pursued this spring. Some 151,000 trees have been furnished practically at cost, to private corporations and in- dividuals. In addition, 8,000 privet hedge plants have been sup])lied to private individuals. Privet hedge plants to the number of 7,000 are to be set out to ornament boundary lines along the Com- pany's right of way. A special effort has been directed this season to growing ornamental shrubbery for use in park- ing the lawns around stations and unoccupied spaces along the roadwav- '\o save the time re- quired to grow these from seed, 6,000 plants have been imported from France. They will be placed in beds, at the Company's nursery at Morrisville, N. J. Part of them will be ready for transplanting next year, and the remainder in 1911. Indicative of the scope of the forestry plan of the Company this year is the fact that at the Morrisville nursery alone, approximately 1,250,- 000 trees have been dug, bundled, and shipped to places along the railroad. The area occupied by these trees has been plowed, fertilized and is to be re-planted with about 200 bushels of acorns. Half a million coniferous seedlings, which were grown last year, are being set in transplant beds to remain for a year before being set out perma- nently. In addition to the above, there was planted this spring about 100 lbs. of pine and spruce tree seed, which should produce. about a million plants. These in time will be trans- planted in permanent locations. The Trees in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pa. A strong plea for protecting the trees in Fair- mount Park, Philadelphia, is made by the landscape gardener, Mr. Oglesby Paul, who urges sufficient appropriation to permit of successfully combatting the destruction which threatens them. He says a tree growing within the limits of a great city, particularly if it be a manufacturing center, has many adverse forces to contend with, and its life at best is a constant struggle against such odds as escaping gases, which poison the roots, clouds of soot and dust, which clog the stomata or pores of the leaves, and killing drought from the waterproof-coated streets. In the woodlands of a park a further evil arises from trampling by the public, which kneads the ground to the consistency of brick clay, destroys the pro- tecting undergrowth, bruises exposed roots, and on hilly land starts washing of the surface in a way which often threatens the very existence of the wood itself. Those in charge of large parks, boulevards, and suburban estates are now a unit in declaring that the trees under their care need constant and intel- ligent attention, and that the old policy of trust- ing to nature to provide for them when estab- lished is a treacherous one and almost certain to end in disaster. That the noble specimens in our own park should be exposed to injurious influences without the necessary remedies is little short of a calamity ; many of these old monarchs, represent- ing as they do the growth of generations, could not be replaced, and should therefore be main- tained in a way that would be ? credit to the city and a source of pleasure to all for many years to come. The Commissioner for Manhattan has asked for an appropriation of $50,000 for the care of trees and shrubs in Central Park, New York, whose area is about one-fourth that of Fairmount Park, while the latter last year had but $3,500, or $1.15 per acre, allotted for this purpose. Mr. Paul describing the damage done by smoke, gases, insect pests, and other causes, suggests means of controlling them, and demonstrates the asset which the city of Philadelphia has in ornamental trees by tabulations showing for different sections of the park the number, size, and varieties of trees. The lists do not include the Wissahickon Creek, but as indicative of the large trees for which the plea is made, they show that at breast- height there are 14 chestnuts, 2 tulips, and one black oak 4^ feet in diameter, 43 chestnuts, 6 tulips, 2 black walnuts, I beech, 3 white oaks, and i black oak, trees which are four feet in diameter, breast high. The tabulations give the number of trees of va- rious diameters, but we merely refer to there being over 2,200 trees 2 feet or more in diameter, the principal varieties being in the order named, chest- nut, white oak, tulip, black oak, red oak, and beech. Surely such an array of what may be con- sidered monarchs of the forest is worthy of suffi- cient protection to preserve them. Correspondence in Regard to Taxation and Forest Fires. IN the last issue of Forest Leaves some letters from members were published giving in- teresting data as to forest fires. Below will be found some abstracts from correspondence re- ceived by the Department of Forestry, which will be of interest : — A gentleman residing in Jefferson County, Pa., says : *' For a number of years I have been guard- ing fire and in every other way trying to protect the raising of young timber on a piece of land in Knox Township, Jefferson County, Pa., on which the assessor has raised the valuation over 500 per cent, from what it was eight or ten years ago. Our county commissioners inform me that the Act allowing 80 per cent, rebate on taxes of that kind has been repealed, and no allowance of any kind can be made ; as a last resort I write you regarding this matter for any information you may be able to give, and if no allowance can in any way be made in regard to it I will be com- pelled to realize out of it what I can at once, as the taxes as assessed without any rebate at all which either assessors or commissioners will allow would, in a few years, eat up the entire valuation. ' ' The following are two communications from Wytjming : *' Up to 1905 when extensive lumbering opera- tion ceased on the Dutch Mountain and adjacent hills, forest fires did not burn over extensive areas as it was to the interest of the lumbermen to pro- tect their operations. Large fires did occur from carelessness, but they did not rage for weeks. *^ But, even at that time, I had a suspicion that I 38 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 39 Mil some of the fires were wantonly started to make some money through fire fighting. Not by the natives, but the loafers of the villages, Americans and foreigners. ''Since the late forest fires, I -have received several communications from Bella Sylva inhabit- ants voicing this suspicion. One gentleman also stated his experience with some men who ' back- fired,' and thereby caused greater destruction, because it was not done in an intelligent manner. Hence, my deductions are: '' i. Forest fire fighters should be directed by men who are trained in this work, and employed and paid by township, county or State. *'2. These rangers to train the farmers and woodsmen in intelligent forest fire fighting, just as men of volunteer and paid fire departments of cities and towns are trained. *' 3. Don't pay every ' Tom, Dick and Harry ' for fighting forest fires, and if there must be pay on the program, make the pay to count only for rapidity with which a forest fire is completely ex- tinguished. The smaller the fire loss, the larger the wages. ** 4. Incendiarism to be drastic in punishment ; conviction to be on direct evidence of malicious intent." **The fire of last year ought to prove a valu- able object-lesson of inadequate forest fire laws as at present existing. These laws do not protect at all. /'All minerals removed cannot be reproduced, but forests can be and should be, as they are of the utmost value to every inhabitant and the eco- nomic conditions of a State. " If you will take down Rand's map of Penn- sylvania, and the U. S. Geological Survey map, Harvey Lake section, you will find our Bella Sylva (and they were beautiful woods years ago before lumbermen and fires cleared the Dutch Mountain). The mountain is a watershed for the north and west branches of the Susquehanna River. Taking the former postmaster's farm- house as the central point we have Forkston (township-seat), ten miles to the east ; Lopez, eight miles to the west ; Colley, nine miles to the north ; and Ricketts, eight or nine miles to the south by west. Between our summer homes around the Ficht Pond and the Bowman's Creek branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad there is not a single habitation. Following the road from Bella Sylva into the Mehoopany Creek Valley to Kasson Brook are four (4) occupied farms in the six miles. Again, taking the road from Bella Sylva to Lopez are six (6) occupied farms within ! the eight miles. A few more are on the road to ! Colley and Dushore. I ( ( Except in a few instances, I find the soil on the Dutch Mountain unfit for profitable agricul- ture on account of its altitude and the ' hard-pan ' which, on many levels, comes within a half-dozen inches of the top soil ; hence, the whole area is only fit for forests, health, and recreation. A number of open ponds and marshes are on the mountain. " I have seen asthmatics and consumptives greatly benefited by short vacations on the moun- tain and others quickly regain normal health. Malaria and tuberculosis are unknown diseases with the natives, and I know of only two typhoids among them in seventeen years. " On the Otten tract is an unusually fine grove of white pine ; this grove was saved during the late fire. The well-kept woods around the Ficht Pond, and belonging to Rev. Schmilthenner, was practically wiped out. On the tract belong- ing to my wife several fine stands of sugar maples were, destroyed ; in fact, the tract was swept clean. Four miles to the westward, at Shady Nook, our friend Mr. Huch, of Philadelphia, has done good work in reforestation (he is practically our pio- neer in this work), and I presume his fire loss is a large one, as the fire crossed his tract to reach up our way. '* From this brief description of the conditions, as found on the Dutch Mountain, you will per- ceive the difficulties which are in store for us whenever a forest fire breaks out at either com- pass-point and is permitted to gain headway. Quick, energetic, and intelligent measures adopted by township or county officials could stifle any forest fire in its incipiency." Pennsylvania takes the lead in having the larg- est forest nurseries of any State in the Union, and the purpose of the Forestry Department is to have 20,000,000 seedlings ready for planting each year for the next twenty five years. * * H. * * The idea of preserving forests and replanting our denuded hills with young trees is a compara- tively new one, and our State tax laws have not been brought into accord with it. It is an over- sight rather than a deliberate intention that grow- ing trees are taxed all they will bear every year of their lives. Tree growing should be encouraged, and there is no more rational way of doing this than by wise tax legislation that makes it possible for land-owners to let their land grow trees for successive years without it costing them more than the value of the trees in taxes. — Philadelphia Press, Woodlot Advice. • THERE is a right way to do everything, and the care of the woodlot is not an exception to the rule. The right way, moreover, is often quite simple, the good results which follow being out of all proportion to the time or labor ex- pended. Too many woodlots are simply neglected, and by far the greater number of them are mis- used for want of foresight or a true appreciation of their value. The first principles of right woodlot forestry may be summarized in a brief list of Don'ts, by which every woodlot owner may profit with very little trouble. Don't dispose of your woodlot. You need it for your own use. It can be made to give you fuel, posts, poles,, fence rails, even such timber, boards, and shingles as will keep the farmstead and barns in repair. With a little encouragement, its value for home supply will increase year by year. While you use it, it will renew itself, and the price of its products are not decreasing. Don't turn your woodlot into a pasture. Tree seedlings are quickly bruised and crushed by the trampling of live stock. Hungry cattle browse upon them. The soil becomes packed hard and unable to retain moisture so much needed for the encouragement of young growth. Don't thin your woodlot too heavily. If you do, large openings are made through which the sunlight streams in, drying the soil and encourag- ing the growth of grass, which should never be suffered to replace the spongy humus that forms the natural top layer of soil in a healthy forest. A crown canopy, formed by the leaves and branches, should always shade the forest floor. Don't burn over the woodlot. It has been pointed out that the woodlot is not fit for pasture purposes, but even if it were, the burning over of the soil would still do irreparable damage to young growth, consume the litter which ought to rot into humus, and destroy the very conditions which nature seeks to establish and preserve. Don't select only the best trees in a woodlot which needs weeding. Nearly every woodlot is composed of a mixed stand in which dead and unsound trees, weed trees, and sound, useful trees are intermingled. If you select and remove only the choicest living trees, the stand will grow poorer instead of better, and in time will become almost worthless. An improvement cutting which, even at a little cost, removes the weed trees and those which are dead, crooked, or otherwise of little worth, will give the remaining stand a clear start. The woodlot quickly responds to such treatment, improving vigorously under the new conditions. The larger yield of better quality in due time more than repays the labor. Don't forget reproduction. In thinning your woodlot have an eye to the young growth. Spare it as much as you can in felling and haul- ing the logs. Give the seedlings the chance, and they will seize it and grow into saplings and poles. Saplings and poles are already valuable, and a little later still are themselves grown trees. Don't do all your cutting in one spot, just be- cause it is a trifle more convenient to do so. By taking a tree here and there, where it can best be spared or is actually better down, you will secure just as much wood, and at the same time draw as lightly as possible on your future supply. Where the stand is composed only of old trees you n>ay, of course, often make clear cutting to advantage, especially where neighboring seed trees will re- seed the opening to a new crop. Don't let the carelessness of other persons do the damage to your woodlot by fire which you re- frain from doing yourself. A fire in a neighbor- ing field may creep into your woodlot and burn over it, scorching the trunks of the trees or even setting the crowns ablaze. It is worth while, in the dangerous season, to see that the borders of the woodlot are clear of inflammable material. Especially clear away the leaves so as to form a miniature fire lane about the forest. Forbid the careless use of matches and the building of camp fires, and see that your directions are obeyed. Don't be in too great a hurry to realize on your woodlot investment. Be satisfied with a permanent revenue, w^hich is the interest on your forest capital. You may materially increase this interest by managing the woodlot itself so that the thinnings always bear a wise proportion to the yield. Meantime, the steady rise in the value of all forest products will add little by little to the market value of your timber. Years hence, when you need it, the woodlot which has supplied you all along will in all probability bring you far more than at present. Or you may leave it to your children, who in turn will find it a most accept- able bank account. France spends annually upon State forests, whose area is less than 1-50 that of our own, over $2,500,000 ; Prussia, upon 7,000,000 acres, over $11,000,000 ; Saxony, upon only 400,000 acres, over $900,000. Yet in all these countries the forests have had great sums spent upon them in the past for permanent improvements. A forest can no more be made to yield a constant return in valuable products without the investment of capital in improving the property than can a farm. — U. S. Secretary of Agriculture. 40 FOREST LEAVES. I=! The Illustrations. THE first view shows a peculiar use of a tree for the storage of fodder in the mountains of the State of Oaxaca, Mexico. After the ears of corn are taken from the stalks the remaining corn fodder or ^'zacate" is stored I on convenient trees by being stacked either on the branches in the center of the tree, or on limbs, supported by props, as shown in the illustration, at such elevation that the animals cannot reach it, where it remains until needed for fodder. The second illustration is of two weeping wil- lows, near Gettysburg, Pa., furnished through the courtesy of C. E. Stable, Esq. These trees are reported to be more than loo years old, are about 60 feet in height, and the larger one measures 15 feet in circumference, 3 feet above the ground, while the other one is 13 feet. They are now showing signs of decay, and a number of limbs have fallen. The weeping willow {Salix Babylonica,L.) is a large tree, sometimes attaining a height of 70 feet and a trunk diameter of 6 feet. The twigs are slender, green, elongated and drooping, giving rise to the common name of *^ weeping " willow. The leaves are 4 to 7 inches long, narrow, gradu- ally tapering to the apex, the edges being serrated. It is said to have come originally from eastern Asia, and has been extensively planted for orna- ment. The State Forester of Connecticut in a recent report has given figures on growth and use for New Haven county, which give many more valua- ble details than are generally to be obtained, and well illustrate how the forest is being reduced by over-cutting. For the year 1907 the timber used was 120,000 cords, in the form of cordwood, lum- ber, ties, poles and piles. The annual growth on all types of forest land, including trees standing on abandoned fields, for the year, reached a total of 70,000 cords. Thus the amount cut yearly ex- ceeds the growth by 50,000 cords. The amount of standing timber considered as merchantable and available for cutting within the next few years was found to be 1,200,000 cords. If the cut and the growth remain at the present figures the supply of merchantable timber will be exhausted in about twenty years. At the end of that time there will be a large amount of forest standing in the county, but it will be in tracts under forty years of age, containing wood below the most profitable size for cutting. Cordwood could still be cut, but supplies of the most profit- able products, like ties and lumber, would be prac- tically exhausted. Trees on the Farm. • MANY poor soils, now waste spots on the farm, would become profitable if planted ^ with the right kind of forest trees, and cared for in the right way. Trees will often grow where grain and grass will not. Swamps, stony ridges, exhausted fields and washed hillsides need riot be abandoned. There is money in most of them if they are set to work producing woodlots and forests. But knowledge and judgment are necessary, and a bad guess may be costly. Many trees do well in those soils — cone-bearing trees in particular. The farmer is fortunate whose land has no poor spots. Few land-owners are so well off. Fertile acres are usually fairly profitable, but the gravel bars, rocky knolls, marshy swales and exhausted and eroded slopes are not. Scarcely one of them need remain unproductive. They will grow timber — pine, locust, poplar, osage orange, oak, chestnut or some other kind. But the soil must be studied, and the species selected to suit it. Failure might follow the planting of walnut on soil suited to white pine or vice versa. The farm's waste and neglected corners may be turned into woodlots where the farmer may grow his own posts, poles, fences and sawlogs. It is decidedly worth while to keep all the farm at work. The owner pays taxes on all his land, and is out of pocket for whatever is not earning him something. Further, by growing a tree crop on land which is too poor to plow, the quality of the land itself is improved. Forests add humus to the soil, bettering its character ; and it has lately been discovered that the decaying leaf litter has also the power of gathering from the air a certain amount of nitrogen. In this respect the forest does for the soil what leguminous crops, like clover and alfalfa, do. Wood growing on worn-out land thus becomes doubly profitable. The land is made useful and improved at the same time. — Country Gentleman. Usually when streets and sidewalks are laid out, but little attention is paid to the trees which, when they interfere in any way, are cut down. In pleasing contrast Mr. J. j. Albertson, Town- ship Engineer, in drawing up the specifications for the concrete sidewalks in Magnolia and Mt. Ephriam, New Jersey, made the following provi- sion : '' When the roots of trees interfere with the grading of the sidewalk for its full width the com- mittee or its engineer may order a mound left around said roots, but the remaining earth i« to be removed to the grade." The specifications also say "• The walk will be deflected and elevated to save large trees on Evesham avenue. ' ' •si m I r r — ro X ^ td ^ IJJ HI UJ CO UJ I i ^ I I f*> 1 o CD CO UJ UJ CO o UJ UJ INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE V**"" .%^' FOREST LEAVES. 41 _ ♦ Chestnut Growth on South Mountain. THE notes collected during the last summer by the class of 1909 of the State Forest Academy at Mont Alto, Pa., have recently been made public, and afford some significant facts on the growth of sprout chestnut in Pennsyl- vania. The class camped near an area of over one thousand acres covered with sprout chestnut and rock oak, with some maple and other species occa- sionally present. The area was carefully explored, a typical sample plot chosen, and this area was cut clear of everything but the rock oak. Every chestnut tree was sawed into two- foot sections, and a stem analysis made of each section. The rock oak volume was computed by the sample tree method. The stock was thirty-one years old, and the number of trees per acre was a little over 200, considerably less than would be the case in forest under normal conditions of scientific manage- ment. The soil was thin, sandy, with a fair layer of humus, and the moisture conditions were ex- cellent. The volume of trees on the above area was com- puted, including everything down to four inches in diameter. The total volume by computation was 2 1 16. 16 cubic feet of wood and bark per acre. The chestnut alone yielded 1465.5 cubic feet of wood and bark, and when piled into cordwood with maple and small stuff ranked twenty-one cords per acre.' A close analysis shows an annual wood production of 58.5 cubic feet per acre. Some of the trees ran as high as eight and ten inches in diameter, and at least ten twenty-five- foot telephone poles could have been cut per acre. Very complete volume tables with height and diameter curves were made, which, averaged with others obtained by the class from other areas ex- amined, give very accurate data on chestnut on the Mont Alto Reserve. It is interesting to note that, if the same rate of growth be assumed for nineteen more years, the land will, at that time, yield the State a net profit of $5.44 per acre above the title to the land. This result is obtained calculating with minimum prices prevalent in the section and maximum ex- penses for protection, taxes, administration, etc., all calculated at 3 per cent, compound interest. T~7~^ Any of the readers of this paper desiring in- formation in regard to the enemies and diseases of fruit trees, or other plants of the garden and farm, should write at once to Prof. H. A. Surface, State Zoologist, Harrisburg, Pa., who takes pleasure in answering questions on such matters. \Vork of the O. S. Forest Service in 1908. /^IFFORD PINCHOT, forester, has just V^X niade a retrospect of the work of the United States FoFefi1i,Seyvke for the fiscal year 1908. For the administration and protection of the 182 national forests in seventeen States and Terri- tories and Alaska, the government spent $2,526,- 098.02, or about one and one-half cents an acre. Permanent improvements, including the construc- tion of 3,400 miles of trails, 100 miles of wagon roads, 3,200 miles of telephone lines, 550 cabins and barns, 600 miles of pasture and drift fences, 250 bridges, and 40 miles of fire lines cost $592,- 169. 19. Telephone wire to build approximately 400 miles of additional lines was shipped to the forester. Although many needed improvements could not be undertaken, the benefits of what has been ac- complished are seen in the more convenient and economical manner in which the forest officers are enabled to carry on their work and in the opening up to forest users of territory hitherto inaccessible. The remaining $297,840.40 of the total of $3,- 416,107.61, disbursed on account of work of the Forest Service was used in forest investigations costing $235,855. 14, and in diff*usion of forest information and federal co-operation. Last year the receipts from sales of timber, grazing fees, and permits for special uses of forest resources amounted to $1,842,281.87, an increase of $271,222.43 over the 1907 figures. The per acre receipts from the national forests were a little more than one per cent., less than five mills under the per acre cost of administration and protection of the forests. The amount paid the States and Territories, to be expended for roads and public schools from the year's receipts, amounted to $447,063.79. Chiefly because of increasing the revenue to the States from 10 per cent, in 1907 to 25 per cent, last year, there was a total increase of $294,031.62 in the amounts payable to the States. There were 30,714 permits granted for the free use of timber by settlers, schools and churches during the year, against 17,399 ^^ ^Q^T- The number of board feet used in this way by the pub- lic amounted to 131,582,000, valued at $168,- 720.00, compared to 63,000,000 feet, valued at $75,000 in 1907. The aggregate of free use of the forests for grazing can not be exactly known, since no per- mit is required to be taken out, and there is there- fore no record preserved. It added perhaps 10 per cent, to the amount of stock carried by the forests. Settlers living on or adjacent to the for- v^\':/^ VI !^ \ 42 K .' FOREST LEAVES. -rv -Lj- I I t r-f-T ests, and prospectors, camp^fs and travelers in them are allowed to graze free up to lo head of milch covvij; work animals, Or horses in use, and purchasers of vtimbdr a?id s^ckmen on the forests are given the sarii^'fjdV^ftege for the horses needed in their work. In Arizona and New Mexico milk goats to the number of 30 may be grazed free in place of milch cows. Of free special-use permits there were issued during the year 1,768, as against a total of 1,471 previously granted. Of the latter 963 were in force during the year. The grazing receipts for 1908 were $962,829.40, and were paid to graze 14382,22 1 cattle, horses and hogs, and 7,087,111 sheep and goats ; $849,- 027.24 were paid for 392,792,000 board feet of timber. The receipts from special uses amounted to $30,425.23. The year's receipts represent profitable use of the forests by some 30^00 individuals or con- cerns, in addition to more than 30,000 getting free use of timber and other resources. About one-fourth of all the timber cut from the national forests were under free-use permits. The timber given to individuals is given for the development of the country through settlement. The total receipts from timber sales each year since the national forests have been under the ad- ministration of the Forest Service have been as follows: 1905, $60,136.62 ; 1906, $245,013.49 ; 1907, $668,813.12 ; 1908, $849,027.24. At the end of the last fiscal year, when business was heavier than at any other time during the year, the 182 national forests were cared for by an ex- ecutive and protective force of 29 inspectors, 98 forest supervisors, 61 deputy supervisors, 33 for- est assistants, 8 planting assistants, 941 rangers, 521 forest guards and 88 clerks. The average area to each officer theoretically available for patrol duty was 116,665 acres. But more than three-fourths of the time of these forest officers is now required by the fast -growing vol- ume of national forest business, so that in point of fact the force on duty at the close of the year pro- vided about one patrol officer to each 500,000 acres of forest. This is considered inadequate for protection of the forests. Experimental broadcast sowings were made dur- ing the year in 27 forests in the States of Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Colo- rado, Utah and New Mexico. The total area sown was 131 acres, of which 47 were in the Black Hills national forest. About 700,000 trees were planted last year on forests in the States of Nebraska, Kansas, Colo- rado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Idaho and California. There are now growing at the plant- ing stations over 2,200,000 trees which will be ready for planting in 1909. Sufficient seed was sown in the spring of 1908 to produce 4,600,000 seedlings. Besides administering the national forests, the Forest Service renders, on request, expert advice and assistance to other parts of the executive gov- ernment regarding the practice of forestry. Work of this kind was carried on in several military and Indian reservations in various parts of the country. Co-operative State forest studies were carried on with Kentucky, Mississippi, New Hampshire and Illinois. The Poorest Service conducts investigations of forest products along the two lines of wood pre- servation and wood utilization. Forest Fires in Massachusetts. MR. F. W. RANE, State Forester of Massa- chusetts, has just issued a pamphlet en- titled, **We Must Stop Forest Fires in Massachusetts," in which he gives some pertinent statistics. Mr. Rane states that the season of 1908 was one of extraordinary drought, there being a de- ficiency of 17 per cent, in the annual rainfall, a condition favorable to the spread of forest fires, which at times was intensified by high winds. In 1908 the number of acres of woodland burned over was 40,327. Estimating the forest area of the State at 2,500,000 acres, which will include all the scrub growth and thinly-stocked pasture, it is found that i acre in 62 has been burned. Taking the entire land area of the State it is I acre in 123. On the United States national forests it is i acre in 10,000, and in Germany i acre in 15,000, which are annually burned over. The total estimated damage was $300,000, and this is considered as underrated. Railroads were the largest producers of forest fires, with nearly 40 per cent, of the total ; un- known, 25 per cent. ; smokers, 8 per cent. ; burning brush, 7 per cent. ; incendiaries, 7 per cent. ; and boys setting fire maliciously 4 per cent. Out of 1299 fires 5 or 0.4 per cent, which were caused by lightning were the only ones not absolutely preventable. Information collected by the State Forester showed that in 1905, $30,000 were spent for fighting forest fires. The forested area of the State can be roughly valued at $50,000,000, which makes the expenditure on forest fires 60 cents per $1,000 of valuation. With proper care and safeguards a condition could be attained such as that in Prussia, where in 25 years only 1,400 FOREST LEAVES. 43 acres were burned over on the average each year or 0.02 of I percent., while in Bavaria in 5 years it only averaged 0.007 of i per cent, of the total forest area as compared with i per cent, or more in Massachusetts. Mr. Rane also gives some suggestions on forest fire protection, together with reports of the Forest Wardens. Practical Forest Conservation. THERE is a lumber operation in Pennsylvania which manufactures only about 17,000,00c feet of timber a year, which vastly increases its product per acre by utiliijing the material which twenty years ago was absolutely valueless, and which only ten years ago was only occasionally used. It manufactures pine and hemlock lumber, but it is getting about 25 per cent, more out of the hemlock logs than was possible ten years ago. It is putting pine into bill stuff and boards that would not have been salable at one time, and the same is true of hardwoods It is getting this sawed lumber product out of logs that in 1897 or 1899 would have produced less than 14,000,000 feet. The extra 3,000,000 feet or more that it is get- ting now would, under the old conditions, have been burned in the slab pit. Some of it would have been left in the woods in the defective stand- ing trees, or on the ground in logs or limbs, which it would not pay to take out. This is simply the lumber part of it ; but this concern is selling hardwood logs to woodworking establishments which have been established within the last few years. It has a sale for all of its slabs and edgings. The best of all, however, is that it sells an enormous amount of pulpwood. Practi- cally everything from its lands that will not make a marketable grade of lumber goes to the pulp mill. This is a new industry so far as the woods of Pennsylvania are concerned. The idea of hemlock and hardwood being pulp materials would have been ridiculed ten or fifteen years ago. Now, not only is this material saved, but the woods are cleaned up ; the risk of fire is less- ened, and thus there is a double benefit. As to the lumberman who produces these ma- terials, he is doubtful as to whether he is profited or not ; but he is interested in the work, he does not like to see anything go to waste, and therefore every bit of material that will pay the cost of handling is put to use. Labor gets the benefit. — American Lumberman. Amendments to the Forest Law of New York. M ON. JAMES S. WHIPPLE, Forest, Fish \^\_ and Game Commissioner of New York, ^ made the following statement regarding the bill amending the forest, fish and game law, which has just been signed by the Governor : It provides for five additional game protectors, all of whom are under competitive civil service ex- amination. Examinations are confined to the county from which the protector is chosen. The Forest Preserve will be divided into four districts — three in the Adirondacks and one in the Catskills. Each district will be under the super- vision of a fire superintendent. Every town supervisor will be a member of the fire patrol by virtue of his office, and is expected to co-operate at all times and to assist in carrying out directions and regulations of the Commission in fighting for- est fires. Several observation stations will be es- tablished on the mountain tops. These stations will be provided with telephone communication, telescopes, range finders, maps, etc. Each dis- trict will be subdivided and placed under the supervision of a patrolman, who will act accord- ing to the instructions of the fire superintendent. This occupation is only temporary. Patrolmen will be supplied with tents, fire fighting imple- ments and cooking. utensils to care for the men in the field. Any male person of the age of 18 years may be called upon to assist in stopping and putting out fires, and those summoned, if physi- cally able, shall be liable to a penalty of twenty dollars for refusing to act. The superintendents of fires and fire patrolmen are vested with all the powers of game protectors. Reports must be made to the superintendents of every fire occurring in the respective fire districts controlled by each patrolman. Fire patrolmen receive seventy-five dollars per month and expenses while actually employed. Laborers who are brought into the service by re- quest of patrolmen or fire superintendents receive a compensation of fifteen cents for each hour em- ployed. An accurate account of the expenditures involved in this connection will be kept by the patrolmen. One-half of the expenses thereof will be a charge upon and paid by the State, and one- half by the town in which the men are so em- ployed and actually engaged in fighting fires. Any person who sets fire to waste or forest lands in the forest preserve, except as provided by law, or who negligently suffers a fire to extend from his own lands, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punish- able by- imprisonment of not more than one year or a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, 44 POREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 45 W or both, for each offense. Such person is also responsible to individuals, corporations and mu- nicipalities for damages at the rate of one dollar for each tree killed. When public necessity requires the Governor can suspend the hunting and fishing season, and can forbid any persons from entering the forests of the State for such purposes, as well as forbid- ding those already upon the lands from fishing or hunting. Persons violating the provisions of such proclamation shall be guilty of a misde- meanor, and upon conviction subjected to a fine of one hundred dollars or imprisonment of not more than thirty days, or both. This is in addi- tion to the penalties provided by law for taking game in the close season. r-^^ An Act for the Protection of Woodlands in New Jersey. ¥R. ALFRED GASKILL, Forester, has kindly furnished the text of a new law to protect woodlands in New Jersey, which was approved on April 12th, 1909 : — Be it enacted, etc. 1. Wherever in this State woodland, meaning thereby land or swamp upon which there is a growth of wood or brush, adjoins the right of way, or is less than one hundred and ten feet from the roadbed of a railroad upon which are operated locomotives, using coal or wood for fuel, there shall be constructed a fire line in the followino- manner : 2. At a distance of not less than one hundred feet nor more than two hundred feet from the outer rail on each side of the track or tracks upon which trains pass, and extending practically par- allel with it, a strip of land not less than ten feet wide shall be entirely cleared of trees, brush, grass, turf and other combustible matter, and the bare earth shall be exposed. Where the land is swampy a ditch not less than three feet wide, dug to the level of permanent water, may replace the bared strip. Between such bared strip or ditch, and the roadbed, all logs, fallen branches of trees, brush, grass and other combustible material shall be cut and removed or burned on the ground at some convenient time between the first day of November in each year and the first day of March next following; provided, however, that standing trees above three inches in diameter at the stump and not less than six feet apart need not be felled but must be pruned of branches to not less than six feet above the ground. Where the standing trees are close together enough must be removed to make those remaining not less than six feet apart ; and provided further, that the Forest Park Reservation Commission, on application of the railroad company, may authorize the omission of a fire line, or of a reburning or reclearing of the same in such sections as in its judgment the mak- ing, reburning, or reclearing shall be unnecessary. 3. The Forest Park Reservation Commission shall each year determine the length and location of such fire lines as shall be constructed under the provisions of this act. It shall be the duty of the assessor of each and every township or other municipality in which such fire lines will lie, to furnish to the Forest Park Reservation Commis- 'sion, within ten days of receipt of request for the same, the names and post office addresses of the owners of woodland on which such fire lines will lie, so far as they appear upon the tax-books of said township or other municipality. The Forest Park Reservation Commission shall thereupon mail to each person whose name and address shall appear on said list, notice of its intention to order the construction of a fire line, and shall also give notice of its intention by advertisement inserted once in two papers of general circulation in the section in which said lands are situated. 4. If the owner of any woodland shall object to the construction of the proposed fire line upon his property, he shall file within fifteen days of the date of said notice, or of said advertisement, with the Forest Park Reservation Commission, an ob- jection thereto, which objection shall contain such description of the property as shall be neces- sary to establish its location. The owner of any woodlands who shall not file, for any reason, an objection to the construction of the said fire line within the time specified, shall be deemed to have given his consent thereto. If the owner of any woodland file as above specified his objection to the proposed construction, the Forest Park Reser- vation Commission, if it deem the construction of the fire line through said property to be a public necessity, shall notify him by registered mail to show cause before the Commission at such time as it may appoint (which time shall be not less than ten days from the date of said notice) why the fire line should not be constructed as proposed. After said hearing, the Forest Park Reservation Commission may sustain the objection, or may order the fire line cut as proposed, and its decision shall be final. 5. Each railroad company affected hereby shall construct each year until all has been completed, such lengths of fire line as may be ordered by the Forest Park Reservation Commission after notice and hearings given as above specified ; provided^ ho7uever, the total length of fire line shall not ex- ceed in one year one-fifth of the total frontage of woodland along both sides of its main stem and branches extending therefrom, and shall maintain by the necessary clearing or returning each year all that has been previously constructed. Before the first of October in each year the Forest Park Reservation Commission shall specify to the gen- eral manager or local superintendent of each rail- road the location of that part of the said fire line to be constructed by the railroad under his charge during the following season ; provided, hoivever, that nothing in this act shall apply to any tract of woodland which is entirely isolated from any larger body of woodland by public roads or waterways at least twenty feet wide or by open fields, and which has an area less than five times the area of a fire line of the minimum width — namely, one hundred and ten feet — required to be constructed by section two of this act ; and such tracts shall not be included in estimating the total frontage of woodland along any railroad line. After the issu- ance of said order said railroad company may enter upon said lands for such purpose, and no action of trespass shall lie in consequence thereof unless the employes of the railroad company in the construc- tion of said fire lines shall do other damage to the property than that necessarily incident to the con- struction of the said fire lines as required by this act. 6. All marketable wood which shall be cut upon land not belonging to the railroad company in constructing the said fire line, in accordance with the provisions of this act, shall be piled at some point beyond the fire line, subject to removal by the owner. 7. Nothing in this act shall operate as a bar to any action against any railroad company for dam- ages to woodland through fire started by locomo- tives or employes. 8. Any railroad company which shall have been notified to construct fire lines in accordance with section five hereof, and which shall fail to do so, shall incur a penalty of two hundred dollars per mile or fraction thereof of fire line not constructed as required by this act, to be recovered in an action of debt at the suit of the Forest Park Re- servation Commission, and all moneys so received by the said fire warden shall be paid into the treasury of the State of New Jersey. 9. This act shall take effect immediately. Announcement has been made of an offer of $100,000 by Mrs. Morris K. Jessup to Yale Uni- A^rsity to establish the Morris K. Jessup professor- ship of silviculture in the Yale Forestry School as a memorial to her husband, who was deeply .inter- ested in forestry. Maryland's Forest Reserves. PROF. F. W. BESLEY, State Forester of Maryland, has just issued Forestry Leaflet No. 2, being a preliminary report of the forest conditions in that State. Up to the present time ten counties have been examined in details and forest maps prepared, the remaining counties have been investigated in a general way, and a table prepared showing that at the close of the year 1908 Maryland had 2,199,- 256 acres of wooded area, or 35 per cent, of the total for the State, containing 2,136,873,000 feet B.M. of hardwood and 738,550,000 feet B.M. of coniferous wood, valued at $8,168,002. Of the hardwood stand, the oaks constitute the larger per cent., followed by chestnuts, gums, poplars and hickory. The coniferous timber is principally long leaf pine, scrub pine, pitch pine, white pine and hemlock. The cut of timber in Maryland in 1907 was as follows : — Value, Lumber, 213,786,000 ft. B.M ^3,429,669 Lath, 16,043,000 pieces * 5i»956 Shingles, 5,467,000 pieces 22,087 Tanbark, 14,109 cords 128,479 Veneer, 7,470,000 ft. log measure 126,945 Total ^3»759,i36 • Data as to the production of wood pulp, cord- wood, railroad ties, mine props, poles, etc., are not available, but it is believed that with these added the total valuation at the mill for the wood 1 product of 1907 would be over $5,000,000. ' The average yearly growth on the woodland of ; the State is probably not over 75 board feet per i acre, giving an annual growth of 164,944,200 board feet on the 2,199,256 acres of woodland. The cut of 1907 took 30 per cent, more than the growth for that year. When to these other de- mands upon the forest already enumerated, is ! added the destruction by fire, the forests are being used up three times as fast as they grow. Studies of forest growth in the State indicate that an average growth increment of 250 board feet per acre per annum is easily obtainable under rational methods of forest management and effi- cient forest protection. Not only can the quan- tity be greatly increased, but the quality can be correspondingly improved, yielding a forest reve- nue four or five times as great as that possible under present conditions where careful manage- ment is riot practiced. ? 46 FOREST LEAVES. The Calaveras Big Tree National Forest Bill. B Y signing the bill for the creation of the Calaveras National Forest, California, • President Roosevelt completed the legis- lative act which saves for all time the most famous grove of trees in the world. Everyone interested in the great natural wonders rejoices that as a means of saving the big trees, the way has been paved for a practical exchange of the timber in the groves for stumpage on other forest land owned by the government. The first Calaveras bill was introduced in the Senate four years ago by Sena- tor Perkins, of California. Bills for the same pur- pose were passed in the upi)er house of Congress a number of times, but always failed of favorable consideration in the House until Senate bill 1574, also introduced by Senator Perkins, was called up by Congressman S. C. Smith, of California, at the last session. Robert B. Whiteside, a lumberman, is the owner of the Calaveras big trees. After his agree- ment to the proposals which are simply a practical exchange of timber for timber, the entire California delegation gave its solid and enthusiastic support to the bill. No appropriation is needed to carry out the provisions of the act. The land to be acquired under the bill includes about 900 acres in what is known as the North Calaveras grove in Calaveras county, and 3,040 acres in the south grove in Tuolumne county. The north grove contains 93 big trees and in the south grove there are 1,380 of these giant sequoias. Any tree under eighteen feet in circum- ference, or six feet through, is not considered in the count of large trees. Besides the giant sequoias there are hundreds of sugar pines and yellow pines of laFge proportions, ranging to the height of 275 feet and often attaining a diameter of eight to ten feet. There are also many white firs and in- cense cedars in the two tracts. The north grove contains ten trees each having a diameter of twenty-five feet or over, and more than seventy having a diameter of fifteen to twen- ty-five feet. Mo>t of the trees have been named, some for famous generals of the United States and others for statesmen and various States of the Union. *' The Father of the Forests," now down, is estimated by Hittel, in his '' Resources of Cali- fornia," to have had a height of 450 feet and a diameter at the ground of more than forty feet when it was standing. " Massachusetts " contains 1 18,000 board feet of lumber ; '' Governor Stone - man" contains 108,000 board feet, and the ''Mother of the Forest," burned in the terrible forest fire which licked its way into a part of the j giove last summer, contains 105,000 board feet. I Each of these trees named contain as much lum- ber as is grown ordinarily on fifteen or twenty acres of timberland. The bark runs from six inches to two feet in thickness. On the Matthews farm, south of Wolcott, N. Y., the largest elm in that part of the State was re- cently cut. The trunk measured 50 feet to the , first limbs, and wa^ perfectly sound. The stump was nearly 15 feet in circumference, and the rings indicated that it was fully 300 years old. It was estimated the body would make 2,500 feet of lumber and the top 25 cords of wood. The Mat- thews farm has descended from father to son since British land-owners deeded it to Jesse Matthewj> about 1809. One would think the present owner would value the old veteran more for its age and associations than for the timber it contained. — Country Gentleman. Attention has been called in Forest Leaves to the severe forest fires in 1908 in Pennsylvania and other States. It is pleasing in this connection to call attention to the comparatively small loss on the Girard estate, as an evidence of continued efforts in practical forestry. According to the Thirty-ninth Annual Report of the Directors of the City Trusts there were but two small fires on April 14th and 23d, which burned over 40 acres of the Girard Water Com- pany's 4596 acres, both started by sparks from locomotives of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The fire roads, cut at intervals within the water- shed of Lost Creek, on which 252,050 trees have been planted, inclosed by the 6Vs miles of stone wall to prevent the extension of forest fires, were cut and burnt over. A patrol was maintained on Sundays and holidays to prevent trespass on the lands and to detect and extinguish forest fires. The total amount of forest land belonging to the Girard estate burned over in three fires in 1908, including the 40 acres of the Ciirard Water Company, was but 100 acres. This small loss is ascribed to the opening of the fire lanes and the watchfulness of emplovees. Preston c'v: Rounds Co., of Providence, R. I.,, has issued a '' Key to New England Trees," wild and commonly cultivated, based primarilv upon leaf characters, compiled by J. Franklin Collins and Howard W. Preston, which is sold for 40 cents. This handy booklet of 42 pages, 16 mo.,* is intended as a guide in determining the names of the different trees, avoiding technical terms^ those used being defined. FOREST LEAVES. 47 J. T. ROTHROCK, Consulting Forester, WEST CHESTER, PA. Terms upon Application. The Pennsylvania State College FOUR YEAR COURSE IN FORESTRY. . A thorough and practical undergraduate course in technical forestr}' — preparing men for all lines of professional and applied forestry. Special attention is paid to practical field work in surveying, mapping and forest measurements. One of the largest of the State Forest Reserves is within a short walk of the College. For information regarding entrance requirements, expenses, etc., address DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, STATE COLLEGE, PA. Biltmore Forest School, BILTMORE, N. C. 0000 The Biltmore Forest School is the only technical school of forestry in this country. It illustrates its teachings on a large scale, on a tract of land owned by George W. Vanderbilt, comprising 130,000 acres of forest. The complete course covers twelve consecutive months. Write for particulars, addressing C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D., Director, « BILTMORE, N. C. CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILA. 30 minutes from Broad St. Station. BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BOYS. niuMtrated Catalftyue itpon opplicattdtn* JAMES L. PATTERSON, Head Matter. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rt. Rev. Ozi W. Whitaker, D.D., President. Samuel F. Houston, Vice-President. George Woodward, Secretary and Treasurer. JAMES M. BECK. WALTON CLARK. JACOB 8. DISSTON. EDGAR DUDLEY FARIES. FRANCIS I. GOWEN. J. LEVERING JONES. DR. HOWARD A. KELLY. FRANCLS D. LEWIS. RANDAL MORGAN. H. GORDON MCCOUCH. GIFFORD PINCHOT. JAMES R. SHEFFIELD. 48 FOREST LEAVES. w Know Andorra's Trees? to If Not— Why Not? ONE ITEM-OUR PIN OAKS. Andorra's Pin Oaks have given all purchasers absolute satisfaction. The reason is not hard to find — they have the quality — roots and vitality. The Pin Oak presents points which readily distinguish it from all others, and it is undoubtedly the most valuable for all practical purposes. The dense finely divided foliage is a beautiful shining green through the Summer months, and colors to sparkling red and yellow in the Fall. The Pin Oak is easily transplanted, and is the quickest growing of all the Oaks. As an avenue or lawn tree it is unequalled. * - The Pin Oak thrives in all sections, in all soils and situations. ^=Try Andorra's stock. EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN. OUR BOOKLET "MORE SPECIALTIES." 3d EDITION, DESCRIBES THESE AND MANY OTHERS. SPECIAL OFFER. REMEMBER! EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN! Each Per lo Per ic» 6 to 7 ft. Low-branched $i oo $8 50 $60 00 7 to 8 ft. Low-branched i 25 10 00 70 00 8 to 9 ft. Low-branched; xj^ to i^ in. cal i 50 13 50 125 00 9 to 10 ft. Low-branched; i^ to 2 in. cal 2 00 17 50 135 00 10 to 12 ft. Low-branched; 2 to 2>^ in. cal 2 50 22 50 150 00 10 to 12 ft. 23^: to 3 in 3 50 30 00 275 00 Extra-heavy Specimens $3 50 to 10 00 tt^^-Seiid for SPKIXC; PKICE LlST.-^a ANDORRA NURSERIES, WM. WARNER HARPER, Prop. Box F, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA, PA. Vol. XII. Philadelphia, August, igog. No. 4. Published Bi-Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, loia Walnut St„ Philadelphia, Pa. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as second class matter. CONTENTS. Editorial 49 Narrative of the Mt. Pocono Meeting 50 Forestry Conditions at Pocono Manor 54 The Local Sawmill 5^ The Present Status of the Forestry Problem 58 Subscription, $1.00 per Year. The attention 0/ Nurserymen and others is called to the advantages 0/ FoRHST Leaves as an advertising medium. Rates will be fur- nished on application. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Founded in June, 1886, Labors to disseminate information in regard to the necessity and •methods of forest culture and preservation, and to secure the enact- ment and enforcement of proper forest protective laws, both State and National. Annual membership fee. Two dollars. Life membership, Twenty-five dollars. Neither the membership nor the work of this Association is intended to be limited to the State of Pennsylvania. Persons desiring to become members should send their names to the Chairman of the Membership -Committee, 1012 Walnut Street, Phila. President, John Birkinbine. Vice-Presidents, Wm. S. Harvey, James C. Haydon, Albert Lewis, Richard Wood. General Secretary, Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. Recording Secretary, F. L. Bitler. Treasurer, Charles E. Pancoast. Council- at- Large, Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Hon. Robert S. Conklin, Samuel L. Smedley. Finance, W. S. Harvey, Chairman ; Dr. Henry M. Fisher, W. W. Frazier, Charles E. Pancoast, and J. Rodman Paul. Membership, Albert B. Weimer, Chairman ; Mrs. George F. Baer, Edwin Swift Balch, Robert S. Conklin, Hon. Lucien W. Doty, Dr. J. T. Rothrock, W.W. Scranton, Dr. Samuel Wolfe, and Hon. S. P. Wolverton. La7v, Hon. W. N. Ashman, Chairman; Henry Budd, and John A. Siner. Publication. John Birkinbine, Chairman ; F. L. Bitler, S. B. Elliott, Alfred S. Haines, Alfred Paschall, and Harrison Souder. Work, Mrs. Brinton Coxe. Chairman ; Mrs. George T. Heston, William 8. Kirk, J. Franklin Meehan, and Abraham S. Schropp. County Organization, iisimuci Marshall, Chairman; Eugene Ellicott, ^ames C Haydon, Dr. J. Newton Hunsberger, and Richard Wood. Office of the Association, loia Walnut St.. Philadelphia. EDITORIAL. Lessons of the Mt. Pocono Meeting. ^^T'ROM the commodious porches of the Pocono p* Manor Inn one enjoys vistas of succeeding ~ ranges of hill-country, backed by the cleft in the Kittatinny Mountains (the Gap^, through which the Delaware River has carved its channel. These ranges appear fresh and green, except where late cultivation is evidenced, as moth holes in a billiard-cloth, but the amount of good timber standing is small. The tanneries cleared away a fine stand of oak and hemlock, the sawmills fol- lowed, and repeated fires have left only occa- sional relics of past glory in scattered trees of sizes fit for use. The dense undergrowth of chestnut sprouts, laurel, rhododendrons, huckle- berries, ferns, etc., give the verdant color to the picture, but the commercial value of the timber is negligible when the area covered is considered. However, unless all signs fail, in a decade there will be changed conditions, due to the efforts of individuals, associations, and corporations. The altitude of the Pocono Mountain district offers attractions to the comfort-seeker during hot weather ; its clear cold streams, tumbling rapidly towards sea-level, invite the fisherman, and the necessity of maintaining wooded areas is recog- nized as essential for the maintenance of vacation attractions. To secure these, the existing growth is protected, and numerous trees have been set out by associations and corporations which have secured areas of mountain land. Each of such estates encourages the owner of adjacent land to appreciate the value of good forest cover ; and while many pay little attention to this feature, others, more progressive, recognize the increased value to their holdings, due to protected forests. The necessity of protecting from destruction the large investment in hotels, cottages, and bungalows, has developed the Pocono Protective 50 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 51 I Fire Association, whose function is to prevent and combat forest fires. The paper by Mr. Hodge, **The New Law Regarding the Appointment of Wardens and Fighting Forest Fires in Pennsylvania," gave interesting data concerning this organization ; and that of Mr. Smedley, *' Forestry Conditions on Pocono Manor," presents facts concerning the efforts of this particular association to improve local conditions. Each section of territory controlled by organi- zations such as Pocono Manor, Pocono Pines As- sembly, Pocono Lake Preserve, which extended courtesies to the Pennsylvania Forestry Associa- tion at its late meeting ; Buckhill Falls Association which entertained the Association seven years ago, and others, in protecting the growing wood- land and setting an example to its neighbors which is expected to change the Pocono Mountain region from one which nearly each year was burned over to one where forest methods will prevail. The late meeting seriously discussed a problem upon which our Legislature must soon act, viz., advanced laws which will encourage the mainte- nance of forests by individuals and associations through an equitable system of taxation. The papers contributed by Messrs. Elliott, Ferguson, and Ruddle deal with this problem. The meeting also offered a practical illustration of the advantage of a well-constructed road built at joint expense of State, county and township in furnishing desirable means of communication be- tween points, and in establishing barriers to aid in checking forest fires. The improvement of the highways of the State is a feature which will do much to advance the Commonwealth in many ways. # These outings, where members of the Associa- tion meet to form new friendships or renew ac- quaintance, present opportunities to view the practical aspect of forestry ; and an important feature is the quiet conferences out of the formal meetings. None of the visitors to Pocono Manor will forget the magnificent display of rhododendrons which were in full bloom, nor the generous courtesies extended by fellow-members which received recognition through resolutions which appear in this issue, but we cannot let the opportunity pass to add to these an expression of appreciation of the pleasure and profit in which all shared who attended the Pocono meeting. ^^ J. B. We regret that want of space in this issue pre- vents publishing all of the papers presented at the Mt. Pocono meeting. Narrative of the Mt. Pocono Meetings THE summer meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association was held July 7, 8, and 9 at Pocono Manor, near Mt. Po- cono, Pa. First Session, Mr. Joshua L. Baily called the meeting to order in the assembly room at 8 p.m. on July 7, and after welcoming the visitors, described the Pocono Manor, located at an elevation of 1,700 feet, with its dry atmosphere and good water. He said that the organization had come for a benevolent pur- pose, and as the forest supply would not last more than 30 to 40 years, reforestation was a necessity. No living thing is as ancient as trees whose age is measured by centuries and some by millenniums, hence the forests should be preserved, utilized, and, when necessary, trees planted. The Pocono Manor Association was only about 7 years old, and when formed the forest growth there was only about 6 feet high ; the hemlock trees had been cut for the bark, the trunks being left in the woods, the other timber removed, while later the ground was repeatedly burned over. Since that time the fire had been kept out, and the beneficent results could be seen. He mentioned the Indiana Manual Labor School, which was founded on a legacy of $50,000. A tract of 600 acres of forest land was purchased, and most of the money spent in burning the trees to clear the land. As these were nearly all black walnut, if they had been left standing they would now be worth three times the amount of the bequest. He spoke of a gentleman who did not know the difference between a tulip poplar and a oak, and, when this was pointed out, made an examination, being surprised to learn of the various species. He then introduced Mr. John Birkinbine, President of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, who took the chair. Mr. Birkinbine expressed thanks for the kindly welcome and stated that the Pennsylvania Forestry Association was 23 years old, each year being one of persistent effort, and gave credit to the ladies for inaugurating the movement in Pennsyl- vania. The Association is not a political or par- tisan organization, and no political aid had ever been asked. Dr. Henry S. Drinker, President of Lehigh ! University, and Mr. Joseph Elkinton extended an invitation to the Association to visit the Pocono Lake Preserve, the party leaving on the follow- ing day. Dr. J. T. Rothrock, General Secretary of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, and Secretary of the State Reservation Commission, was then introduced, and delivered an illustrated lecture on ^ * Desolate Pennsylvania ' ' (a synopsis of which will appear later), after which the meeting ad- journed. Pocono Lake Preserve, On the morning of July 8, automobiles were taken for the Pocono Lake Preserve, about 8 miles to the west, the route being over the fine State road. On reaching Pocono Lake, a beauti- ful sheet of water, launches were taken to the lower end of the lake, where a short walk revealed some of the natural .beauties of the place. At the luncheon, Dr. Drinker and Mr. Elkinton de- scribed the formation and aims of the Pocono Lake Preserve, while Mr. Wm. S. Harvey, Vice- President of the Pennsylvania Forestry Associa- tion, made an address, and read a letter from Mr. Gifford Pinchot, U. S. Forester, recommending a tariff on lumber as tending to conserve the forests of the United States. The President then for- mally thanked the Pocono Lake Preserve Associ- tion for the courtesies received. The Pocono Lake Preserve is an association of nature-loving men and women, who have acquired a tract of some 3,300 acres (including Pocono Lake, a sheet of water said to be one of the largest lakes in Pennsylvania, more than 4 miles in length, with a shore-line of about 10 miles), located in Tobyhanna Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, at an elevation of 1,800 feet above sea-level. The Preserve is conveniently accessi- . ble by the railroad, and yet far enough in the wilds to be a place where those may go who love the woods and forest waters, and long for the simple life, untrammeled by the conventionalities of modern society. The lake shores are in places well wooded, and there is a considerable timber growth on a large portion of the property. The natural beauties of the whole place are great, and the walks in the ravine of the Tobyhanna Creek below the lake through the rhododendron thickets beautiful. A share in the association gives a plot of . woodland in what is considered a children's para- dise. The Preserve is being peopled mainly by persons of moderate means — largely drawn from college and educational circles^ Some prefer tent life. Others have built shacks and bungalows, and a dining camp has been established for the accommodation of members and their guests. The organization is under the Limited Liability Laws of Pennsylvania, the Board of Directors exercising oversight over the hygienic care of the estate in the matter of the proper disposal of refuse and the care of the purity of the drinking- water. Proper supervision is given in the matter of fishing and hunting, so as to preserve these features for the sportsmen among the members. The members of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association who spent an enjoyable day on the lake and about the Preserve, appreciated the great influence that such an enterprise should have in the matter of tree preservation and care in the surrounding region — for this Preserve is devoted to carrying on in its domain, under intelligent supervision, just the objects and lessons that the Forestry Association exists to further. After luncheon opportunity was offered for a walk along Tobyhanna Creek, and the party then started on the return trip. A stop was made at Pocono Pines Assembly, a tract of 300 acres, where the visitors were escorted by Dr. Miller through the Inn, Auditorium, Tent Field, the Clymer library, and to Naomi Lake, a sheet of water about three miles long. On a part of this land some old pine trees, unusual in this fire-swept region, were added attractions. The Pocono Pines Assembly maintains an educa- tional course during the summer. Second Session. In the evening another session was held in the assembly room. After introductory remarks from the chairman concerning the necessity of proper laws for the taxation of forested lands and those in process of reforestation, Mr. T. L. Hodge, Secretary of the Pocono Protective Fire Associa- tion, was introduced, and read a paper on **The New Law Regardingthe Appointment of Wardens and Fighting Forest Fires in Pennsylvania," which will be printed in Forest Leaves, prefacing it by a short description of the Pocono Protective Fire Association, which is now 6 years old, hav- ing been started in November, 1902. The large property-owners, in self-protection, were forced to adopt some method of combating forest fires, and formed the Association in which 70,000 acres were represented. All landownefs, large and small, were welcomed as members, paying annually one cent per acre of holdings. It had been able to stop to a large extent the burning of the woods by incendiary huckleberry pickers, from waste left in lumber operations, etc. Warning signs are widely distributed, and a moral sentiment created against starting forest fires. Under the old law the county constables were ex-officio fire wardens, the Commissioner of Forestry having nothing to do with them, but by the new act the latter has control of regularly appointed forest fire wardens, and a much better system has been inaugurated. Mr. S. B. Elliott, in the absence of the Hon. Robert S. Conklin, gave a resume of the present status of forestry legislation in Pennsylvania, de- 52 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 53 I tails of which were given in the April and June issues of Forest Leaves. A paper on ''Taxing Land Held for Reforest- ation," by Mr. John Ruddle, C. E., was pre- sented. The President called on Dr. Henry Sturgis Drinker, President of Lehigh University, for a statement of what the University is doing in the direction of the forwarding of the interests of forestry, stating that he knew that the work of the University in this direction would be of interest to the Association. Dr. Drinker said : — *' Lehigh University is a member, in its cor- porate capacity, of both the National and the Pennsylvania Forestry Associations. A careful survey of the general situation^ recently, had satis- fied the authorities of the University that another school of forestry was not at present needed ; that the existing institutions were fiHing the demand for professional foresters, but that our educational institutions could do great good in forwarding the forestry movement by becoming centers in their respective localities for the dissemination of a knowledge of the general subject, and in the crea- tion of an atmosphere and feeling in the public of interest in the forestry movement. To this end Lehigh University has been greatly aided by the recent donation by the heirs of the late Robert H. Sayre (for many years a trustee of the Uni- versity) of the sum of $100,000 for the improve- ment of the L^niversity's large domain (Sayre Park) on South Mountain, in which the Univer- sity's buildings are located. An arboretum has been started in the park under the care of Dr. Robert W. Hall, Professor of Biology and Lec- turer on Forestry ; it is expected that this arbore- tum will soon show a collection of our native trees that will be an excellent object lesson to the public. *' This arboretimi was established through the liberality and aid of an earnest friend of the for- estry movement, who furnished the funds required for the laying out of the arboretum and for the establishment of a course of lectures on forestry at the University, which are to be given to the pub- lic of the vicinity as well as to the students of the LTniversity ; also for the promotion generally of the effort to make the University a center, in its locality, for the diffusion of knowledge relative to forestry, and for the promotion of a public senti- ment intelligently favorable to forest preservation, and to the proper care of our forest resources. ** In this work Lehigh University is heartily enlisted, and the President of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association has accepted the University's invitation to open the next year's course of lec- tures on forestry by one on ' The Relation of Forest Preservation to the Engineering Profes- > } 1 sions Dr. R. W. Hall, of Lehigh University, by request described in some detail the plan for the arboretum which contained a number of species of trees, and ultimately it was hoped of every Ameri- can native tree which would grow in that region, and seed beds had been started. Mr. George H. Wirt, Director of the State Forest Academy, Mont Alto, Pa. , was called upon and gave a resume of the work done there. As the State was acquiring large forest reserves, it was early found that there was a dearth of men who could be placed in charge, and to supply this need the Academy was started in March, 1903. The course at first was two years, but was changed to three years. The South Mountain reserve where the Academy is located was being con- served, wood was sold from improvement cuttings, a sawmill had been installed, etc. In connection with the Academy a large nursery was maintained containing 2,000,000 seedlings. In the spring there would be 800,000 young trees ready to use on the reserve or distribute at cost to the public in accord with the new law. There are now at the Academy 28 young men, the limit being 30 (divided into classes of to). It was expected that there would be 13 graduations in the present class, which would leave 15 vacancies to be filled from over 50 applicants. On graduation the young foresters are appointed on the reserves, receiving $60 per month the first year, $70 per month the second year, and $100 per month the third year. There were now 17 graduates on the reserves. Mr. Samuel L. Smedley presented a paper on ^^ Forestry Conditions at Pocono Manor," which will be found in another column. Third Session, On July 9 there was a third session in the assembly room, when the following letter from Governor Stuart was read : — EXECUTIVE CHAMHER. H.VRRisurRci, June 30, 1909. Mr. John Birkinrine, President, Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Odd Fellows' Temple, Philadelphia, Pa. My Dear Sir : I regret very much that previous important engagements for the week commencing July 4, which cannot be postponed, will prevent me from attending the meeting of the Pennsyl- vania Forestry Association. The purpose and object of your Association — the protection and preservation of our forests — should be encouraged and supported. The Pennsylvania Department of Forestry has been assisted materially by your Association in the work that the State has under- taken toward the conservation and restoration of our timberlands. In wishing for your Association all success, may I request that you kindly convey to the offi- cers and members of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association my appreciation of their invitation, and my regret at my inability to attend the meet- ing. Yours sincerely, Edwin S. Stuart. Prof. J. A. Ferguson, of the Pennsylvania State College, presented a paper entitled *'Some I Financial Drawbacks to the Practice of Private | Forestry," and was followed by Mr. S. B. Elliott, I of the State Forestry Reservation Commission, : who made an address on '' the Present Status of \ the Forestry Problem." Both of these papers I will appear in Forest Leaves. In the discussion which followed, Mr. C. C. Binney spoke of the early history of forestry asso- ciations in the United States. The pioneers were Mr. Franklin B. Hough, of Ohio, who gathered about him a number of men interested in the sub- ject, and a similar organization which was formed in the south, but both were shortlived. In Cincinnati, in 1882, the American Forestry Congress was formed, but it was weak, and in 1889 was changed to the American Forestry Asso- ciation. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association was the first distinctly State organization, was much the largest and strongest, and held up the hands of the American Forestry Congress. Doubts had been expressed as to the constitu- tionality of the proposed Appalachian and White Mountain Reservations. Whether the power of the United States extended to the purchase of land from private owners for such purpose. At the time of the foundation of the National Park at Gettysburg, Pa., to preserve the site of the battle- field, similar objection was raised. This was duly argued, but the site was purchased, and now no one says the establishment of the park was illegal. The Appalachian and White Mountain Reservations concerns the navigability of the im- portant rivers whose sources were here found, and the I^w Committee of Congress reported that a measure to secure and preserve forests for the pres- ervation of navigable streams was constitutional. Mr. Elliott stated that the original act for the Appalachian and White Mountain Reserves had been declared unconstitutional, and it was only then that a new tack was tried as narrated above. Mr. Binney stated that it was understood by those interested in preserving the navigability of streams that there could be no proper protection without forest conservation and reforestation, which must necessarily follow. Mr. Joseph Johnson said that the various States had by legislative action set aside the tracts which the United States desired to obtain. Mr. Alfred S. Haines read a paper on '* The Local Sawmill," which is also presented in Forest Leaves. Mr. Elliott stated that the woodlot question was an important one. In some States, such as Ohio and Iowa, which only contain agricultural lands, only the farmers could take care of the trees in their woodlots. The State might as well tax the farmer's wheat as his timber, causing him to cut it, and thus compel him to go to the Pacific for his lumber. The lack of intelligence of the farmer leads to deplorable results ; when he has good trees in his woodlot, he uses these, leaving stand the less desirable timber, which should first be removed. Mr. Birkinbine directed attention to a specimen chestnut tree on the porch, which had been cut to show the effect of the chestnut blight, a fungus growth which aff'ects the bark of the tree, com- pletely girdling and killing it, and has caused great devastation. Mr. Binney asked for enlightenment as to the proper attitude to be taken by the residents of large cities in the eastern United States as to Christmas trees. Whether such a use of young evergreen trees is legitimate or foolishly destruc- tive. But if the latter, whether we should not deny ourselves as was the case witji tea in Boston. Mr. Oliver C. Hillard spoke of the newspaper reports of the destruction of Christmas trees by fire in the cities to keep up the prices. Mr. Smedley instanced a party who started this industry at Mt. Pocono, and then went to Maine to continue it. Mr. Johnson thought the destruction of young trees for such a purpose was not justifiable. Mr. Baily stated he was troubled in mind about the matter until he learned that in Maine Christ- 1 mas trees were obtained by thinning out, and in I New England nurseries engaged in raising trees for this purpose. Before adjourning the meeting the chairman called attention to the gratifying success which had attended the Pennsylvania Forestry Associa- tion for the twenty-three years of its existence, emphasizing the fact that the. organization had shown activity in promoting forestry, had main- tained its original form of organization, had issued its publication, Forest Leaves, during the entire time of its existence, and that in actual practical results secured it claimed to stand pre-eminent among similar organizations in this country. He 54 FOREST LEAVES. further congratulated the members on the satis- factory standing of the Association in having in- vested funds in excess of the life membership sub- scription, and upon the ability during its entire life to meet all its obligations. Mr. Binney then offered the following resolu- tion, which was unanimously adopted : — ** Resolved, That we, the members of the Penn- sylvania Forestry Association, who have attended the summer meeting at Pocono Manor, hereby express our hearty thanks to the local committee, the officers and members of the Pocono Manor Association, and of the Pocono Lake Preserve Association, and all others who have interested themselves in this meeting, for the courtesy and hospitality with which we have been received and entertained, and also our deep gratification at the strong and practical interest in the cause of forest preservation manifested l)y the people of this beautiful region." Immediately after adjournment the member^^ assembled on the lawn of the Pocono Manor and planted three hemlock trees for Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Mr. John Birkinbine, and Mr. S. B. Elliott, with appropriate ceremonies. A visit was then made to the ''Hemlocks" cottage of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel L. Smedley, where refreshments were served. In the afternoon, by the courtesy of Mr. Joshua L. Baily, carriages conveyed the party to his prop- erty on Svviftvvater Creek, where the beautiful falls were admired by all, as well as the shaded walk beside the trout stream. On the return trip. Rhododendron Park was visited, and the gorgeous masses of bloom nearing their prime delighted all. This completed the Mt. Pocono Meeting, mem- orable for the many courtesies extended, the papers and discussions thereon, and the friendly intercourse which it gave occasion. Y , L. BlTLER. The preference for various woods as cross-ties is indicated by the prices now offered in south- eastern Pennsylvania per accejjted tie delivered alongside the railroad track. These ties are all 8 feet 6 inches long, 7 inches wide, while Class i are 7 inches and Class 2 are 6 inches wide : — No. I. No. 2. J;;f/^."s*' 76 cents. 56 cents. White oak, rock oak, black walnut, and wild cherr>', 71 cents. 51 cents. Mixed oak 48 cents. 28 cents. Chestnut, 40 cents. 20 cents. Forestry Conditions at Pocono Manor. (Read at the Mt. Pocono Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association.) SINCE the middle of the eighteenth century to the present time the Pocono Mountain section of Pennsylvania has posed as the frontier in many particulars. Early settlers were menaced by the Indians, who committed many atrocious crimes, and the refugees from the mas- sacre in the Wyoming Valley traversed this sec- tion, enduring great suffering. We have to-day an enemy calling for almost as much alertness as did savages two centuries ago, and during each spring and fall an almost constant watch is kept from the water tower by scanning the horizon to see if the enemy, the forest fire, is stealing down Indian Run or Swiftwater A'al- leys. In the spring of 1900 all the higher ground, including the* site upon which this building (Pocono Manor Inn) stands, was swept by fire, which cleared nearly everything, except a few scattered pines or oaks, which seemed to have grown accustomed to the frequent fires. The Pocono Manor Association purchased this tract of 750 acres early in 1902, and on the fif- teenth day of the following August the Inn was opened for guests. Since that time, with but one exception, we have been able to keep the enemy off the property. In May, 1905, about 1,000 acres was burnt over to our southern line on Bear Mountain, but the fire was checked near midnight by a force of about 75 men. Early the next morning the con- ditions were examined, and to all appearances the trouble was over, but about ten o'clock, when the dew dried off, the wind fanned the embers, and down the mountain-side came the fire. By back- firing from an old trail, which runs up through the valley, it was finally surrounded, after burning over about 50 acres of the Manor property. Shortly after the Manor was started we applied to the Forestry Department of the National Gov- ernment at Washington for instructions as to the best way to care for the young growth that was springing up. The department sent a representa- tive, who made a careful survey of the property, from which a plan was furnished us ; also much valuable advice, the substance of which was that, owing to the splendid stand of young saplings, mostly hard woods, the principal thing to do was to keep out the fires, that the few vacant places should be planted with coniferous trees, which would grow into value, and at the same time be an ornamental feature, which is desirable in an enterprise like this. FOREST LEAVES. 55 In the spring of 1904 we imported 10,000 coniferous trees and started a nursery, but owing to delays in handling only about 80 per cent, grew. For the past three years we have been planting from this stock, with most satisfactory results. From what information we can gather the origi- nal timber of this section was pine on the higher lands, while hemlock prevailed in the valleys ; but about 1850 the tanning industry was exten- sively carried on in the Poconos, a large business being established at Tannersville. Presumably, it was for this that the exceptional -fine stand of hemlock in our Swiftwater Valley was cut for the bark, the logs being left to decay ; and in a few years the fires came, hundreds of thousands of feet of valuable timber being destroyed. Since that time, at intervals of from four to five years, fire swept this section of the Poconos ; in many places even the soil has been burnt off, but, fortunately for us, in most places the soil is sufficient to support a good stand of timber, and we would call your attention to the fine results on the north slope of the Swiftwater Valley from ! simply keeping the fires out. We have been doing some thinning out, which has to be done with great care, as to thin out too much will allow the sun to dry the ground and so check the growth. The better plan seems to be to thin out every four or five years, according to \ the growth, and cut the undergrowth with the j scythe each year. We regret that the chestnut | blight has made its appearance on the Manor, and we would gladly receive suggestions as to any practical way to check it. 1 Our position, geographically, is peculiar : to the west are two lines of railroads, with an almost uninhabited country for several miles ; to the east are the hotel, cottages and farm interests. The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad is awakening to the responsibility of the loss they are causing each year from the fires started from their engines. The Wilkes-Barre & Eastern Rail- road officials and employees pay little or no atten- tion to any fire that starts along the line. The indifference displayed by the latter company's men and some of the former are appalling. Fires will be started at the noon-hour, or to burn old ties at the most unpropitious time, and left to burn out without any thought as to the conse- quences. Many of the fires in the past were due to the huckleberry pickers, but, from statistics gathered from the local fire wardens, about 90 per cent, of the fires are started by the railroads. In protect- ing ourselves we naturally protect the large inter- ests to the east of us. Our superintendent has proven to his satisfac- tion that fire extinguishers are the most efficient way of combating the fires under the conditions that exist— of course, much depends on how near it is possible to drive to the scene of action. Ad- ditional roads are being opened up each year, and it will not be long before we will be in shape to feel moderately sure of being able to successfully cope with any normal conditions. I would call attention to the Swiftwater stream and the water supply for the Manor, as we are largely indebted to the forestry conditions, meagre as they are, for our exceptional fine water-supply. The Swiftwater stream rises about two miles west of the Inn, and, during the exten- sive drought of last year, the diminution of flow was scarcely noticeable. The water is exception- ally pure, and during the heaviest rains I have never seen it muddy, indicating that there is prac- tically no broken ground on the watershed. The surface water is largely filtered through leaf mold and a subsoil of red shale or Pocono sandstone,, which accounts for its quality. Just beyond the Swiftwater, and at the foot of what we know as Bear Mountain, the Manor springs discharge several barrels a minute at a temperature to-day of 47°, and analysis proves it worthy to be classed among the purest waters found. The Swiftwater stream is harnessed with I a turbine-wheel, and this water is forced to the I exchange at the Inn at a temperature of 52°. An artificial lake of about three and one-half acres has been constructed a few hundred yards below the power-house, with attractive surround- , ings, its exceptional cleanliness, refreshing cool- ness, and beautiful outline adding much to the landscape. The water increases in temperature 6° while retained therein, being 54° on entering and 60° on leaving. While we have little of what can be called heavy timber, about 50 acres at the extreme east- ern end of the Manor contains some moderately ' good-sized trees, with a scattering of chestnut, ; maple, and hemlock up along the stream. Fortun- ately the adjoining tract to the west belongs to our 'mutual friend and member, Joshua L. Baily, who has been a staunch defender of the forest for many years. There are no extensive acres of heavy woodland, but there are along the Swift- water stream some fine specimens of spruce and ! hemlock, and a few pines— I doubt if the latter are surpassed in size anywhere in Eastern Penn- sylvania. On the lowlands of the Swiftwater valley are to be found the rhododendron— the beautiful bloom and rich foliage of which at this time offer prob- ablv the grandest floral display to be found in the 56 FOREST LEAVES. I •ii eastern States, with possibly one exception — the mountain laurel, which about ten days ago be- decked these mountainsides in a way that would defy a skilled landscape gardener. Samuel L. S.aiedley. The Local Sawmill. (Read at the Mt. Pocono Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association.) I CALL your attention to the humble subject of the small sawmill because I believe that a proper understanding of its economic im- portance will help to solve the problem of the small woodlot ; and the problem of the farm woodlot, ladies and gentlemen, is no negligible part of that great object of this Association — the conservation of the State's resources in forest and stream. I cannot give you the exact figures rep- resenting the millions of acres of unimproved farm- land in this State, nor would they mean anything to you if I could. More convincing than statis- tics will be an intelligent observation of the con- ditions existing here and there as one travels over the State. As you realize the vastness of this waste farmland area, you begin to appreciate what it would mean if it were all growing timber. Nor would our statistics show another side of the story — how many board feet, think you, of lumber are hauled by the farmer from his lot to the mill and thence back to the farm for building and fenc- ing ? The census reporter gets no record of this, but if a like amount were taken out each year from the stores of market lumber, then the figures would show, and the prices would respond. It is to the manufacturing side of this great home-industry that I call your attention. I The study will be neither systematic nor com- prehensive. It is based mainly on observations of I less than two decades, and confined to the territo- rial limits of one county. As a boy I watched the great creaking timber wheels, ox-drawn, lay down log after log in my grandfather's mill-yard. Slowly these logs went through the old vertical saw, the slabs were split apart at the unsawn end, then piled on wagons, and drawn back by the same '' Buck and Berry." This was typical of a score of mills I knew, and have since seen lose entirely this trade, if not even their very existence as mills. The method was i crude, slow, and wasteful, so the business was ' easily taken by the portable steam sawmill. This outfit was swift in its work, but even more waste- ful, because of the necessity felt to cut everything on a given area in order to get every cent possible out of the job. By the old method the farmer and his men cut out, during winter, a few ripe trees or trimmed up a few the storms had thrown down — ^just enough for the home supply of lumber ; the ' ' portable ' ' miller bought the tract for a lump sum, promising to leave only the land, or he was hired to do the cutting at so much per thousand feet. In either case the result on the woodlot was the same. This is not the place to enlarge upon my belief that the ** clean cutting" practiced as a result of the above-mentioned conditions has been a great disadvantage to the woodlot. It will be clear to you that the effect has been very marked. During the period of my observations it has been persistently drilled into people by the oper- ators of these small steam outfits that they could not afford to haul logs from their own woods to the mill ; that it would be cheaper for them to go buy lumber at the yard and sell their own crop to the same operator. One illustration (of many that have come to my knowledge) will make clear what a strong financial motive there was behind this argument : John Doe owned 14 acres of timber ; he had a water- power mill, and a home demand for 15,000 feet of rough lumber and fencing per year. James Roe owned a steam-mill, and wanted to cut the timber on that tract. Roe was an inti- mate friend of Doe's, and made him a very good offer — $150 per acre for the lot as the trees stood. But it happened that Doe, unlike 98 per cent, of the woodlot owners, knew something about the amount of sawed lumber that an acre of trees would furnish, and he felt that Roe's offer was insufificient. So he hired the said Roe to put his mill on the tract and work it up at so much per thousand feet. Doe undertaking the sale of the product. As a result, the operation showed the owner a net profit of 1^299 per acre against the $150 offered. This opportunity for great profits has pushed the steam sawmill business to its limit, the old water-power mills have nearly all gone, and the tracts, large enough to tempt the portable mill, have all been cut. Meanwhile', the price of sawed lumber has risen steadily and not slowly. For many improvements that might be made the cost of material is prohibitive. But trees grow as long as the sun shines and rain falls. There are single trees and small groves that are ready for the mill. To-day, this need of a nearby mill is felt ; to- morrow, it will be more keenly felt. Let me make this situation still clearer by an- other illustration: The same John Doe, above referred to, as I said, had a water-power and con- siderable timber, but only one of those old saw-her-through-while-you-eat-your-dinner sort of saws. The task of getting out poorly-sawed »f ■ ^1 «! CO LU o o 111 UJ LU UJ t/: U CO UJ UJ UJ UJ CO CO UJ t* FOREST LEAVES. 57 ill t I lumber was sufficiently great to compel him to let his own timber waste, while he paid out freight and double profits on what he needed to buy. He was persuaded against his will to put in a modern circular saw, and now has on hand constantly a supply of seasoned lumber from his own trees. Besides this, the neighbors from sev- eral miles around keep the log-yard full, and would bring still more if the sawyer would make use of his table saws to utilize more closely the whole log. Five years since I saw that old mill work a 4-foot pin oak into ^-inch fence pickets with a saw that cut a ^-inch kerf both ways, and four heavy slabs went into the miller's wood- pile. To-day the slab-pile grows very slowly, and the saw cuts only about half as much sawdust. A farmer who pays ^27.50 for splintery hemlock hardly worth hauling home is not especially pleased to see 75 per cent, of his prime oak or chestnut go into the miller's furnace or his neigh- bor's ice-house. Consequently, he hunts the mill that will return him the largest percentage of his log as lumber at a fair charge for the work. At farm sales recently I have heard that a good woodlot is considered an essential part of a good property. Repairs are inevitable ; repairs require lumber ; the cost of these will add rapidly to the purchase price of the place. If properly man- aged, the labor of getting out the logs can be credited to the labor already employed, the $5 or $6 per thousand feet for sawing being the only cash outlay, the rest being credited to the woodlot. These conditions point to the rapid unlearning of the mischievous lesson taught by the steam- saw miller. He has chopped and haggled many a steep hillside in our county that ought never to have been bared. He will yet find work here and there cutting up bunches of logs some one has drawn to the site of a building, but the possibili- ties of 150 per cent, profits are in the past. The fuller appreciation of the value of the growing or the ripe tree, the value of the woodlot as a farm resource, must inevitably accentuate the demand for the restoration of the local sawmill. Not the mill of old times, but the small water (or steam) power mill with up-to-date machinery adapted to the available power, and operated by a man who can get the most out of the log. There will have to be, too, a learning over again of old tricks. A large majority of farmers and farm laborers don't know how to cut a tree nor how to load the log when cut, and many don't know even how to trim a log fit for the mill. I could show you a 5-foot chestnut log that three men and four horses spent three hours loading — it is still by the side of its stump, rotting. The connection of all this with the Forestry Association may not be clear. Our work is largely educational. The bulk of these small woodlots is held by farmers, and farmers are, for various reasons, not represented in our Association. I believe that these little bits of the history of a neighborhood industry point a lesson of very gen- eral application. All over our country are small water-powers, many unused, and, because of dis- use, decaying. The utilizing of these for the business indicated and for other purposes would not only prove a good investment of capital, but each such plant, rehabilitated, would influence the whole district in which it is located. Let a com- plete little wood-working mill be put on the site of one of these deserted sawmills, and its economic influence will begin immediately and grow rapidly. The farmers will find out that a large percentage of the lumber they buy for improvements can be cut in their own woods ; they will learn how to cut, so as to utilize the increment, the increase of their woodland, instead of allowing it to waste ; they will naturally learn the folly of the conven- tional excuse that trees here and there can't be removed without impairing the whole stand ; they will learn how to cut and handle logs ; and, perhaps, slowest and most important of all, they will learn to value and preserve the source of the power on which all this depends. Many of these little streams drain fertile valleys that are properly cultivated, but many more have watersheds, now barren and unproductive, that should be tree- covered. Proper attention to this matter would not stop, but check, the filling up of the dams. The farmer of Pennsylvania is not unlike other business men (though many do not recognize farming as a business) ; he is most influenced by an appeal to his pocketbook. Unless I am mis- taken, the change that I have tried to suggest to you is inevitable. This Association can and should hasten it by taking the lead. The farmer (I mean those men who put energy and brain into the business, and only those will survive) is alive to the forestry interest ; he wants help, and he wants to help. The more farmers there are in this State who are practicing correct woodlot forestry in their business, the more vital will be the force of the agricultural interests back of the State Reservation policy. These interests have sustained this movement. Now they expect results. I heartily agree with Mr. Elliott that we do not need more reserves so much as we need to care for what we have. This increase of care means the expenditure of money. We must spend in order to undo the mistakes of the past. The State. Reservation Commission must have the intelligent help of the so-called agricultural vote. A. S. Haines. 58 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 59 i The Present Status of the Forestry Problem. (Read at the I\It. Pocono Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association.) WHEN the white man came to this country he found an almost unbroken forest from the Atlantic Ocean to the Missis- sippi River. Beyond that there was a vast region practically devoid of trees until the Pacific slope was reached, where another domain of the largest and most wonderful trees that ever grew was found. To-day nearly all those vast forests are gone, and at the present rate of destruction will be entirely so within the next quarter of a century, unless cared for in a different manner than heretofore. The preservation of such as remain, and the restoration of a necessary amount of those that have been destroyed, compose the forest ^problem that is before us for solution ; and the present status of that problem is surely a subject worthy of careful consideration. For an intelligent under- standing of existing conditions, it will be well to see what has been done in the past, what is being done now, and along what lines the work is car- ried on. Among the first movements, if not the very first, which history records was when the King of Eng- land, about the time of the settlement of Ply- mouth, issued a mandate that certain oaks should not be cut by the settlers, but must be left for use in constructing his majesty's ships, and that cer- tain pines must be j)reserved for the masts thereof. Not long thereafter the Dutch authorities inter- dicted the cutting of certain sized oaks for similar reasons. Later on William Penn stipulated in his land grants that a certain percentage of forests should be left for future use. However, all this occurred before it was known how vast an area existed in this country covered with magnificent trees; and when that fact was ascertained a belief quite naturally filled the minds of both the authorities and the people that the forests were inexhaustible, and, hence, there was no need to obey these mandates, and consequently they were wholly disregarded. In these fruitless movements we have about all the known official recognition of the possibility of an exhaustion of forest supply, or any necessity for caring for it, for a period of nearly two hundred and fifty years, except legislation in some of the States relative to forest fires. During all this time the only thing done with the forests was to destroy them, first for agricultural purposes and later for timber. It should not be assumed that such destruction was altogether vandalism, or that it was unneces- sary. Civilized people could not live in the wil- derness ; only Indians could do that, and lumber was necessary to construct the white man's house. It was the proper thing to do, and the only just criticism that should be offered is, that provisions were not made for the perpetuation of a sufficient area of forest to maintain the needed supply for the peopte who were to come after them. There is nothing wrong in cutting down a tree for a use- ful purpose, providing that by so doing one shall not wrong others who are as much entitled to it and its protection as the one who cuts it, and if suitable provisions shall be made to grow another by the time it may be required. Therefore, the wrong that has been committed consists in not making provisions for the continuance of such forests as might be needed for coming generations, and we are perpetuating that wrong. But the destruction went on with accelerated speed, and no thought was given to the future, except now and then by some one who was deemed a visionary and a prophet of impossible disaster and who would insist that, with an increasing population and an augmented demand for forest products, coupled with a rapidly increasing de- struction of the forests, their end must come in no great length of time ; but even those who foresaw that end did not suppose they would live to behold it. As time passed on evidence of the rapid ap- proach of the final disaster so multiplied that a lofty and patriotic sentiment was aroused that took cognizance of the condition of things, and many saw that some action should be taken, but just how or in what way anything could be done was by no means clear in the mind of any one. Thus far there was held to be no occasion on the part of the general public to consider seriously the sub- ject which we now term forestry. Then, too, what little thought was given it was from different standpoints ; some from economic or utilitarian grounds and others from aesthetic or sentimental ones. The latter were far more numerous than the others, but each of them could truthfully ex- claim : *' I love my country's pine-clad hills, Her thousand bright and gushing rills," yet all saw the pines disappearing and the rills roaring torrents or dry stream beds, and they could not be comforted. The utilitarian, or, if you please so to call him, the economist, saw the great damage by floods, the serious disturbance of the equable flow of springs and streams, and the constantly increasing distance between the centers of population and the increasing cost of lumber to the consumer. He, too, saw that something should be done, but he was no better prepared to propose a remedy than were the lovers of the pine-clad hills and gushing rills ; and the result was that a vague and indefinite conception of the nature of the problem, and the best method of solving it, filled the minds of all who gave it any thought what- ever. They knew that some action should be taken, but just what or how they could not see clearly ; and there was no wonder, for it is a prob- lem which we of this day, with the experience of other countries before us, and all the thought we have given it, are unable to agree on what is best. Finally, their bewildered thoughts gravitated into a two- fold conclusion, one part of which was that there were forests enough then standing to provide for all future needs, if conservatively managed — that is, if mature trees only were to be removed and the younger growth allqwed to come on and useless waste prevented — and had not con- ditions materially changed, as time rolled on, this portion of their conclusion was well founded. The other feature was that it was the paramount duty of the government to carry out the scheme. The idea that individuals, corporations, societies, or municipalities should engage in conserving or growing forests did not seem to have many, if any, advocates ; nor are there many at the present time, notwithstanding the fact that more than thi:ee-fourths of the successfully conducted forests of Europe are owned, managed, and maintained by others than the government. These conclusions crystalized some score or more years ago, and the result was that forestry associations were organized to advocate their adoption by the government, and to foster the re- newal of our destroyed forests and their mainte- nance in their primitive beauty. As I understand it, the effective pioneer in this was the Pennsyl- vania Forestry Association, now twenty -three years old, and the American Forestry Association followed soon after. No legislation was had look- ing to the conservation or restoration of the for- ests, save that pertaining to forest fires, by either State or National governments, for some time after the organization of our Association, but when it was enacted in our State it was formulated along the lines suggested by this pioneer in the good work, and at its persistent demands. This is said in no spirit of boasting on my part, for I was not then a member, but as an historical fact which should be known. Not only was the forest policy of this State built upon the foundation first laid down by this pioneer in forest conservation, but other States have practically adopted the same basis, and even the United States Government is working along the same lines ; and it may as well be stated here as later on that the two dominating features named — that is, sufficiency of present forests, if properly managed, and the practically exclusive duty of the government to direct and control their management — are embodied in about all laws that have been passed, and are held by a large majority of the people, although our own Association has moved forward with the changed and modified conditions which time and experi- ence have wrought. At the present time it holds to the view that the forests are not now sufficient — for reasons that must be manifest to every student of the forest problem — and that while the government should do much for the restoration, perpetuation, and maintenance of the forests, yet that government should not, and, what is more, cannot^ do all that is necessary in that line. No authority has been given me to say this, but I earnestly hope I am not in error in this belief. The thought that the forests were sufficient was justified at the time it was first entertained, but conditions have greatly changed. Since the or- ganization of this Association the population of our country has greatly increased. From a little over 50,000,000 in 1880 it has risen to over 80,000,000, probably 85,000,000, an increase of ' 70 per cent., while the per capita demand for I forest products has been greatly enlarged. Be- I sides this, the expanded and rapid development j of many industries using wood, such as mining I and railroad extension, and also the many new ! uses wood is put to, as for paper pulp, telephone, i trolley, and electric light poles, and the like, have conspired to raise the consumption per capita greater than ever before, and greater than I that of any other people in the world. Besides this, the area of productive forests is greatly ' lessened by lumbering and fires, so that to-day there exists a much smaller virgin stand than we were favored with a score of years ago, and what there is remaining is so far away from the densely ; populated States of the north and east that these sections are already suffering for want of an ample supply — they are in the first stages of a timber famine, a famine that will increase in severity for a long time to come no matter what may be done. I Now, while students of the forest problem have observed and accepted this change the general public has not, and to-day we stand confronted with the prevailing belief in the minds of the people that natural reproduction, through con- servative methods of forest management, is all that is needed; while the fact is that we are con- suming forest products more than three times ; faster than they are growing, and at least twice as fast as the very best management of existing I forests can be made to produce ; and not until 60 FOREST LEAVES. that erroneous belief can be removed and the correct one accepted — namely, that new forests must be planted — will the road to successful re- sults be chosen. Sentimental views may be held and advocated, generalities may be indulged in, and all will do more or less good, but we must get down to cold economic facts before we can master the situation. No country has ever successfully made commercial use of its forests and maintained them in productiveness without planting trees, and our American civilization makes greater de- mands upon the forests than has ever occurred elsewhere, and therefore the supply per capita must be greater. Unfortunately, this erroneous belief that the forests of our country are ample, if properly managed, is ' fostered and encouraged through the name applied to tracts of land set aside by National and State governments to be maintained as forests. These tracts are called reservations, and when the term is applied to tracts of real forests it is correctly used. The meaning of the word, in a broad sense — and that is what the people accept — is a something reserved, held back, or kept, which of course contemplates a something in existence ; but this general meaning does not apply to tracts of land devoid of forests but, rather, to existing forests which have been set aside for forestry purposes. It is unfortunate that there is no word in our language applicable to the case where there is no forest growth. The framers of the Pennsylvania forestry laws were forced, by this poverty of our language, to use the word to designate barren land — which the State could purchase at $5 per acre — that the United States Government did for real forests which it owned. This deplorable fact, the lack of a suit- able word, has brought about a new, but legal, definition of the word ^' reservation," and so far as our State lands are concerned the words ** Forest Reservation " covers land either with or without a forest growth upon it. It really means that the land is reserved and not, necessarily, that a forest is. It may or it may not be a forest ; but the general meaning of the word is as indicated, and it is almost universally held to cover a reservation of deforest instead of a reservation of land, and the general belief is that our Forest Reservations are such in reality, which is far from the fact. This unfitness goes still farther. We have a Forest Reservation Commission in this State which has in its charge more land practically destitute of valuable forest growth than it has with an accept- able amount of such growth upon it, but I greatly fear that that fact is not widely understood. Ac- cording to the actual condition of these lands the name applied to the Commission is a misnomer ; it should be ^' Forest Restoration Commission." Our legislatures and the general public have evidently believed, and apparently still believe, that the cut-over lands of the State are covered with a growth, more or less mature, of such spe- cies of trees as will, in the not far distant future, make merchantable lumber, and that all that is necessary to bring that about is to keep out fires, make necessary improvement cuttings to permit the full development of natural planting, and pre- vent theft. This belief concerning the forests of the country is not confined to Pennsylvania, but is generally held throughout the entire National domain, and, what is more, the United States Forest Service is largely conducted along that line. True, the United States Government is planting tre^s, but it is doing so largely for the purpose of protecting the watersheds of rivers to be used for irrigation. Now the principal reason advanced for securing the Appalachian and White Mountain Reservations is that of keeping them in perpetuity ; and the claim is made that if the gov- ernment shall own and control them they will be so kept through natural reforestation. Not one word is heard of the need of planting them where now denuded of trees or where future cuttings shall occur, something which will inevitably come if they are to be exploited. I do not propose to be misunderstood in this case. I favor the Appala- chian and White Mountain purchase by the United States Government, although I have doubts of its constitutionality, and would like to see an amendment to the Constitution covering that and other needed forestry powers by Con- gress, but I do not wish to see it done under a misapprehension, and it will be if purchased with the expectation that they can be made to yield a reasonable return without largely planting trees. Whenever I have conversed with those advocating their purchase, and who know as well as I do that artificial reforestation would have to be at once begun and be constantly continued for the project to be successful, either for controlling floods or producing a supply of timber at all commensurate with the cost or the needs of the people, I am told that it will not do to tell Congress or the people that fact, for they would drop the matter at once were it done. It is true that it would be discour- aging, but it would be the truth, and must sooner or later be known ; and why not let it be known in the beginning? Why not let the people know the exact condition of our forests and what must be done to preserve them ? They are looking to those who have made this important question a careful study for information and advice, and if it shall not be given fully and freely, and at the FOREST LEAVES. 61 proper time, there will be, when the truth is ap- j parent, such righteous and just indignation shown as will make those failing in an honest duty see their mistake. And right here I will venture the prediction that when the people come to under^ stand that the so-called Forest Reservations of our Commonwealth can yield but little revenue for half a century to come, the Reservation Commis- sion of which I am a member, will be severely criticized for not beginning the work of restora- tion of the forests by planting trees sooner than it did, the people entirely forgetting or ignoring the fact that while funds were given with which to purchase denuded lands— for the law would not allow more than $5 per acre, and only denuded lands could be secured— a totally inadequate sum was provided for reforestation and management. Think you that I am mistaken as to the opinions , of the members of the legislature ? If so please } explain why they of the last one failed to appro- priate the amount they were told was needed to ; carry on the work of reforestation and manage- ^ ment of the already vast area of cut-over and , burned-over State lands. They either did not know that these lands must be reforested by plant- ing, or they did not have a just appreciation of , the' duty this generation owes to the next, or did not care for the welfare of our good old Common- ^ wealth. The charitable conclusion is that, although 1 told the facts, they did not comprehend the real conditions which prevail, and that is my belief. It is not reasonable to suppose that they would have appropriated money to enlarge the State Capitol Park, whereby the occupants of the grand building on '' the hill " could enjoy the beautiful vista which would be spread before their enrap- tured vision through giving an extended view of the Pennsylvania Railroad freight yards. ^ Nor would they have granted money for a Grand Boulevard from one end of the State to the other, on which neither man nor beast would have ven- tured to travel unless i)Ossessed with an over- powering desire to be run over by that modern Tuggernaut ycleped the automobile. Neither Would they have granted to the well-paid judges of the State an increase of salary, when those very same judges would move, not *' heaven and earth," but another region, to retain their seats at their present salary. Ignorance of forest needs must certainly have prevailed or such schemes would not have been given preference. From what has been thus far said concerning natural reforestation it must not be inferred that tree planting alone should be depended upon, nor that it is not advisable to practice conservative cutting or cherish natural regeneration. By no means should these be neglected, for both are es- sential and at times advisable. The point sought to be established is : That under present condi- tions our forests will be wholly inadequate to fur- nish a proper supply of forest products by that system of treatment alone. Our consumption of wood is at the annual rate of 40 cubic feet per acre of mature forests, while the annual accretion is only 12 cubic feet, and unless trees shall be planted the end is not far distant. The all- important fact is, that there are not forests enough to serve us. Now, the other feature of the forest problem floating in the minds of the people, and from there I flowing into the halls of legislation, is that it is ' the paramount duty and business of the govern- ment to care for the forests, and it should be ad- mitted that it has some features in it that are acceptable, yet there are some that are impracti- cable and vicious. However, a belief in the whole scheme is as widespread as that our forests are ample if satisfactorily treated. Now, let it be understood at once that it is not denied or even disputed that the government should take a hand, and an important one, too, in the restoration and care of the forests of the country ; but that it should do all, or can do so, should it be under- taken, is as emphatically denied as that it should do its share is affirmed. If the conditions were alike there is no more reason why the government should grow, care for, and administer our forests, and sell and dispose of all forest products, than there is that it should do the same thing with wheat or any other important agricultural product. But the conditions are not alike. The element of time so enters into the forest problem that it widely diff'ers from that of growing other crops from the soil ; but this diff^er- ence does not relieve the landowner, large or small, from aiding in the restoration of the forests and caring for the timber supply of the future, for it is not only his patriotic duty, but it is for his finan- cial interests. It is not the province of forestry to take to itself any considerable area of land suited for ordinary agriculture, or what may be termed arable land. There are several good reasons for this. One is, that all the arable land is or will be needed to grow food for mankind, and that all such land is likely to be required for that purpose in this country before a crop of timber would be large enough to be harvested ; and another is, that i non-agricultural lands are well enough suited to grow trees, for they have done it once and can do it again, and that it is not wise to let any land go unused or go without a forest cover and be de- stroyed by inevitable erosion, as has been a large part of Asia, Southern Europe, and Northern Africa. 62 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 63 Furthermore; there is hardly a farm of average size in all this broad land but has some area un- suited for cultivation — much of it wholly unfitted and its use for that impossible — which can and should be made to grow trees, and the govern- ment cannot secure this against the wishes of the owner without exercising the right of eminent domain — a function that smacks somewhat of tyranny— even if it should desire to, which it certainly would not if there were only a few acres in such a tract. Such land is a source of con- tinual loss to its owner, for he loses both the in- terest on the money invested in it and the taxes he pays upon it, to say nothing of the care of it. Therefore, the small as well as the large land- owner will be benefitted by growing trees on his non-agricultural domain, aside from his duty to the Commonwealth and posterity. But it should be understood, yet it is not— and therein lies, at present, an insurmountable obstacle to general reforestation— that no individual, corporation, i organization, or municipality, other than the State, can afford to enter upon growing trees in ' forests in this State until the tax laws are changed ; and this is the case in nearly every State in the \l^^^; "^^ ^^^^ tree-growing is beset with enough difficulties to deter most people from engaging in It. The one who ^/oes run risks from fire, disease insects, and winds. These he may fancy he will escape, but he knows that the assessor and col- lector are as sure as fate, and that they will in- crease the burden all too freciuently. We should remember that when the tax laws were passed it was desirable to get rid of the forests, and heavy taxation would lead that way as It has in later times, to the point of practical confiscation. Now it is no longer our desire or interest to get rid of the forests but, rather, to preserve them. Conditions are reversed and the laws should be changed to suit. Land upon which immature trees of such species as will make merchantable lumber should be taxed as naked land only, without any regard whatever to any growth upon it, until the trees should become of such size as to make merchantable lumber, and when cut taxed according to the value of the umber in the market. Tax the land as land and the product as product, but the latter only when mature. We do not tax young cattle and colts until they are four years old, until they are deemed mature and marketable, and by what system of ogic or reasoning should we tax trees, or increase the tax on the land, which is the same thini?, until they are mature, and then put the tax on annually at that ? One might just as well levy a tax upon a growing crop of wheat or corn as on an imma- ture crop of trees. Neither may mature and the owner lose both crop and tax. It is illogical un- reasonable, and unjust, and until it is abandoned there will be little reforestation in any State of the Union except what the State or National government may do, for it cannot be done with- out loss. This, then, is the present status of the forestry problem : As a nation we are depending upon natural reproduction to supply a demand which is more than three times greater than the forests can produce, and are neglecting the only remedy within our reach, which is planting trees. We are depending upon the government to care for and look after the forest products of the future through owning and caring for the forests— a thing which It cannot nor should not do— and practi- cally denying to private parties, coroorations, and municipalities, through unjust, illogical, and bur- densome tax laws, the opportunity to do for the country in creating forests what the government cannot do. These are naked facts, and it must be acknowledged that the outlook is not promisinL^ A\ e may berate the legislature to our heart's con- tent, but that body will not act until the people compel it to. Hereafter, as ever, the forestry movement must be one of education. There are few who comprehend the magnitude of the work we have before us in Pennsylvania. 1 here are, approximately, 8,000,000 acres of non- agricultural lands within her borders, land that must grow trees or nothing. While no exact statement can be made of the amount of area re- quired to supply the needed forest products for our people, it is certainly safe to say that it will closely approach 6,000,000 acres, quite likely more Do our people stop to contemplate what It will cost to make such a vast area— nearly one- fourth of the State— a productive forest, or the number of men recpiired to bring it about? I tear that they do not, because they have an erroneous idea of what reforestation of cut-over and burned- over lands means. It is safe to say hat not one half of the non-agricultural lands of the State can ever produce a crop of merchant- able timber worthy of the name without planting rees upon it ; and does any one realize that bu" ' ittle revenue can come from it for more than a hird of a century ? And then, too, just think of the number of men it will require to do the work of planting and caring for the forests for so many years, and politicians all the while seeking -soft snaps for favorites. If Pennsylvania to-day owned only one million acres of forest filled with good timber trees like those she once possessed, that forest would be attacked by a frantic horde of present grafters, and it is no great stretch of the imagination to fancy how some of bygone days might rise and cast off the mouldy cerements of the grave to ^' shake the trees." An honest governor and forestry commission would be no more able to defend the Commonwealth from the grafters than is the imaginary cat in Hades with- out claws able to fight with the imps that would attack it ; and as for a legislature protecting the interests of the State it is so improbable as to be non-thinkable. Has the experience of our own State, or that of the United States, been such as to justify a repetition of disposing of timber lands ? Let us banish the idea that the State should own any large amount of timber lands, and so adjust our laws that municipalities, corporations, societies and individuals may engage in growing forests and then educate the people for that work. When that shall be done the status of the forestry problem will be vastly different from what it is now, and the prosperity of the State and Nation be assured. S. B. Elliott. J. T. RbTHROCK, Consulting Forester, WEST CHESTER, PA. Terms upon Application. Biltmore Forest School, BILTMORE, N. C. ' 0000 The Biltmore Forest School is the only technical school of forestry in this country. It illustrates its teachings on a large scale, on a tract of land owned by George W. Vanderbilt, comprising 130,000 acres of forest. The complete course covers twelve consecutive months. Write for particulars, addressing C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D., Director, BILTMORE, N. C. The Pennsylvania State College I CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, FOUR YEAR COURSE IN FORESTRY. A thorough and practical undergraduate course in technical forest r>'— preparing men for all lines of professional and applied forestry. Special attention is paid to practical field work in surveying, mapping and forest measurements. One of the largest of the State Forest Reserves is within a short walk of the College. For information regarding entrance requirements, expenses, etc., address DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, STATE COLLEGE, PA. CHESTNUT HILL, PHILA. , 30 minutes from Broad St. Station. BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BOYS. riluMtrated Catalogue upon application. JAMES L. PATTERSON, ■ Head Master. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rt. Rev. Ozi W. Whitaker, D.D., President. Samuel F. Houston, Vice-Fresident. George Woodward, SecrHary and Tieamrer. JAMES M. BECK. WALTON CLARK. JACOB S. DISSTCN. EDGAR DUDLEY FARIES. FRANCIS I. OOWEN. J. LEVERING JONES. DR. HOWARD A. KELLY. FRANCIS D. LEWIS. RANDAL MORGAN. H. GORDON MCCOUCH. GIFFORD PINCHOT. JAMES R.SHEFFIELD. •64 FOREST LEAVES. Know Andorra's Trees? If Not— Why Not? ONE ITEM-OUR PIN OAKS. Andorra's Pin Oaks have' given all purchasers absolute satisfaction. The reason is not hard to find— they have the quality— roots and vitality. The Pin Oak presents points which readily distinguish it from all others, and it is undoubtedly the most valuable for all practical purposes. The dense finely divided foliage is a beautiful shining green through the Summer months, and colors to sparkling red and yellow in the Fall. The Pin Oak is easily transplanted, and is the quickest growing of all the Oaks. As an avenue or lawn tree it is unequalled. The Pin Oak thrives in all sections, in all soils and situations.= Try Andorra's stock. EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN. OUR BOOKLET "MORE SPECIALTIES:' 3d EDITION. DESCRIBES THESE AND MANY OTHERS. SPECIAL OFFER. REMEMBER! EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN! 6 to 7 ft. Low-branched jf "'' Jf" " ^" "» 7 to 8 ft. Low-branched .... *' ~ *' 'o $6o oo o . t. , , . . ■ ^5 lO oo 70 00 8 to 9 ft. Low-branched; i -,' to i^/ in. cal ,50 ' 9 to 10 ft. Low-branched; 13^ to 2 in. cal. ... a 00 10 to la ft. Low-branched ; 2 to 2;, in. cal ] ] , „ '! ^° '^' "^ 10 to la ft. 2|^ to 3 in. . . ......... a 50 aa 50 .50 00 Extra-heavy Specimens.. ".■.■.•..■.•.-.•. •.•.•.$3 .,„ -to xoo': '" ~ ""^ e^°-Senc! for FALL PRICE LIST.-^^ ANDORRA NURSERIES, WM WARNER HARPER, Prop. Box F, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA, PA. -s^f^'^'^^C^hr. Vol. XII. Philadelphia, October, 1909. No. 5. Published Bi- Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, xoia Walnut St„ Philadelphia, Pa. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as second class matter. ,.-..^ CONTENTS. ^ ••» ^ =K».L „ Editorial ^5 ^ 66 Autumn Arbor Day •* Arbor Day Planting • ^ ^ . , 68 State Forest Academy New Law Regarding the Appointment of Wardens and Fighting Forest Fires in Pennsylvania ^ Desolated Pennsylvania 7* Taxing Land Held for Reforestation 73 Financial Drawbacks to the Practice of Private Forestry 75 Subscription, $1.00 per Year. The attention 0/ Nurserymen and others is called to the advantages ^FoRBST Leaves as an advertising medium. Rates will be fur- nished on application. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Founded in June, 1886, Labors to disseminate information in regard to the necessity and methods of forest culture and preservation, and to secure the enact- ment and enforcement of proper forest protective laws, both State and National. Annual member ship fee. Two dollars. Life membership. Twenty-five dollars. Neither the membership nor the work of this Association is intended to be limited to the State of Pennsylvania. Persons desiring to become members should send their names to the Chairman of the Membership Committee, 1012 Walnut Street, Phila. />r^j/l ON KETTLE CREEK, POTTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. 1 FOREST LEAVES. 73 it •' r ^'-y Taxing Land Held for Reforestation. (Read at the Mt. Pocono Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association.) WHILE the State of Pennsylvania has passed some very good laws to en- courage reforestation and conserve existing forests and stream-flow, they have signally failed to secure the desired end on any large scale, because it has never been made to the immediate pecuniary advantage of the large land owners, either to reforest barren land or to conserve ex- isting forests. On the contrary, the laws relating to taxation conflict directly with those passed to encourage reforestation, and put a premium on denudation.* Denudation reduces the value of the land for tax- ing purposes, and this in turn reduces the taxes and, consequently, the annual charge for carrying the land. This reduction is seen all over the State. Townships where during the lumbering off of the original forests there was plenty of money raised for the support of schools and roads, with the cessation of lumbering ^operations, can scarcely raise money enough to entitle them to their share of the State School Fund. I have in mind one township in Carbon County where a few years ago no taxes were collected, as the man elected as tax collector refused to qualify because the returns on the possible collections would not compensate him for the labor involved. The ex- tremely low estimation at which the denuded land is held is shown by the prices it brings at the periodic tax sales of unseated lands. The tax laws, as I understand them, exempt from taxation woodland to the extent of fifty acres in one holding if held for reforestation ; all addi- tional land in the same holding is taxable. It is absurd to think that the exemption of fifty acres of land in one holding will ever result in reforest- ing any adequate acreage to cover the hillsides and mountains with a new forest growth and equal- ize the stream -flow of the State. The very essence of success in reforestation is that it must be done on a large scale, cover thousands of acres, and be carried on for an extended period of years. It is only under such conditions that any real progress can be made toward restoring the forests and con. * Since writinjj this my attention has been called to the decisions as to the unconstitutionality of the Act of April 8th, 1905. This act referred to refunding 80 per cent, of the taxes on land held for reforestation, and is not the act re- ferred to in the text. The Act of 1905 provided for refund- ing the tax, the refund to be borne by the township, while the proposed act provides practically for a bounty paid out of the State Treasury to encourage reforestation. This would be proper, as the State at large is benefited. serving and regulating the stream-flow. Not in fifty acres nor one hundred acres must the area be reckoned, but by the thousand acres. It must be protected from fire, patrolled and, usually, planted, and in direct proportion to such protec- tion, patrolling and planting, the value of the land, in the estimation of' the local assessor, in- creases and up go the taxes — and at present only fifty acres can be claimed exempt. Thus the land owner is penalized for caring for his land in such a manner as to directly benefit a large portion of the State ; not only must he lose interest on the original investment, meet the ex- pense of caring for the land, but he must pay an increase of taxes for the privilege. Perhaps be- cause he is the owner of so many acres he may be regarded as ** rich," and his assessed valuation per acre will be made greater than that of the ^* poor " man owning his hundred acres. This will certainly be the case should the large owner happen to be a corporation. Thus is the large owner penalized, not only because he cares for the land, but also because he owns enough acreage to really benefit a large section of the State by caring for it — could any situation be more absurd. Take also the case of the owner of large tracts of standing timber, marketable timber (and this may mean any size from three or four inches in diameter up), such <-racts already act, as they have done for generations, to conserve stream-flow — he is no better off. As the market price of lumber increases the assessed valuation of the standing timber is increased and up go the taxes. The consequence is there is a premium placed on de- nudation, as the quicker the timber is removed and marketed the greater the saving in taxes. Is it any wonder that hill and mountain are denuded of everything that can be turned into cash, and the bare land left to be washed away by the rains ; its growing sprouts — nature's eff'ort to restore the damage — left to be destroyed by recurrent fires, dignified by the name of ** forest fires *' when the forest is gone. It is possible to remedy this unfortunate condi- tion, and the entire influence of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association could not be better used than to secure the necessary legislation by amendment to the present laws governing taxation. It would probably not be either desirable or advisable to disturb the existing laws so far as they relate to the method of ass<*ssing values and levy-. ing taxes, except that lands held for reforestation should be exempt from all taxes except those levied to support the schools and roads. A new law should be enacted under which any owner of a compact body of land, not less than five hundred acres, might appear before a Court 74 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 75 m of Record, in the county in which the land is situated, and make declaration that the land is to be held for reforestation, and no portion of it is to be cultivated or grazed; that it is his intention to keep fire lines open where necessary, to provide a sufficient patrol to control and extinguish fires, plant trees, care for spontaneous growth, and in general care for the land according to the accepted methods of forest conservation. A sufficient de- scription of the land should be furnished, possibly a map also ; a record shall be made of lands so de- clared, and certified copies be sent to the Depart- ment of Forestry at Harrisburg, the lands so de- clared to be known as **tax refund lands." The owner will pay the taxes levied in the same manner as is now done, taking a receipt from the tax collector. He shall then have the right to go to the County Treasurer, present his receipted tax bill and demand that the taxes be refunded. The County Treasurer will satisfy himself from the record that the refund claimed is correct and pay the claim, taking a receipt which shall cite the record upon which the refund is paid. The County Treasurer shall then certify to the State Treasurer that he has made the refund, forwarding his re- ceipt as evidence, and the State Treasurer, being satisfied that the refund has been made according to law, shall reimburse the County Treasurer. After each triennial assessment has been made the owner of *' tax refund land" must appear before the Court of Record, as before, and exhibit evidence in the form of vouchers for expense of work done and testimony to show that for the pre- vious period he has carried out his original declara- tion in good faith. If the Court is satisfied that the original declaration has been so carried out, the land shall be entitled to tax refund for the next three years. Failure to make the application within a specified time, or to satisfy the Court that the original declaration has been carried out in good faith, shall forfeit the right to tax refund. There should be no appeal from the decision of the Court, but it might be advisable to provide for viewers in case the decision should be against the owner, the cost of the view to be borne equally between the county and the owner, and their report after actually inspecting the land should be final. Officers of the township in which the land is situated, or other persons, should be heard for or against renewing the tax refund should they so desire. The State Department of Forestry should be given wide latitude in the details of carrying out the provisions of such a law. It should appoint inspectors who should examine all ''tax exempt land " and report on its condition and the method of caring for it. They should make suggestions to the owner and give advice, and, in certain con- tingencies, under rules made by the Commissioner of Forestry, give orders which must be carried out under penalty of forfeiture of the tax refund right at any time on presentation of the facts to the above Court. The inspectors should also review the assessed valuations of the land so as to prevent local assessors increasing the land values in order to get the benefit of the increased taxes, and in this way mulcting the State Treasury. It is not desirable to flatly exempt lands held for reforestation from all local taxation, because such exemption would immediately cut off from many townships all sources of income from which to support schools and maintain roads. Moreover, such exemption would compel the townships to bear all the expense, whereas, as a rule, they would get practically no benefit. Whole counties and tiers of counties derive benefit from reforestation on the headwaters of streams, while the townships on such headwaters cannot receive any benefit except that derived from lumbering operations after the forest has grown. Therefore, the State and not the township should bear the expense of refunding the taxes. After all it is the owner of the land who is benefitting the State, not the State benefitting the owner. The taxes are a very small portion of the total expense of reforesting land, and the owner must face long years of waiting and loss of interest before he can hope for any return. This is dis- piriting at best, without adding to it the risk of constantly increasing taxes, as is now the case. It is probable, however, that could the risk of such tax increase be removed much land now neglected would be quickly placed on the ''tax refund" list. The legislation outlined above is intended to apply only to the land. Improvements, such as buildings, etc., should not be exempt, nor should any cultivated land. The minimum of 500 acres for tax refund may seem rather large. It is suggested so as to avoid having pleasure parks or summer residence prop- erties being placed in the tax refund list. Desir- able as such places may be in order to assist in fire protection they are not in any sense reforestation and should not be so considered. Moreover, to permit such properties to go on the tax refund list would immediately arouse opposition from the farmer and small land owner to the entire law, because he, too, would probably want to be on the list, and would clearly not be entitled to it. The maximum acreage should not be limited, as the larger the holding the more sustained will probably be the effort to reforest, and the greater the ultimate return to the owner and the State. The plan outlined above is the result of much ! thought, based on long experience of the writer in ; caring for large tracts of land not far from the meeting place of the Association this year. He has had his difficulties with the assessors, the County I Commissioners and the tax collectors on the one hand, and with the owners of the property, squirm- | ing under increasing taxes and no returns, on the i other hand, and he realizes the difficulties of both. Particularly does he realize that in passing any new legislation great care must be exercised to avoid arousing the antagonism of the small land owner and the reduction of income of the townships. The public schools must not be hampered, but perhaps the State Highway Department might be induced to take car6 of the roads. John Ruddle. Financial Drawbacks to the Practice of Private Forestry. (Read at the Mt. Pocono Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association.) THE advancement already made in forestry in this country may be summed up briefly under the headings government. State, and private forestry. Since granting to the Forest Service in 1897 the administration of the National Forests, this branch of the government has demonstrated its ability to care for and protect the government timber from fire and theft and to manage the for- ests on an economic basis. P>om **a temporary fad of a few sentimentalists," as the movement for the ownership and management by the govern- ment of the public timber was at first called, gov- ernment forestry has become a public necessity. The advancement made in any State in forestry will depend largely on the policy which has been adopted by that State, whether that policy be broad or narrow. But in general it may be said that the people of the different States have come to believe that it is a function of the State gov- ernment to provide for the future supply of /ari;^e saw timber, which, because of the peculiar nature of the investment, private capital cannot afford to raise. They have come to believe that there are certain kinds of land which the State government alone can afford to own and manage. In nearly every State there are large areas, not only too poor for the growing of agricultural crops, but also land on which the growth of timber is so slow that it will not yield an adequate return on the investment necessary. There are also areas which, naturally adapted to tree growth, have been brought into such barren condition from over cutting, followed by fire and a subsequent growth of weed trees, that ihe investment necessary to re- forest them with timber trees and to bring them into productive condition is beyond private means. Knowing as they do that the State does not have to make money on an enterprise which is for the general welfare, and believing that the refor- estation of denuded and barren lands is in the in- terest of the general public, the people have sanc- tioned the investment of thousands of dollars in the purchase and reforestation of such lands, and the steps they have taken will never be retraced. Private forestry, on the other hand, by which is meant the investment of capital in the growing of timber for commercial purposes, can scarcely be said to have made a beginning. Of the 75 per cent, of the forest area of the country which is held by private interests, much less than i per cent, is under any kind of forest management. In spite of the agitation for the practice of for- estry during the past fifteen or twenty years, and in spite of the fact that we are approaching a scarcity of saw timber which will tend to raise the price of stumpage to nearly its real value based on the cost of production, the planting of forest trees for commercial purposes has not appealed to the people as a profitable investment. Is this because we have failed to acquaint them with the nature of such an investment and the results which are reasonably to be expected from a plantation of trees ? Is it because, as some have said, in order to establish on a firm footing govern- ment and State forestry, we have focussed the minds of the people too strongly on the proposi- tion that the Federal and State governments should provide for the future supply of timber? Or are there financial reasons which will account for the reluctance of private capital to engage in such an enterprise ? Many people hold the idea that the Federal and State forestry departments were organized prima- rily to provide for the future supply of timber. In spite of the enormous holdings of the national government in national forests and the millions of acres held by States in State forests, over three- fourths of the forested areas of the country are in private hands. The practice of forestry on the one- fourth which is managed by the government and by the States would by no means assure a future supply of timber, and it has been rightly said that the future timber supply of this country will depend not so much on the efforts by the State and national governments, as on the results ob- tained by the investment of private capital. In fact, it is not the intention of a State to enter into competition with private interests in the growing of timber. It is the function of a State 76 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 77 ' I M It * to grow timber where it would not be profitable for a private concern to do so, and to grow the large timber needed in the future which, on ac- count of the long rotation required and the com- pound interest involved, cannot be undertaken profitably by private capital. To this end States purchase only the poorer class of true forest land — barren, mountainous, and denuded areas — leaving to private management the better class of forests — forests in which the annual growth will bring a fair return for the investment made. There is no doubt that most of the agitation in regard to forestry during the past few years has been centered around the government and State forestry departments. This has been because of the necessity of educating the people to the right conception of the forest policy which has been adopted. Yet at the same time the Federal and State forestry departments have been calling the attention of the people through bulletins, circu- lars, and magazine articles to the benefits to be derived from the practice of private forestry, and have been liberal with information in regard to the planting of trees and the results which may be expected ; and in order further to interest indi- vidual owners in the growing of trees they have undertaken co-operative work with them, at no cost beyond the actual expense of the men in the field, and have distributed seedlings at cost to those desiring to make forest plantations. ! That private capital has not been invested in such enterprises in spite of the efforts of the gov- ernment and the State forestry departments, and the assurance of foresters as to the results to be expected, brings out the fact that there must be certain factors which prevent financiers from investing their money in the growing of trees for commercial purposes. i The considerations that determine whether a man shall place his money in a financial scheme or not, are his ability to figure accurately and with \ no uncertainty the profits on that investment and the safety of the venture. Private capital will not be attracted to the grow- ing of trees for commercial purposes until we can figure accurately a profit based on the future re- turns, and can in a measure guarantee the safe harvesting of the forest crop. | That a stand of trees can be brought safely through to the end of a rotation in good condition and yield a satisfactory profit, is proven by the results which have been obtained in Germany and France, and in our own country, where timber is \ handled on short rotation to supply a ready market. With the demand which is sure to come \ in the near future for saw timber and the conse- quent rise in the price of stumpage, there is no ^ question but that the growing of timber for future sale will be a profitable venture. : Although it is possible even at the present time with the low price of timber and with the present rate of taxes and other expenses to figure a profit ! on an investment in forestry, there are factors of uncertainty connected with the growing of trees in this country which deter private capital from risking its money in this way. I Until we remove these factors and place private ' forestry on the same firm basis that other long time investments enjoy, we cannot hope for much activity in this direction. These factors of uncertainty, these drawbacks to the practice of private forestry, are the accurate determination of the profits based on the future yield, the future costs of the investments, and the risk of loss of the crop by fire. The future yield of a plantation of trees in this country, where we have no artificial stands of ! mature timber to serve as a basis, is determined by measurements of growth in diameter and height of individual trees. The results of the measure- ments of many trees are gathered together in tabular form, and as yield tables serve as a basis for figuring the profits on an investment in for- estry. Since the growth of trees varies with the soil and the situation, yield tables made for a certain species growing under a certain set of conditions will not apply to the same species growing under a different set of conditions. So that even for the same species a large number of yield tables will be required to fit the different conditions under which that species grows. Otherwise we shall not be able to predict with any degree of certainty the future yield of a stand of trees, or determine with that degree of accuracy which is demanded by financiers the profits to be derived from an invest- ment in forestry. But few such yield tables have as yet been pre- pared in this country. The U. S. Forest Service devoted considerable time to the preparation of such tables a few years ago, but since the field of its active operations has been transferred from the east to the west scarcely any work has been done along this line. It would then seem to be the duty of every eastern forester to gather wherever possible meas- urements of growth of such trees as are to be used in the future management of forest lands, in order that yield tables may be made and this uncertainty in regard to the future profits in an investment in forestry be removed. Men will not invest in any business in which they will not receive a fair share of the profits earned ; and they are unwilling to risk their money in an enterprise in which they cannot figure ac- curately and definitely the future costs to be in- curred. There is only one element of the future costs in growing timber that seriously affects the invest- ment of money in forestry, and that is the ques- tion of taxation. According to the present system, a stand of timber pays taxes each year during its life based on the assessed valuation of the property, the land and the timber being considered to- gether as real estate. Since a stand of timber is in the nature of a crop and yields no returns until the crop is har- vested, the payment of an annual tax on the tim- ber through the life of a stand is an expense which must run at compound interest to the end of the rotation, and be deducted from the proceeds from the sale of the timber. This results in the payment to the government of a disproportionate amount of the proceeds from the investment, an amount far out of proportion to the benefits received, and so reduces the profits that the growing of timber for commercial pur- poses does not appeal to private capital. Vet, however unjust and burdensome this sys- tem of taxation may seem, it would not, in itself, perhaps prevent the investment of money in the growing of crops of trees, for it is possible even with the present rate of taxation to figure some profit on an investment in forestry. The factor in taxation which is a serious draw- back to the practice of forestry is the uncertainty as to what that tax will be in the future. The present method of assessing forest property is an arbitrary one, the assessment being based on the judgment of the assessor. The law states that property shall be assessed for purposes of taxation at its full market value. The fact that at the present time it is customary to tax property at one- half or one-third its full market valuation, or even less, is no proof that this will be the basis of assessment of forest property in the future. It is this uncertainty in regard to what the future tax will be, this possibility that a stand of timber may in the future, according to law, be arbitrarily assessed at its full valuation, that pre- vents in a large measure the investment of money in the growing of trees. This system of arbitrary assessment of property has been abandoned by nearly every country except our own. Many of our States, especially the State of Pennsylvania, are working over this question as applied to forest property, and there are strong hopes that it will be settled satisfactorily in the near future. The system generally proposed contemplates the separation of the land and timber for the pur- pose of assessment, the land to be taxed each year on a basis of its productive capacity, and the tim- ber to be taxed w^hen cut. This would remove the uncertainty in regard to future taxes and free timber from the burden of taxation, which in the past has been the cause of the denudation of so much of our forested land, and which at the present time prevents the investment of money in private forestry. The solution of this problem is of vital impor- tance to the forest interests of the country, be- cause on it depends in a large measure our future supply of lumber. Probably the factor which most strongly influ- ences the investment of money in any enterprise is the safety of that enterprise. On short time in- vestments men are willing to take some risk in re- turn for the greater interest and profit earned. But in long time investments they demand that the first consideration shall be that of safety, and it is only in return for this that they are willing their money shall earn a lower rate of interest. Forestry is a long time investment, and conse- quently will pay but a low rate of interest, and private capital will be attracted to it only in so far as there is an assurance of the safe harvesting of the forest crop. The greatest danger to a stand of growing tim- ber is from fire. In many parts of our country forest fires are so prevalent as to be considered almost inevitable. That the loss from fire can never be entirely removed is shown by the elabo- rate means taken to prevent and control the spread of fires in the forests of Germany, where forestry has been practiced for centuries. The results, however, obtained by the government and State forestry departments in our own country during the past year in the suppression and pre- vention of fires, give the assurance that this draw- back to the practice of private forestry can to a large extent be effectively removed. Yet the fact that a stand of growing timber is in danger of total or partial destruction will ever be a constant menace, and unless means be found to guarantee private capital against such a loss the growing of trees for future sale will not be looked upon as a safe venture. The usual method of guaranteeing the safety of an investment in property against loss by fire is by insurance. This principle has been applied to a limited ex- tent to the timber in the northwestern portion of our country. But owing to the nature of the risk and the high rate charged, the insuring of timber against loss by fire is not likely to become general. The only other means of recompensing a loss to forest property by fire is through the collection of damages. 78 FOREST LEAVES. The principle of the allotment of damages from fire to a growing forest should be the same as that applied to any other growing crop, as, for ex- ample, to a young orchard. In itself a young orchard has no value except as the wood may be utilized as cordwood ; but it has a prospective value due to the expectation of the owner of har- vesting future crops. It would be unjust in case of destruction of a young orchard to apply the general principle of the allotment of damages, which bases the loss on the present market value of the property. In the same way it would seem to be unjust to base the damages from fire to a young stand of timber on the market value of that timber at the time the loss was sustained. Yet this has been the usual method in this country up to this time. A young stand of timber may have no great value based on its immediate sale, but if we con- sider the intentions of the owner and his expecta- tion of harvesting a crop in the future such a stand will have considerable value. This principle of the expectation value as ap- ])lied to a stand of timber has rarely been rec- ognized in this country, though it is the usual basis for the collection of damages abroad. A suit for damages to a forest crop from fire has recently been tried in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, and will serve to illustrate the point in question. The intention of the owner of the tract was to manage his crop on a short rotation of eighteen or twenty years to supply mine proj^s and lagging to the coal mines in the vicinity. His system of management was what might be termed a sprout-selection system. His intention was to remove from the tract at the end of the rotation the sprouts which were large enough to make mine props or lagging, leaving the smaller sprouts for a second crop, and to rely on the new sprouts and seedlings obtained to form the basis of future stands. A fire running through this tract, which was about ten or twelve years old, killed the young sprouts and seedlings and caused so serious a damage to the present stand that the material could not be used in the mines and was of value only in so far as it could be utilized as cordwood. Although the owner had little knowledge of forestry, yet from practical experience gained in the handling of similar tracts which had been burned, he knew it would be many years before that tract would produce another crop of timber. He believed that he had not only sustained a loss on the present stand, but that he had been dam- aged because of the destruction of the young sprouts and seedlings on which the future of his forest depended. i He based the damages to the present crop, not on the value of the material if cut and sold on the market at the time of the fire, but on what he might have realized from that stand had it run to the end of the rotation. This amount, less the expense of carrying the investment from the time of the fire to the end of the rotation, discounted back to the time of the fire, would have given him what is known as the ** expectation value" of his timber at the time of the fire, and would have been the proper basis for the adjustment of his loss to the present stand. Similar damages would apply to a second crop. He also claimed damages to future crops of trees, because the sprouts and seedlings which were to produce these crops had been entirely destroyed on account of the severity of the fire. The law of damages states that the injured party shall be placed in the same condition he was in before the injury was done. If this principle was to be applied in this case it would necessitate clearing the tract of dead material and planting with seedlings in order ta assure future crops. Whether or not the cost of such an operation would be considered exces- sive by the courts has never been determined in this country. In the case in question the amount demanded for this injury was fixed at a certain per cent, of the amount demanded for damages to the present crop. TWs case is of interest because it involves principles for which we must contend in the future. It should be the duty of every one having an interest in the future of private forestry to give as much publicity as possible to such cases, in order that the people may be educated as to the nature of a crop of forest trees, and the time hastened when an owner of forest property can collect as damages an amount commensurate with the loss sustained. Until these principles of the allotment of damages are recognized, private capi- tal will not consider an investment in private forestry as a safe venture. The drawbacks then which must be removed before private capital will be attracted to an in- vestment in growing timber for future sale, are our inability to figure accurately and definitely the future profits on an investment in forestry, the uncertainty as to the future costs on such an in- vestment, and the danger of the loss of the forest crop by fire, with no certainty of obtaining dam- ages proportional to the loss sustained. All these problems are in the process of solu- tion, and we have reason to believe that it will not be many years before private capital will look on the growing of timber for commercial purposes as a safe and profitable investment. J. A. Ferguson. t FOREST LEAVES. 79 J. T. ROTHROCK, Consulting Forester, WEST CHESTER, PA. Terms upon Application. The Pennsylvania State College FOUR YEAR COURSE IN FORESTRY. A thorough and practical undergraduate course in technical forestr}' — preparing men for all lines of professional and applied forestry. Special attention is paid to practical field work in surveying, mapping and forest measurements. One of the largest of the State Forest Reserves is within a short walk of the College. For information regarding entrance requirements, expenses, etc., address DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, STATE COLLEGE, PA. Biltmore Forest SchooL BILTMORE, N. C. 0 0 0 0 The Biltmore Forest School is the only technical school of forestry in this country. It illustrates its teachings on a large scale, on a tract of land owned by George W. Vanderbilt, comprising 130,000 acres of forest. The complete course covers twelve consecutive months. Write for particulars, addressing C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D., Director, BILTMORE, N. C. CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILA. 30 minutes from Broad St. Station. BOARDING SCHOOL FOR B07S. niiistrated Catalogue upon application^ JAMES L. PATTERSON, Head Master. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rt. Rev. Ozi \V. Whitaker, D.D., President. Samuel F. Houston, Vice-President. George Woodward, Secietary and Treasurer. JAMES M. beck. WALTON CLARK. JACOB 8. DISSTON. EDGAR DUDLEY FARIES. FRANCIS I. GOWEN. J. LEVERING JONES. DR. HOWARD A. KELLY. FRANCIS D. LEWIS. RANDAL MORGAN. H. GORDON MCCOUCH. GIFFORD PINCHOT. JAMES R. SHEFFIELD. 80 FOREST LEAVES. ^ii^:f^^:^^h^ i ■ i! I' I Know Andorra's Trees? If Not— Why Not? ONE ITEM-OUR PIN OAKS. Andorra's Pin Oaks have given all purchasers absolute satisfaction. The reason is not hard to find — they have the quality — roots and vitality. The Pin Oak presents points which readily distinguish it from all others, and it is undoubtedly the most valuable for all practical purposes. The dense finely divided foliage is a beautiful shining green through the Summer months, and colors to sparkling red and yellow in the Fall. The Pin Oak is easily transplanted, and is the quickest growing of all the Oaks. As an avenue or lawn tree it is unequalled. I The Pin Oak thrives in all sections, in all soils and situations. Try Andorra's stock. EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN. OUR BOOKLET "MORE SPECIALTIES." 3d EDITION, DESCRIBES THESE AND MANY OTHERS. SPECIAL OFFER. REMEMBER! EVERY TREE A SPECI Each 6 to 7 ft. Low-branched $i oo 7 to 8 ft. Low-branched i 25 8 to 9 ft. Low-branched; 1^ to i|^ in. cal i 5© 9 to 10 ft. Low-branched; i^ to 2 in. cal 2 00 10 to 12 ft. Low-branched; 2 to 2j^ in. cal 2 50 10 to 12 ft. 7.% to 3 in 3 50 Extra-heavy Specimens $3 50 to 10 00 e^-Seud for FALL PRICE LtST.^^a ANDORRA NURSERIES, WM WARNER HARPER, Prop. Box F, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA, PA. EN! 1 Per 10 Per 100 $8 50 $60 00 10 00 70 00 13 50 125 00 17 50 135 00 22 50 150 00 30 00 275 00 1 Philadelphia, December, 1909. No. 6. \ Published Bi- Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, X0Z3 Walnut St„ Philadelphia, Pa. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as second class matter. CONTENTS. Editorials 8i Alfred S. Haines— A Forester in Practice.. 82 Italy Planting Forests .*.', 83 The Christmas Tree '. 83 Notes on Annual Tree Rings 84 Length of Time Required to Grow Trees 85 Government Forests of Prussia 87 A Large Grapevine 87 The Illustrations 87 Forestry and Engineering 88 New Publications ^ Subscription, $z.oo per Year. The attention 0/ Nurserymen and others is called to the advantages e/" Forest Lbavbs as an advertising medium. Rates will be fur- nished on application. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Founded in Junk, 1886, Labors to disseminate information in regard to the necessity and methods of forest culture and preservation, and to secure the enact- ment and enforcement of proper forest protective laws, both State and National. Annual membership fee ^ Two dollars. Life membership, Twenty-five dollars. Neither the membership nor the work of this Association is intended to be limited to the State of Pennsylvania. Persons desiring to become members should send their names to the Chairman of the Membershio Committee, 1012 Walnut Street, Phila. President^ John Birkinbine. Vice-Presidents, Wm. S. Harvey, James C. Haydon, Albert Lewis Richard Wood. General Secretary, Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. Recording Secretary, F. L. Bitler. Treasurer, Charles E. Pancoast. Council- at- Large, Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Hon. Robert S. Conklin Samuel L. Smedley. ' Finance, W. S. Harvey, Chairman ; Dr. Henry M. Fisher, W. W Frazler, Charles E. Pancoast, and J. Rodman Paul. Membership, Albert B. Weimer, Chairman : Mrs. George F. Baer Edwin Swift Balch, Robert S. Conklin, Hon. Lucien W. Doty, Dr J T. Rothrock, W.W. Scranton, Dr. Samuel Wolfe, and Hon. S p' Wolverton. Law, Hon. W. N. Ashman, Chairman ; Henry Budd, and John A. Siner. Publication, Tohn Birkinbine, Chairman ; F. L. Bitler, S. B. Elliott, Alfred Paschall, and Harrison Souder. Work, Mrs. Brinton Coxe. Chairman ; Mrs. George T. Heston William 8. Kirk, J. Franklin Meehan, and Abraham S. Schropp. ' County Organization, Saimut:l Marshall, Chairman; Eugene Ellicott, James C. Haydon, Dr. J. Newton Hunsberger, and Richard Wood. Office of the Association. loia WALmrr St.. Philadelphia. EDITORIALS. A NOVELTY in committee reports was that of the Committee on Forestry and Horti- culture, made at the Annual Meeting of the State Federation of Pennsylvania Women at Harrisburg, November 9-1 3th. Instead of a writ- ten report, this committee prepared an instructive display embodying a complete exhibit of forest work, which included a large relief map of the State, showing location of forest reserves. • Display of tree seeds, and of forestry instruments. Section of scrub oak from burned land. Fire killed and live chestnut. Sections burned soil, also unburned soil and humus. Nursery exhibit. Seed beds. Drill and broad cast sowing. Section of one-year-old seeding, showing shades, also of protected beds, with winter cover. White pines, two years old, broadcast. Sugar maple, Norway spruce, Euro- pean larch, bald cypress. Pines from first State plantation, nine years old, ten feet high, and other material furnished by direction of the Commis- sioner of Forestry. An orchard exhibit of spray- ing outfit, properly pruned and sprayed trees, insect friends and pests, and other related material installed under the direction of the Department of Agriculture. A Farmers' week and garden exhibit under the direction of members of the faculty of State College. A pictorial exhibit comprising photographs of many historic trees and sites. A report which can be seen rather than heard is a departure towards practical education, and the co-operation of State departments was judiciously invoked by women of the committee. J. B. * * ♦ * * We are gratified at the numerous instances of interest in the tree culture which are evidenced in parks, cemeteries, and some private estates by indicating the species, genus, and class of trees and shrubbery. 82 FOREST LEAVES. I'i, i I < m Mr. Baily in an address at the Mt. Pocono meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association made reference to an intelligent and otherwise well-informed gentleman of mature age, whose interest in trees had been awakened by having the difference indicated between two individual growths, a feature that he had never noticed be- fore. It is probable that many such experiences could be noted, and each effort to awaken in- terest in the variety of tree growth by indicating their names and families serves its purpose in edu- cating the people. The more we study trees the greater will our interest be in them, and such study is an aid to the forestry movement. The system of identifying trees varies ; in some instances the popular name (sometimes accom- panied by the botanical name) appears on wood or metallic shields at the foot of or on the trunk of a few or of all trees of each particular kind. Where such markings are supplemented with an accessible key, giving brief memoranda concerning peculiarities of bark, leaves, blossoms or fruit, the educational feature is much advanced. J. B. ^1^ ^1^ ?|S 5K *^ The Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania For- estry Association will be held at 1012 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, on Monday, December 13, 1909, at 3.30 p.m. Reports for the past year will be submitted, officers elected to serve for the coming year, and any business brought to the meeting by Council transacted. We trust that many members will endeavor to be present. Alfred S. Haines — A Forester in Practice. FOREST LEAVES has repeatedly referred to the aid received by the cause of forestry from men and women who, without osten- tation but with ardent enthusiasm, have been its persistent advocates, and in chronicling the death of Mr. Alfred S. Haines we mourn the loss of one ! of the truest friends of forestry. For years as a member of Council his interest in the Pennsyl- vania Forestry Association was demonstra4:ed, and his appreciation of the work before it made him a valuable officer. As a member of the faculty of the Westtown School and an educator his ability was recognized by his efforts to instill in the minds of his students the true practical value of the forests. He was known to few who have won prominence in for- estry, but the aid he gave to the cause has been excelled by few, and the results of his work will be evident in the interest shown by those who as students received inspiration from his enthusiasm. ! The following excerpt from the Westonian illus- trates what one earnest man accomplished, and we trust that others may follow where Alfred S. Haines led : — In 1900 a large wood was cut, a prudent har- vesting of a ripened crop which called forth a strong protest, and the pertinent question was asked, *' Cannot our forests be advantageously managed without such wholesale destruction?" Out of this interest in practical forestry came the desire to have the rudiments of the subject taught ! at Westtown, and Alfred S. Haines seemed to be the man to do it. The subject w^as introduced into the school curriculum, and has held its place ever since. The new class worked largely in the field, and the proper care of the 100 acres of woodland on the farm came under the considera- tion of pupils and teacher. In 1903 he formed a scheme for planting with white pines a five-acre patch. This was so successfully accomplished that another and more extensive planting was made the next year, which was further repeated till a con- siderable part of the open pasture land beside and above the Old Dam has a promising growth of white pine, spruce, and larch, as well as of our native hardwoods. The large standing timber which was left on the farm, the young growth coming in on the clearings, and the extensive planting just mentioned, all called for careful and intelligent oversight; so, in 1904, Alfred S. Haines was appointed School Forester, with gen- eral charge of all the wooded tracts on the farm. The standing timber at once claimed his attention. After some hesitation, permission was given him -to make an '* improvement cutting " on five acres of the thirty-year-old trees. The undergrowth and the imperfect and superfluous trees were re- moved, so as to leave the woods in better shape for future growth. The timber that was cut down was put into marketable shape and sold, and a profit of over five dollars per acre was realized on the whole transaction. This established the policy of * 'improvement cuttings " which have been ex- tended over all the partly-grown woods. The next year he superintended the Arboretum plant- ing, and then took that enterprise under his care. Believing that a greater home use should be made of the ripened timber, and finding the old saw-mill poorly equipped for its proper work, he raised some money and installed a modern circu- lar saw, which has done very efficient service ever since. He was a constant exponent of the belief that a man with the right training and reasonable capi- tal could make as good a living in the country as he could in the city, and yet have ample leisure and strength for literary pleasures. Vi I FOREST LEAVES. 83 Italy Planting Forests. ITALY, which has suffered extremely in the past from the ruin which follows the removal of protective forests, is now among the lead- ing nations working for the conservation of forest resources. Extensive operations in reafforesta- tion have been going on for forty years, and the Italian Secretary of Agriculture has just published his report on the progress made in that time. This report indicates that the Italian govern- ment is keenly aware of the value of forests to the country, and that it is determined to bring its de- forested lands into a forested state again as soon as possible. To attain this end, planting opera- tions have been conducted on government land to such an extent that during the last thirty years 122,000 acres have been 'planted in twenty-five of the provinces of Italy. Of this area, 69,000 acres, or approximately 108 square miles, were planted in the year 1907 alone, causing an out- lay of nearly $2,000,000, and giving employ- ment to a large number of men. Reafforestation has been carried on so vigor- ously that there now remains only about 36,000 acres of government land in need of planting. In addition to conducting planting operations on a large scale, the Italian government has during the last forty years distributed over 130,000,000 young trees and 237,600 pounds of seed, an amount sufficient to restock approximately 100,- 000 acres of land, to the people in an effort to encourage planting and sowing by private persons. As the forest area of Italy amounts to only slightly more than 10,000,000 acres, this planting by the government and private persons amounts to approximately one-fortieth of the total forest area of Italy. Further steps must be taken by the government, however, before its forest policy will prove the success of its European neighbors. Forest fires still continue to be the cause of heavy damage. During the year 1907, 1,294 fires were reported with an estimated loss of $194,- 400. While this amount is insignificant when compared with the yearly loss from fires in the ' United States, it is large relatively speaking and would be viewed almost as a calamity in the better managed German forests. Of these fires, 94 were due to criminal design, 267 to culpable negligence, 132 to accident, and the rest to un- known causes. Fire, however, is not the only enemy of the Italian woods. The small landowner often fells recklessly, and sometimes with good excuse, be- cause of the heavy taxation of timberlands. Large tracts which used to be covered by a thick growth of chestnut have, even during recent years, been stripped of every tree. Like all other countries where forestry is success- fully practiced, Italy must not only resort to planting the cut-over areas, but must also perfect a system of fire protection and enact laws to re- lieve timberlands of excessive taxation. The Christmas Tree. THE country's forests will again be called upon to supply about 4,000,000 Christ- mas trees, and again many persons have asked themselves : ' * Is the custom a menace to the movement for forest preservation ? ' ' In the millions of happy homes over the coun- try, where the younger generation has made the Christmas tree the centre of play, there are many mothers and fathers who have given the question more or less thought. From Sunday-schools and other organizations also, which hold an annual celebration around a gaily-trimmed evergreen for the benefit of the little ones, has come the ques- tion whether it is consistent to urge conservation of forest resources and then to cut millions of young trees every year to afford a little joy in the passing holiday season. ** Yes, it is consistent and proper that the cus- tom should be maintained," has been the answer of United States Forester Gifford Pinchot in every case. ** Trees are for use, and there is no other use to which they could be put which would contribute so much to the joy of man as their use by the children on this great holiday of the year. ''The number of trees cut for this use each year is utterly insignificant when compared to the consumption for other purposes for which timber is demanded. Not more than 4,000,000 Christ- mas trees are used each year, one in every fourth family. If planted 4 feet apart they could be grown on less than 1,500 acres. This clearing of an area equal to a good-sized farm each Christmas should not be a subject of much worry, when it is remembered that for lumber alone it is neces- sary to take timber from an area of more than 100,000 acres every day of the year. *' It is true that there has been serious damage to forest growth in the cutting of Christmas trees . in various sections of the country, particularly in the Adirondacks and parts of New England, but in these very sections the damage through the cutting of young evergreens for use at Christmas is infinitesimal when compared with the loss of forest resources through fires and careless methods of lumbering. The proper remedy is not to stop using trees but to adopt wiser methods of use. 84 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 85 :i i ^^ It is generally realized that a certain propor- tion of land must always be used for forest growth, just as for other crops. Christmas trees are one form of this crop. There is no more reason for an outcry against using land to grow Christmas trees than to grow flowers." The Forest Service upholds the Christmas tree custom, but recognizes at the same time that the indiscriminate cutting of evergreens to supply the holiday trade has produced a bad effect upon many stands of merchantable kinds of trees in dif- ferent sections of the country. Waste and de- struction usually result when woodlands are not under a proper system of forest management. Foresters say that it is not by denying ourselves the wholesome pleasure of having a bit of nature in the home at Christmas that the problem of conserving the forests will be solved, but by learn- ing how to use the forests wisely and properly. The ravages through forest fires must be checked, the many avenues of waste of timber in its travel from the woods to the mill and thence to the market must be closed, and almost numberless important problems demand attention before the Christmas tree. Germany is conceded to have the highest de- veloped system of forest management of any coun- try, yet its per capita use of Christmas trees is greatest. The cutting of small trees for Christ- mas is not there considered in the least as a menace to the forest, but, on the contrary, as a means of improving the forest by thinning and as a source of revenue. It is therefore constantly encouraged. < ' There is little doubt but that the time will come when the Christmas tree business will become a recognized industry in this country, and that as much attention will be given to it as will be given to the growing of crops of timber for other uses. This time may not be far off, for it is already un- derstood that only through the practice of forestry, which means both the conservation of the timber which remains and carefully planned systems of reforestation, will it be possible to supply the country with its forty billion feet of lumber needed each year, as well as the few million little trees used at Christmas time. ■gzy Next to our need of food and water comes our need of timber. Our industries which subsist wholly or mainly upon wood pay the wages of more than 1,500,000 men and women. Forests not only grow timber, but they hold the soil, and they conserve the streams. They abate the wind and give protection from excessive heat and cold. Woodlands make for the fibre, health, and hap- piness of the citizen and nation. Notes on Annual Tree Rings. UNDER specifications, the city of Philadel- phia has been furnished with blocks of southern long- leaf pine (^Pinus palustris^ to repave Market Street. It was specified that these blocks, which are 7^ inches long, 3^ inches wide, and 4 inches deep (24 cm. by 9 cm. by 10 cm.), be made from the mature trees and cut from the heart wood, besides being treated with creosote for their preservation. A count of the annual rings from the central ring out to the edge of one of the blocks showed 48 rings of growth. In other words, each block of wood used in paving Market Street took at least 48 years to grow — 48 years of plant activity to yield an insignificant block for paving a much-fre- quented highway. The rapid growth of such trees as the Carolina poplar {Populus monilifera) has been mentioned frequently, but without positive data as to the relative rate of growth or increment. Last year a large Carolina poplar tree was cut down in the Botanic Garden of the University of Pennsylvania, because its roots habitually choked the terra-cotta drainage pipes from the green-houses. The diameter of the tree two feet above the ground, taken in an east-west direction, was 23 inches; in a north-south direction, 23^^ inches. The corresponding width of the heartwood in the above directions was 14 inches and 17 inches respectively. Twenty- one annual rings were No. of Annual Ring. North-South. Millimeters. East-West Millimeters I II 5 2 '1 5 3 ID 4 14 8 5 23 20 6 26 21 7 aa 20 8 21 20 9 30 18 10 20 21 II 16 28 12 17 • • • 13 6 • • • 14 7 • • a >5 10 • • • 16 5 • • • 17 6 • • • 18 . 6 • • • 19 7 • • • 20 7 • • • 21 6 • • • counted in this tree, so that it was just 21 years old. The annual increments in millimeters* along the north-south line and the east-west diameter were as shown in the table on page 84. The figures above indicate that the growth was unequal on the different sides of the tree. For example, the 9th ring from the centre in the north-south direction measured 30 mm., and in the east-west direction 18 mm., while the nth ring in the east-west direction measured 28 mm., and in the north-south direction 16 mm. John W. Harshberger. Note. — As t. e east and west measurem'»nts from the 12th to 2 1 St ring were nearly the same as the north and south ones, they were not taken. Length of Time Required to Grow Trees. JOHN B. ATKINSON, of Earlington, Ky., one of the leading timber and coal-mine owners of Kentucky, and a member of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, made an ad- dress on *' Forestry" before the Girls' High School Alumnae Society. His address contained statements of fact and of the results of experi- 'ments as to the life of trees that are interesting. He spoke in part as follows : — In the early days of our country the citizen who destroyed the forest and put the land under cul- tivation was a benefactor. Today the child who plants a tree on Arbor Day is the benefactor, and the citizen or corporation that returns to forest conditions the land so long reclaimed deserves the commendation of the republic. Two of the greatest problems in self-preserva- tion confront the people of x\merica and of the world to-day, viz. : — The conservation of the forests. The utilization of our coal-fields to the greatest advantage. The forests are as necessary in the production of coal as is labor ; all coal-mines use timber. In some coal-fields the mining of one ton of coal consumes three feet board measure of timber ; hence the material interest of mining men demands the preservation of the forest and active aid in its renewal. Kentucky still has oaks, hickories, tulip, gums, chestnuts, maples, beeches, sycamores, ash, elms, cypress, walnuts, locusts, etc., but the axe and the mill are rapidly consuming this great heritage, and so far no great organized effort has been made to regulate and conserve this wealth. We can grow trees, but we cannot replace the coal we take out of the mine. The great question asked by the intended forest builder is, '* What trees shall I plant to give the best results ? ' ' When my company began twenty years ago to grow forest trees we were not familiar with the ages of the many varieties at maturity. We began with the planting of the black walnut, as we knew the walnut to be a most valuable tree for all pur- poses, and that the soil and climate of Kentucky suit it. But we then began to take notice of tree growth and to learn the ages of the forest trees in Hopkins County. Twenty years ago we did not think a tree of great value and were guilty of cut- ting the trees on the property I was managing, instead of buying our neighbors' trees and cutting them. Personally, I became devoted to stumps and spent much time then and since in determin- ing how long it takes the destroyed tree to grow. I was surprised and interested, and found it took Years of ., , , Growth. Hackberry, 115 White elm, 120 Black oak, jj^g Black willow, tq .Sassafras, 112 Sugar maple, jrc Swamp maple, 134 Blue ash, 21 \ Yellow chestnut oak, 186 Post oak, iqo White oak, 261 Scrub oak, ir© Red oak, i^y Sycamore, 260 Tulip tree, 225 lilack locust, • .... 45 Heech, 165 Hop hornbeam, ^c Sweet gum, 184 Sour gum, 14, Black walnut, 189 Wild cherry, 46 Shellbark hickory, 120 King nut hickory, 163 Pignut hickory, Hicotia glabra^ . . .110 Kentucky cofU'ee, . 25 Spanish oak, 220 Texas red oak, 215 White oak, 173 White oak, 312 White oak, 290 White oak, • . . . 275 White oak, 297 White oak, 310 White oak, 325 Inches in Diameter. 25 27 28 18 19 38 28 36 21 20 48 '5 27 57 57 12 36 13 34 25 29 16 12 '9 13 5 38 43 33 36 35 35 31 36 41 A millimeter equals .03937 inch, nearly 1/25 inch. This list includes thirty varieties of our most prominent forest trees. During these twenty years especial attention had been given to discover the growth of the white oak. Forty-five white oaks of Hopkins County, grown on the hills, in the valleys and on the slopes between, were examined as to the ages when the trees reached 1 2 inches in diameter. The average age was found to be 10 1 years. The average age when cut was 231 years, with an average diameter of 31 inches. 86 FOREST LEAVES, FOREST LEAVES. 87 t; 1 ii :i I have made a table of the time it takes certain trees, in Kentucky, to grow to a diameter at the stump of 12 inches. This is not an infallible table, but is based on actual tree growth as ob- served in the forests, and has no reference to iso- lated growth or unusual conditions. Pin oak will grow to 12 -inch diameter in 40 years. The black locust will grow to 12 -inch diameter in 45 years. Tulip will grow to 12 -inch diameter in 50 years. Black oak will grow to 12 -inch diameter in 50 years. Black walnut will grow to 12-inch diameter in 56 years. Texas red oak will grow to 12 -inch diameter in 58 years. Sweet gum will grow to 12-inch diameter in 62 years. Ash will grow to 12-inch diameter in 72 years. Hickories will grow to 12 inch diameter in 90 years. White oaks will grow to 12 -inch diameter in 100 years. In the days gone by, and to-day, to some ex- tent, the farmer in many counties cleared his land by girdling the trees, then grew tobacco for some years, and corn, and more corn, and still corn until the soil grew tired and sick of such constant burdens, and refused to grow either tobacco or corn longer. My company became the owners of many acres of this so-called worn-out land — much was brought back into cultivation, and yields large crops of hay and corn. On the better land was planted walnut and catalpa speciosa. The locust robinia is planted on the '* worn-out" and '* turned out" farm lands. Belonging to the Pulse family, with the clovers and peas, like them, it improves the soils. For mining timbers and fence posts it is a most valuable tree. When once planted it makes a permanent forest, the stump, when cut, growing new shoots rapidly. Since January i, 1905, we have planted not less than 110,000 on 162 acres of land. The seedlings are planted 8 by 8 feet apart, or about 680 to the acre. Some of these trees, four years from seed, now measure 8 and 10 inches in circumference at the stump. What promises to be a most valuable tree for rebuilding the forests is the catalpa speciosa. It is a rapid grower on good land, but will grow on almost any soil. The largest trees, four years from seed, in our forests now measure 8 to 9^ inches in circumference and 12 to 18 feet in height. At this rate of growth a tree 12 inches in diameter would be produced in sixteen to twenty years. I do not include this catalpa in my table of years of tree growth to make 1 2 inches diameter. This tree sometimes grows to a height of 120 feet, with a diameter of 3 to 4 feet. Since Janu- ary I, 1905, we have planted out 120,000 of ca- talpa speciosa, on 176 acres of land, the trees planted 8 by 8 feet, about 680 to the acre. In time these trees will be thinned out as conditions demand. The forest will be perpetual, like that of the locust, a stump throwing up new shoots. Since 1888 we have planted over one million of walnuts. Not quite half of these were planted on 170 acres of farm land, the balance in vacant places in the forest. The nuts are planted 4 by 4 feet, or 2,722 to the acre. The first planting twenty years ago has been thinned out until the stand is less than 1,000 to the acre. Twenty-nine trees, 25 to 35 feet high, occupying 1,100 square feet, have an average circumference of 1 7 J^ inches, equal to 5^^ inches in diameter. The largest tree measured 9.3 inches in diameter, the smallest 3.4 inches in diameter. The tulip tree (Jiriodendron^ is one of the most valuable and beautiful. A royal tree of the forest, as is the royal palm of the tropics. A few acres were planted in 1900, with trees taken from the forest three to five years old. An- other forest was planted last spring, about 25 acres, now in tulip trees. These trees are planted every 10 by 10 feet, or 430 to the acre. The first plant- ing has produced trees with circumferences of 14 inches to 19^^ inches. Five trees in one row in a space of 30 feet give circumferences of 15, 13, i6j/^, 16^ and 141^ inches, the trees being 25 feet high. From the autumn of 1888 to the spring of 1909, inclusive, the following number of trees have been planted: 430,000 black walnut on 162 acres; 160,000 catalpa speciosa on 230 acres ; 200,000 black locust on 280 acres ; 10,000 tulips (yellow poplar) on 20 acres ; 850,000 black walnut in vacant places in the forest land, largely on bot- tom land. We prepare the ground for the young forest the same as for corn. Plant the walnut with the hull in the autumn as soon as the nuts are mature. We get the catalpa and locust seedlings in the autumn and heel them in, and then plant them out when good weather comes in the early spring. The young trees are cultivated as is corn for three or four years. Bluegrass is sown amongst the walnuts and locusts when the ground is last cultivated. All the young forests are fenced in from cattle and hogs and sheep. My argument to the Kentucky farmer outside the bluegrass country is that a permanent blue- grass pasture can be secured by planting walnuts and sowing bluegrass. In ten or twelve years the trees will be large enough to permit grazing. The expense of planting ten acres in walnuts is small, and the value of a bluegrass pasture is great. If the present forests of Kentucky were inclosed by fences against cattle and all other stock, the seed trees still existing would rapidly produce young growth, and much would be accomplished in reforesting our State. Government Forests of Prussia. PRUSSIA has National Forests, covering nearly 7,000,000 acres, which are made up much as if the pineries of the Southern States of this country and the forests of some of the Middle Atlantic and Central States were com- bined. When forestry was begun by Prussia, a great part of the timberlatid had been injured by mismanagement, much as American forests have been, and the Prussian foresters had to solve the problem of improving the run-down forests out of the returns from those which were still in good condition. Immense improvement has already taken place and is steadily going on. The method of management adopted calls for a sustained yield ; that is, no more wood is cut than the forest produces. Under this management the growth of the forest, and consequently the amount cut, has risen sharply. In 1830 the yield was 20 cubic feet per acre; in 1865, 24 cubic feet; in 1890, 52 cubic feet; and 1904, 65 cubic feet. In other words, Prussian forest manage- ment has multiplied the rate of production three- fold in seventy-five years. And the quality of the product has improved with the quantity. Between 1830 and 1904 the percentage of saw timber rose from 19 per cent, to 54 per cent. It is a striking fact in this connection that in the United States at the present time the people use about three times as much timber as the for- ests grow. If we were everywhere practicing forestry with a resulting improvement equal to that made in Prussia, the forests of this country would be growing as much as we use. The financial returns in Prussia make an even better showing. Net returns per acre in 1850 were 28 cents; in 1865 they were 72 cents; in 1900, $1.58; and in 1904, $2.50. They are now nearly ten times what they were sixty years ago, and they are increasing more rapidlv than ever. These results have been obtained in Prussia along with almost ideal technical success. When what is wanted is a sustained yield from the forest year by year in the long run, it is clearly neces- sary to have always a certain number of trees ready to be cut ; there must be a proper propor- tion of trees of all ages. This percentage has been secured and maintained with almost mathe- matical accuracy. A Large Grapevine. THROUGH the courtesy of Mr. J. G. Dil- lin, the Pennsylvania Forestry Association was presented with a section of a large grapevine. This piece of the vine measures fifteen inches in diameter, and is hollow. It came from the farm of Messrs. Peter and Jeremiah Lawless, near Brownsburg, Pa., and was cut down about two years ago. It grew round the butt of a large beech tree fully six feet in diameter. Both died about the same time and fell together, the tree being completely covered by the vine. This vine was only a few feet from where General George Washington and his band of patriots loaded their batteries on the boats on December 25th, 1776, preparatory to crossing the Delaware River on their expedition to Trenton ; and there is but little doubt that this celebrated general saw it, as it was living then, and too close to the road to be unnoticed. Twelve years ago old Samuel Knowles was living, and stated that his father stood at this place and saw the Continental army marching past, halting right there by an old log house to prepare supper, and recalled seeing the blood-stains on the snow from their cut feet. This was the upper contingent of the army coming from Coryell's Ferry (now New Hope), making a junction with the lower army at or near Taylors- ville, where they crossed. Mr. J. Lawless re- members the vine for over fifty -five years, and stated that it looked to be just the same size then as now. The grape was probably a wild chicken The Illustrations. THE full page photograph presents an inter- esting and unique illustration of the latent « force in a growing tree. Apparently the seedling sprouted within the square central opening of the old rejected mill- stone, and after the growth of the trunk had filled the hole, the stone was lifted from the ground, and is now about two feet above the surface. The curious rustic seat thus formed would be prized on many lawns or in parks, but serves no such purpose in the location bordering a stream in a sparsely-settled district of New York. 88 FOREST LEAVES. I'i li . t n • 1 The metal bars in evidence are discarded hinges, which to personal knowledge have been lying on the stone for the past year. The change of the cross-section of the trunk to the rectangular outline of the millstone's opening is apparent in the photograph. Eventually the stone will be fractured, but this has not yet occurred. The tree with its stone burden stands on the bank of Ten Mile River, at South Dover, Dutch- ess County, New York. One of the extensive forest reserves owned by the State of Pennsylvania is in the hilly wooded country of Pike County, where are attractive lakes and water courses, many of the latter having pic- turesque water-falls and cascades. The Forestry Reservation Commission is endeavoring to add to the value of this reserve by improvement cuttings, as indicated in the upper view. This illustration represents a forest in Porter Township, Pike County, Pa., from which the undesirable and weaker growth is removed to encourage the more promising and thrifty trees to develop to advan- tage. An idea of the scenic features of the Pike County reservation is presented in the lower illus- tration, taken from Hunting Tower, six miles from Dingman's Ferry and the Delaware River. • Forestry and Engineering.* By John Birkinbine, President Pennsylvania Forestry Association. THE compliment of being invited to open a lecture course in which the practical side of forestry, will be presented is appreciated, as the establishment of such a course is an evi- , dence of the hold forest protection has upon our people. There are no more appropriate places than educational institutions, largely devoted to technology, in which to discuss the value of forests to the country for the present and also for the future. Hence, it is evidently proper that a Uni- j versity so well known and esteemed as Lehigh should set an example by exhibiting interest in I forestry and all conservation problems. It is remarkable that the ablest authorities to- day agree with William Penn, who in 1681 an- nounced that the proportion of forests to agricul- ' tural lands of one to four would encourage in this State the best results. But Penn's recommenda- * The Lehigh University inaugurated a course of lectures on forestry, which was opened by the President of the Penn- sylvania Forestry Association on October 22, 1909, and by arrangement with the Presidentof Lehigh University the lec- tures will appear in the Forest Leaves. In thi?^ issue we present the first lecture of the course. * I tion was not heeded, and the wooded lands were denuded — first by burning for clearing, then ta supply the tanneries and to sustain the lumber in- dustry, and by most disastrously devastating fires. The original waste in clearing was excusable, use for tanneries and saw-mills was explainable, but in later years forest fires, for which no apology can be offered, have caused enormous loss and destroyed great wooded areas. Realizing conditions, the Pennsylvania Forestry Association was formed in 1886, being, with the possible exception of that of Colorado, the first State organization. It started a vigorous cam- paign of education in July, 1886, and its official organ, Forest Leaves, has regularly appeared since that date, having been for years the only for- estry publication in the country issued at stated intervals. For twenty-four years the Association has con- tinued the policy originally adopted, and its suc- cess may be judged by a membership of i ,600, and by such results as the appointment in 1893 of a commission to investigate the forested lands of the State, and present a report giving detailed descrip- tions, location, character of trees, etc., to form a basis for a systematic and comprehensive forestry policy for the State. This paved the way, for a Forestry Bureau created in the Department of Agriculture in 1895, which was made the Depart- ment of Forestry in 1901. Since 1899 the State has accumulated nearly 1,000,000 acres of forest reserves by purchase, an area slightly larger than that of Rhode Island, and the value of the lands secured is already estimated at more than double their cost, including all expen- ditures of whatsoever character for their adminis- tration and care. Pennsylvania has purchased outright as much woodland as New York, nearly one-half of the re- serves of the Empire State having been secured at tax sales. None of the large National forests have been purchased. The administration of the reserves is carried out on a business basis, the State Forestry Reservation Commission having authority to utilize them in any way which will best serve the interests of forestry in contradistinction to legislation in some other States which practically prohibits all utilization. Nurseries have been established and are main- tained so that suitable seedlings for reforestation will be available at a minimum cost. F(jrest fire laws have been improved, and under the present progressive administration, which has also demonstrated practical methods of extinguish- ment, the losses in the State have been greatly reduced. A Forest Academy is maintained by the State, i ■ c.-"-- .>- V'. < '■■*■ • •"4, J ■ !i; '1' Forest Leaves, Vol. xii., No. 6. Forest Leaves, Vol. xil, No. 6. ... rP ><■..' ;-^i - ■^'■^■. ^■.^,^;'■-■^: .i*,.'^!.^I|r/^^.||?;t*:x-Nv A Ijf :».-J* .1. ..-C^r^*>'' , A TREE IN A MILLSTONE. IMPROVEMENT-CUTTING, PIKE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. "'"■-'*■-« •$ ■ 'V 81 ^^v. -m V FOREST VIEW, PIKE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. Forest Leaves, Vol. xii., No. 6. A TREE IN A MILLSTONE, I Forest Leaves, Vol. xil, No. 6. T. IMPROVEMENT-CUTTING, PIKE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. FOREST VIEW, PIKE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 1 i INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE FOREST LEAVES. 89 the State College has established a Forestry Depart- ment, and the Summer Forest School of Yale Uni- versity is located at Milford, while some of our high schools give instruction in forestry. A feature of which we may be proud is the estab- lishment of State sanatoria within our forest re- serves to care for sufferers from tuberculosis, for the maintenance of which generous appropriations are made by the legislature. Notwithstanding the improvement in legislation affecting forests, and the position of leadership which Pennsylvania has maintained, we must view the situation with anxiety, because of the meager remnant of available timber on our mountains, the apparent indifference exhibited in many portions of the Commonwealth, the continued sacrifice of valu- able property by fire, the waste in lumbering and in the use of lumber, the taxation which encourages timber cutting, and the possible danger of future forest administration becoming a factor in politics. The ravages of fire, the enormous cut of lumber, the inroads made by tanneries, have left of Penn's woods far from sufficient to supply the State's re- quirements. A fire in a dwelling, a barn, or an industrial establishment calls upon the entire neigh- borhood for volunteer help, which is given with commendable enthusiasm. But the quenching of forest fires is often considered the business of no one, although the monetary loss may greatly exceed that due to the destruction of buildings, and to secure the necessary help the State provides com- pensation for those who fight forest fires under authorized direction. However, in some portions of the State it is still difficult to secure the convic- tion of those who wilfully set fire to woodlands, even when the evidence is of a convincing char- acter, and by increasing assessments upon wood- lands individual owners are discouraged from maintaining forests, thus robbing the State of valu- able auxiliaries to its forest reserves. To properly care for 1,000,000 or more acres of forests many wardens or rangers are necessary, and the object of those who advocate forest protection is to have these men selected for their competency, and not because of political or factional affiliations. Although many reforms have been introduced, the waste in felling trees and lumbering, which can be corrected, offers a field for intelligent investiga- tion, and while Pennsylvania has achieved more than most other States, the work is far from com- plete, and claims the earnest co-operation of all good citizens. The results to which we refer are in part due to an appreciation of the value of forests by succes- sive governors, by legislatures which have sup- ported executive recommendations, and by a '* press " which has in the main shown a friendly. and in some instances enthusiastic, interest in forest protection. It was at Bethlehem that Gov- ernor Stuart voiced his faith by expressing the hope that Pennsylvania would ultimately have 6,000,000 acres of forest reserves. Forestry is considered as caring for existing forests — by improvement cutting to clear away ■ weaklings or undesirables, and give neighboring trees room to develop, by preventing and extin- guishing forest fires, and in protecting in all pos- sible ways the growing timber. It also covers propagation of trees in large quantities, the setting out of seedlings or sprouts, to reforest denuded areas, and the care of new growth. It considers the harvesting of the forest crop when mature, the prevention of unnecessary waste, aims to obtain satisfactory financial returns, and seeks the best utilization of forest products. The substitution of other materials for wood is also a forestry problem. I appreciate the courtesy of my friend of many years. President Drinker, in inviting me to initiate a series of lectures. I also realize the responsi- bility of properly presenting the subject of *' The Relations of the Engineer to Forestry, ' ' for the term ** engineer ' ' as generally used covers a broad field. Members of this profession are expected to locate mineral properties, provide means for de- veloping and exploiting these, and for preparing or beneficiating the product. It includes the study of streams, their water-sheds, volumes, velocities, and profiles, with a view to their control and utilization as media of transportation, as means for developing power, as sources of water-supply, or for irrigating arid lands. The engineer lays out and designs roads or rail- ways, with the bridges, tunnels, etc., and provides machinery for operating these avenues of traffic. He is called to collect electricity from the earth's envelope of air, and transform the energy into light or mechanical power, or into heat for elec- tro-chemical processes. Upon him also devolves the duty of caring for refuse and sewage of cities. He designs vessels with their equipment of ma- chinery, their protection and armament, and steam-engines or turbines, pumps, water-wheels, and various mechanical appliances must be familiar to him. In fact, the engineer occupies a prominent place in all phases of industrial development and civic advancement. Seventy-five years ago this country relied upon wood as a source of fuel and as a material for con- struction. The logs in fire-places, or billets in stoves, warmed homes or cooked meals, and for many years wood was the fuel employed in steam-boilers, in locomotives, and in industries. Bridges or buildings, mills, water-wheels, tanks, boats, ships, etc., were constructed of wood, and 90 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 91 charcoal made from cord-wood was the fuel fed to blast-furnaces from which the supply of pig-iron was obtained, and the same fuel maintained the forge fires. The earlier railway cars moved on wooden rails, and the plank road was the best highway. Comparing these conditions with those prevail- ing we may form an appreciation of the advances which have been made. Mineral fuel heats our homes, and it or gas, of which coal is the base, cooks our meals. With the exception of gas- engines, water-wheels, and windmills, few prime movers receive their power from any source save the combustion of coal. But even now we consume yearly about 75,000,000 cords of fire-wood. Bridges are of masonry or of metal, important buildings are skeletons of metal encased in masonry, and ships have but little wood in their construction. A greatly augmented pig-iron product results from utilizing coke and coal as a fuel (although 52,000,000 bushels of charcoal are still burned annually), and in converting, rolling, and fabri- cating the steel : coal, or gas from coal, natural gas or mineral oil furnish heat and power. It stretches one's imagination to reconcile the facts that the practical use of anthracite coal dates back less than a century, and that the production in 1908 exceeded 83,000,000 net tons, or that in that year the country produced a total of nearly 416,000,000 net tons of bituminous and anthracite coal, a quantity of such magnitude as to demon- strate beyond question that had the forests been capable of supplying sufficient wood, it could not be cut, transported, and assembled in amounts which would have produced results attributed to the employment of the coal output mentioned. Another instance of rapid progress is in the utilization of electricity, for when one notices the millions of candle power now used nightly, or realizes the practically continuous procession of trolley-cars, or the electrification of standard rail- roads, or the innumerable applications of power, and the intensity of the electric arc as used in electro-metallurgy, it is difficult to appreciate that all this development has resulted in a generation — for at the Centennial Exposition in 1876 the single electric light on exhibition was not always illu- minating. Interest in the conservation of our natural re- sources has encouraged the publication of numer- ous papers and discussions, and among those who have contributed to the literature of the subject are many engineers, for the training given an engi- neer makes him a conservator. His function is to economize by reducing or utilizing what is waste, to obtain a desired result with the least expenditure of power, or of the fuel by which power is developed, to so utilize thermic or dynamic forces or physical energy as to produce the best return. As a student he -acquaints himself with these resources which nature has supplied, and investi- gates possible uses for them, and as a practitioner he applies the knowledge gained in such a manner as to develop their utilization to the highest prac- tical economy. Nature study broadens and enlightens the mind, and he who goes through life ignorant of the composition and structure of the earth's crust, of the atmosphere which envelops the earth, and its meteorological conditions of rainfall and water- supply, of plant or animal life, their development or characteristics, or who fails to appreciate the marvelous system which pervades all nature, loses much of the joy of living. The problems are too varied and complex for one individual to grasp details, and as a result specialists master these, but the study of one subject awakens interest in others, and while we may not become thorough scientists or even spe- cialize, we may grasp nature's secrets in part and are the better for such study. The engineer as a true conservator is attracted to each of the natural resources, and seeks to see them utilized, not locked up for an uncertain posterity ; for recognizing the omnipotence and omniscience of the Creator, we may properly assume that when He peopled the earth He sup- plied ample natural resources for the use of the inhabitants. It is our duty to utilize but not to waste these, and the knowledge that some of these resources are reproductive, others renewed, and others outside of either class, teaches us how conservation should be applied to each. While natural resources may be considered as existing since the creation of the world, and exert- ing influences upon its physical features, the in- crease in population, the changes in location sought by the people, the altered conditions which are met, the advance in knowledge both practical and technical, have in time developed new uses and applications. The progress of the present time is so pronounced that we are liable to look upon the past with pity if not with scorn, and wonder how our ancestors lived in the absence of what we recognize as essentials for existence or comfort, forgetting that to these ancestors we are indebted for the initiative which makes our present development possible. And when con- sidering conservation we are prone to credit with willful waste those who imperfectly utilized or apparently recklessly destroyed what is now of value. Our boasted advancement may be equally open J to criticism from those who are to follow us, unless we study carefully economic problems, and apply in the most advantageous manner the resources at our command. In fact, with the knowledge and opportunities existing we will be the more blam- able if we fail to be true conservators. In discussing conservation the natural resources have generally been segregated into four general classes : soils, minerals, water, and forests, each of which demands the best and most persistent effort to produce their fullest utilization. Soils are neither reproductive nor are they re- placed, except insofar as erosion wears away hills and fills up low land, but they may be enriched and the fertility renewed after exhaustion ; hence, judicious methods of agriculture aid in conserving the soils, while the character of vegetable cover has great influence in retarding or accelerating the erosion which carries the soil from one locality to another. Such erosion robs the soil of much of value for agriculture, by washing away the fertile portion, and gashing fields with ragged waterways, or conveying barren material to cover good soil or to obstruct the beds of streams. Much engi- neering ability is constantly employed in efforts to reduce the damage thus produced, and great skill and enormous money expenditures being re- quired to maintain channels, remove bars, etc., from water courses, or to divert streams for irri- gating arid lands, or for power development. While soils are not reproductive they are the basis of all that is reproductive, for they support, with the assistance of water, vegetation which is constantly growing or propagating its kind, and vegetation supports all animal life. The relations existing between the animal and vegetable king- dom may be illustrated by a late plea for protect- ing birds, to the effect that without birds in- sect life would predominate and vegetation be destroyed, animal life following. But without water neither vegetable or animal life can exist. We gather crops from our soils, either renewing their fertility artificially, or allowing a rest to re- store this, but the forests maintain by their leaf floor the fertility of the soil upon which the trees grow, and protect it from erosion. Minerals are not renewed, although some are in process of formation, and whatever is taken from mines, quarries, or banks is a step towards final exhaustion. I do not join in the expectation of the world suff*ering for want of fuel, or of the time when iron will rank as a precious metal, for our ancestors existed without coal, or employed copper where we use iron, and we need hark back but a generation to the time when electricity, now so universally used, was developed as laboratory experiments, or since brick or stone laid in mortar, or when wet in cement, were the only acceptable methods of masonry construction. While steel bridge and roof construction dates farther back, the era of the use of metal in build- ings will not much exceed a third of a century. We may therefore expect coming generations to be at least equal to ourselves in advancement and in finding new sources of supply, or applications of what may now be considered waste. While not willing to join the stampede occa- sioned by the fear of exhausting our resources, I do not wish to be understood as condoning any waste, or unnecessary use of our natural resources, for our creed should be that proper utilization is true conservation. The field for the engineer is broad in mining the minerals, in converting them into useful forms, and in applying these in various ways. Mining, metallurgical, mechanical, electrical, civil, struc- tural, chemical engineering — are all dependent upon the mineral resources, and those who follow the specialties named are striving to secure the highest efficiency from these. Water, which is considered unstable, is practi- cally the most stable of our natural resources, for sun-pumping is constantly exerting forces measur- able only in hundreds of millions of horse-power, evaporating water from the oceans and lakes to form the envelope of vapor which makes the earth inhabitable, and the clouds which are carried by the winds to deposit rain on remote areas. Water is constantly in motion, and it, more than any other cause, has affected the topog- naphy of the earth ; it falls on diff'erent districts in different amounts and at diverse intervals, but it will not be exhausted as the minerals. In our country the average annual amount of rain falling is indicated by the record of Southern Arizona, less than 3 inches, to from 70 to 135 inches in the Puget Sound country, while in Pennsylvania the range is from 37 inches at Pitts- burg to 55 inches in the anthracite coal regions. Although the heaviest average annual rainfall is credited to the anthracite region, this section has been so denuded of timber as to encourage freshet conditions of marked severity. We are therefore encouraged to preserve our forests, because they supply a material for construction which, notwith- standing the advances made, is required in great quantities ; because they offer the best means of modifying the runoff of streams, and because they add to the health and well-being of communities. We in the humid region fail to appreciate the fact that fully three-fourths of the area of the coun- try has less rain than we ; for the average annual rainfall over Continental United States is 29.4 inches. 92 FOREST LEAVES. Records covering sufficient number of years to make them reliable and serviceable for Bethlehem, T. FOREST LEAVES. 93 are : — Yearly Average. Philadelphia, 40.6 inches. Quakertown, 45.2 inches. 50.5 inches. Mauch Chunk. The forests are an important resource which demands and must receive intelligent considera- tion, and you may criticise the scant reference to the subject-matter of this address as indicated by the title, but I have considered it advisable to cover the general problem of conservation, know- ing that those who follow in this course will present various special features of forestry in a more thorough manner, and treat of their protection, their propagation, and their utilization, for these three are to be considered together as representing progressive forestry. To inclose a given wooded area and depend upon the trees to reproduce or supply new growth is not forestry — for when trees reach maturity they should be removed and converted to some useful purpose ; thinning out is also essential to aid in the survival of the fittest, and fires must be kept from checking the growth of large trees, killing the young, or destroying the forest floor which is of so much service in conserving water. Natural reproduction cannot always be depended upon, for replanting is usually necessary to perpetuate forest growth, and its maintenance is only possible by constant attention and use. It is the duty of the owner or tenant of land to so utilize it as to obtain the greatest value from it, and if an area is better adapted to forest growth than to agricultural development, it should be made to produce trees, but the arboreal growth must be cared for. Where cereals or vegetables are grown the fertility of the ground cultivated requires periodic enrichment, but the fertility of the soil occupied by forests is maintained by the mat of fallen leaves and other debris which form the humus or forest floor— a spongy mass which also acts as a filter and reservoir for much of the water falling upon the forests. If the maintenance of the fqrest floor was the only benefit resulting from forest protection, it would be sufficient to encourage our efforts, for the regularity and purity of our water-supply is a most important problem, while increase in the number and size of cities and towns or augmented industries, all require conservation of water, and the forest floor is an adjunct whose importance cannot be overestimated. But the forests also give welcome shade, reduce evaporation, hold in check melting snows, ofl"er aid to those suffering from tuberculosis, and fur- nish timber and lumber for many uses, a few of which, of special interest to engineers, are indi- cated. No small part of the inventive genius, the constructive ability, the mechanical skill, and the designing capacity of engineers has been devoted to substituting metal or stone for wood, in using coal, coke, oil, or gas for wood or charcoal, and in handling the quantities of material, or creating the units of power which the nation demands. But at the present time the forests are called on for very liberal quantities of wood in numerous industries, notwithstanding the enormous substi- tution of metal referred to. The stulls, caps, sills and lagging required for underground mining, the skip-ways, guides, head- frames, trestles, and railway ties are largely sup- plied from the forests, and most mines which have been wrought on a liberal scale for a number of years are forced to carry timber considerable dis- tances because of the denudation of nearby terri-^ tory. To reduce the cost of timbering, mining meth- ods demanding smaller drafts on the forests have been devised, and masonry shafts and pillars or metal stulls have been employed. Steel head- frames and girders are in favor as off'ering perma- nence and protection from destruction by fire, but it is evident that economical underground explora- tion must depend largely upon a supply of timber (approximately 165,000,000 cubic feet beings annually used;, and without forests that is unat- tainable. Numerous designs of metal or of concrete and metal railroad ties have been experimented upon, and a number of these are now in use. It is be- lieved that ultimately satisfactory forms will be developed, but it is doubtful if these can be sup- plied at costs approximating that of even the ad- vanced price of wooden ties, a conclusion indorsed by the liberal planting of trees by railroad com- panies to furnish a future supply of these necessary^ features of construction, and also by the invest- ments being made in plants for treating wooden ties to increase their life. The demand which railroad cross-ties make upon the forests is indicated by the extent of steam railroads, which Poor's latest Manua/ g\\t% as a total of main track, second track, and sidings, of 334,000 miles. This does not include electric trolley-lines, both urban and interurban. This great mileage, which has developed within eighty years, has probably rails in place averaging 120 long tons per mile of track, which carry 265 locomotives and 966 cars per 1,000 miles, and over which are transferred 215,600 million ton miles of freight, equal to 600,000,000 ton milfs per day, earning about three-fourth cent per ton mile, and 29,000 million passenger miles, whose average fare is two cents. This enormous traffic is supported on ties which the forest must furnish, and the annual requirements of the railroads in the United States exceed 70,000,000 ties. Includ- ing bridge and switch-ties, this is equivalent to 2,750 million feet, board measure. The Forest Service reports that the steam and electric railway companies of the United States purchased 153,000,000 cross-ties in 1907, more than three -fourths of which were hewn, the oaks, chiefly white oak, supplying more than 45 per cent, of the hewed ties. The Lehigh Valley Railroad, with a trackage of 3,300 miles, demands the use of 8,000,000 ties, representing a total of 342,000,000 feet b.m. The requirements of this company are 800,000 ties per year. The growing use of conduits for telephone and telegraph wires in congested districts, the use of metal, and in some instances concrete poles for such wires, but especially for overhead electric traction installations, the application of metal towers for electric transmission lines, reduce the draft for long timber on the forests. But the immense number of wooden poles employed in telephone, telegraph, electric power and light transmission is evident to any observer, and may be appreciated by the knowledge that this country has in use 15,000,000 miles of telephone and telegraph wire, a quantity sufficient to girdle the earth at the equator six hundred times, and the annual demand now exceeds 3,500,000 poles, twenty feet or more in length. Metal piles which find bearing with point or screw end, or by a current of water forced through them, metal caissons, sheet pilings, dams, break- water, bulk-heads or docks constructed of concrete in blocks or in mass, metal booms, braces, and derricks, all reduce the demand for timber for river and harbor improvements. But the require- ment of such structures still necessitates the de- nudation of great areas of forest lands, and the lengths and sizes of timber as in poles, piles, and, booms necessitates the selection of large, tall, and generally straight trees. The newspapers and many of the books which we read depend upon wood pulp for much of the paper used, the annual consumption being 3,000,000 cords of domestic wood, and as illus- trating minor uses, the machmery employed in producing shoe-pegs and shanks, spools, clothes- pins, bobbins, shuttles, toys, etc., amounts annu- ally to over 100,000 cords of selected wood, mainly birch ; of this, spools demand 43,000 cords, and 3,000 cords are converted into tooth- picks to aid the dental fraternity. Notwithstanding the liberal application of metal patterns for foundry use, we consume large quantities of superior lumber, and the crating or boxing of machinery keep numerous saw-mills in operation. Many buildings and the furniture within are also to be supplied from the forests, and i,ooo million posts and fence rails are used annually, although wire fencing is popular. The enormous present consumption of forest products, notwithstanding the substitution of other materials in various industries, cannot be com- prehended by the mere statement that it repre- sents a volume of 20 billion cubic feet, or even that if this were closely and solidly piled as finished material it would cover seventy square miles to a height of ten feet. Without going into the detail of various prod- ucts, the distribution of this material for diff'er- ent uses is illustrated by the following annual re- quirements : Commercial lumber production, 40,256,154,000 feet B. M. ; shingles, 11,824,- 475,000; lath, 3,663 million. Tanneries de- manded 1,200,000 cords oak and hemlock bark, and 400,000 barrels tanning extract from domes- tic wood ; 36,000,000 gallons of turpentine ; and 4,000,000 barrels of rosin were produced. There were used in wood distillation, 1,280,000 cords. These with maple sugar and exported logs are valued at $10,000,000. The total drain on domestic forests is esti- mated as 20,000,000,000 cubic feet, plus damage by fires, insects, and storms, the total value being $1,280,000,000. It is officially stated that we are cutting seven times as much timber per capita as Germany, and ten times as much as France, but that Germany obtains four cubic feet annually to each cubic foot secured from the wooded areas of the United States, indicating that we should not only con- tinue to apply every economy in the use of wood, and substitute wherever possible other material therefor, but that it is the duty of every good citizen to encourage protection and care of exist- ing forests, also to be interested in every effort for reforestation. An attempt has been made to indicate the re- lations of forestry to engineering, to emphasize the necessity of economical utilization of forest products, to indicate some of the substitutions for wood made necessary by depleted forested areas and advanced practice, to suggest the enor- mous present demands for wood in many forms, although numerous improvements aid in decreas- ing the consumption for special purposes, and to 94 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 9^ invite co-operation of all in advancing the in- terest in forest care and preservation. Few may expect to plant young trees and see them mature or used, but provision for those who follow us and who are to maintain our nation is a patriotic duty which all may accept with pride. The population of our country, yes, of the world, is divided into two classes : leaders and followers, the helpers and the helped ; and each must have a place in one or the other class. The course of education in the Lehigh University is intended as preparatory for leadership, and as fitting men to help others who have not enjoyed equal advantages. Each of the student body is expected to be a user of natural resources, some probably employ- ing great quantities, others possibly small amounts, but you are to leave the Alma Mater a true con- servator, who will study the best utilization of whatever of the resources he employs. As our population increases in numbers and in density, as industrial development expands and manufactories are augmented, the requirements for judicious utilization will be more urgent, the necessity for reducing waste or of obtaining value from it more imperative. The opportunities for usefulness are many, and if I correctly understand the purpose of the faculty, the establishing of this course is to fit the student to intelligently grasp these opportunities and make the most of them. Few men have been honored by the engineer- ing profession as has your patron. Uncle John Fritz, and he deserves it, because his life has been devoted to conservation, not only of natural re- sources but of human energy. His studies and inventions have reduced waste, economized power, and lessened the physical labor demanded in steel manufacture. If he accomplished these results with a meager school education, we may wonder what greater fields he would have con- quered had he the advantage of such a curriculum as Lehigh University offers. The magnificent industry which has made Bethlehem steel famous is not an accident, but a development demanding careful thought, pains- taking experiment, and expert knowledge, and its future greatness will depend upon employing natural resources in the most economical manner, of limiting waste of material and energy. Perhaps of the students I now address there will be some who will merit and receive honor, such as has come to your neighbor, and some may be spared to see as many years as Uncle John Fritz. But whether or not honor or long years is your lot, each has, by associating as a member of the student body, assumed a responsibility to uphold the good name of Lehigh University^ by maintaining a high professional standard in business. If in prosecuting your life work you can econo- mize in the use of materials, increase the work done by a pound of fuel or a cubic foot of water, reduce the physical labor to accomplish a desired end, you will be entitled to honor, advance the engineering profession, and demonstrate that the instruction received has made you a conservator, a thoughtful utilizer of our natural resources. :<:ri New Publications. Annual Report of the Forestry Commissioner of Minnesota. Minneapolis, Minn. Paper. i8o pages. Svo. The report of General C. C. Andrews, Forestry Commissioner, for the year 1908, reviews the forest fires of that year, including that which de- stroyed Chisholm, contains the forestry laws enacted by the last Minnesota legislature, a va- riety of other forestry information, and many in- teresting illustrations. The new forest fire law of Minnesota adds town clerks to the list of local wardens, requires slash- ings— tops and refuse left in logging — to be piled and burned ; that brush or other combustible ma- terial be piled before burning ; forbids setting fire to any such material in a dry season ; requires railroad companies to employ patrols in a dry season ; and raises the minimum fine for any vio- lation of the law to $50. It authorizes employ- ment of rangers in a dry season to quickly go over their districts to inspect, assist, or compel the activity of local wardens. Wardens are required to take ** energetic precautions to prevent " fires. The Commissioner requested an appropriation of $28,000 annually as an emergency fund for dangerous seasons, but only half that amount was appropriated. The Forestry Commissioner asked the legisla- ture to submit a constitutional amendment for an annual tax of three-tenths of a mill on each dollar of taxable property for the purchase and reforest- ation of forestry land, which would have raised about $300,000 annually. The legislature, how- ever, submitted an amendment for a tax of only one-fifteenth of a mill on each dollar, which, if adopted, will raise annually $72,000. This will be voted on in November, 19 10. An argument is made urging that leaders of thought awaken and educate public opinion so that the amendment may be adopted. It contains a paper on Forestry for Minnesota, by Mr. A. Knechtel, Superin- tendent of Forest Reserves in Canada, accompa- nied by illustrations of German tree nurseries. POSITION WANTED. Forester, seven years' experienc'e in forestry. Can give reference and certificate if required. German, 24 years old. KARL MAYERHOFER, Beethoven Hall, San Antonio, Texas. J, T. ROTHROCK, Consulting Forester, WEST CHESTER, PA. Terms upon Application. FOREST LEi^VE^. oo THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE Pennsylvania The attention of the advertising public is called to the advantages we offer as a medium. Address, 1012 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. RATES. > I inch, . . /< page, . . (( c< insertion. $1.00 4.00 7.00 12.00 insertions. $4.00 17.00 30.00 50.00 19 insertions. $8.00 34-00 60.00 100.00 Biltmore Forest School. BILTMORE, N. C. 0000 The Biltmore Forest School is the oldest school of forestry and lumbering in America. Its working fields comprise the Southern Appalachians, the Lake States, and Central Germany. It never leaves the woods. The complete course covers twelve consecutive months at the school, fol- lowed by six consecutive months of practical prenticeship. Write for particulars, addressing C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D., Director, BILTMORE, N. C. CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILA. 30 minutes from Broad St. Station. BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BOTS. Illustrated Catalogue upon application, JAMES L. PATTERSON, Head Matter. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rt. Rev. Ozi W. Whitaker, D.D., President. Samuel F. Houston, Vice-President. George Woodward, Secretary and Treasurer. JAMES M. BECK. WALTON CLARK. JACOB S. DIS8T0N. EDQAR DUDLEY PARIES. FRANCIS I. GOWEN. J. LEVERING JONES. DR. HOWARD A. KELLY* FRANCIS D. LEWIS. RANDAL MORGAN. H. GORDON MCCOUCH, GIFFORD PINCHOT. JAMES R. SHEFFIELD. I'' ! tmm^Sfimm 96 FOREST LEAVES. 4?^-r-:fe Know Andorra^s Trees? If Not— Why Not? ONE ITEM-OUR PIN OAKS. Andorra's Pin Oaks have given all purchasers absolute satisfaction. The reason is not hard to find — they have the quality — roots and vitality. The Pin Oak presents points which readily distinguish it from all others, and it is undoubtedly the most valuable for all practical purposes. The dense finely divided foliage is a beautiful shining green through the Summer months, and colors to sparkHng red and yellow in the Fall. The Pin Oak is easily transplanted, and is the quickest growing of all the Oaks. As an avenue or lawn tree it is unequalled. The Pin Oak thrives in all sections, in all soils and situations, ==Try Andorra's stock. EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN. OUR BOOKLET "MORE SPECIALTIES." 3d EDITION, DESCRIBES THESE AND MANY OTHERS. SPECIAL OFFER. REMEMBER! EVERY TREE A SPECI Each 6 to 7 ft. Low-branched $i oo 7 to 8 ft. Low-branched i 25 8 to 9 ft. Low-branched; i '/, to i}( in. cal i 50 9 to 10 ft. Low-branched; i^ to 2 in. cal 2 00 10 to 12 ft. Low-branched; 2 to 2 >/^ in. cal 2 50 10 to 12 ft. 2^ to 3 in q 50 Extra-heavy Specimens $3 50 to 10 00 8^°'Sencl for FALL. PRICE LIST.°^a ANDORRA NURSERIES, WM. WARNER HARPER, Prop. Box F, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA, PA. EN! Per 10 Per 100 $8 50 $60 00 10 00 70 00 13 50 125 00 17 50 135 00 22 50 ' 150 00 30 00 275 00 Vol. XII. Philadelphia, February, igio. No. 7. Published Bi-Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, xoxa Walnut St„ Philadelphia, Pa. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as second-class matter. .^ CONTENTS. Editorials 97 President Taft's Conservation Message 98 The Narrative of the Annual Meeting 99 Report of the General Secretary xoo Treasurer's Report 103 Report of the Council of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association.. 103 White Cedar. Arbor vitae (Thuya occidentalis, L.) 105 Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea. Mill.) 105 Forest, Orchard and Garden Exhibit 106 Through What Agencies Can the Restoration and Conservation of Our Forests be Secured? 107 New Publications no Subscription, $1.00 per Year. The attention 0/ Nurserymen and others is called to the advantages e/^ Forest Leaves as an advertising medium. Rates will be fur- nished on application. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Founded in June, 1886, "Labors to disseminate information in regard to the necessity and methods of forest culture and preservation, and to secure the enact- ment and enforcement of proper forest protective laws, both State and National. Annual member ship fee. Two dollars. Life membership. Twenty-five dollars. Neither the membership nor the work of this Association is intended to be limited to the State of Pennsylvania. Persons desiring to become members should send their names to the Chairman of the Membership Committee, 1012 Walnut Street, Phila. President, John Birkinbine. Vice-Presidents, Wm. S. Harvey, James C. Haydon, Albert Lewis. Richard Wood. General Secretary, Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. Recording Secretary, F. L. Bitler. Treasurer, Charles E. Pancoast. Council-at- Large, Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Hon. Robert S. Conklin, Samuel L, Smedley. Finance, W. S. Harvey, Chairman ; Dr. Henry M. Fisher, W. W. Frazler, Charles E. Pancoast, and J. Rodman Paul. Membership, Albert B. Weimer, Chairman ; Mrs. George F. Baer, Edwin Swift Balch. Robert S. Conklin, Hon. Lucien W. Doty, Dr. J. T. Rothrock, W.W. Scranton, Dr. Samuel Wolfe, and Hon. S. P. Wolverton. Law, Hon. W. N. Ashman, Chairman; Henry Budd, and John A. Siner. Publication, John Birkinbine, Chairman ; F. L. Bitler, S. B. Elliott, Alfred Paschall, and Harrison Souder. Work, Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Chairman ; Mrs. George T. Heston, William S. Kirk, J. Franklin Meehan, and Abraham S. Schropp. County Or^/»wV/»^;/w. Samuel Marshall, Chairman; Eugene Ellicott, James C. V — wton Hunsberger, and Richard Wood. • Office of the Association. 1012 Walnut St.. Philadelphia. EDITORIALS. FOREST LEAVES regrets that dissensions among those in authority at Washington, of which comment has been made in a previous issue, has resulted in a change in the head of the U. S. Forest Service. We have been and are too earnestly interested in forest protection not to feel disappointed that dif- ferences in opinion, apparently irreconcilable, should arise among the officials upon whom rests the responsibility of encouraging the development and utilization of our natural resources. We rec- ognize that in any movement of wide importance champions may approach possibilities or results from antagonistic view-points without lessening their loyalty to the cause, and our hope is that the unpleasant status now existing may, upon in- vestigation, prove to have been the patriotic ex- ploitation of different programmes which had the same ultimate objective. The assertions that improper methods were ap- plied are in course of investigation, which we trust may be thorough and free from political or factional taint, for forestry should not be a factor in politics. It is a problem of the nation, not a party fetish. Recognizing the devotion to the cause of for- estry which Mr. Gilford Pinchot has shown for many years, we regret his enforced retirement as National Forester, and feel confident that he will not suffer his life interest in the cause to decline. We also congratulate his successor. Prof. Henry S. Graves, upon being appointed to a position of such honor, with many opportunities for advanc- ing the material welfare of the country, bespeaking for him the same cordial support which the friends of forestry in Pennsylvania have always given to the head of the National bureau. Government forestry is now on a grand scale, with aggregate reserves measured in hundreds of 98 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 99 millions acres, each reserve to be administered judiciously, and minor deficiencies must not be permitted to interfere with calm judgment upon problems of great magnitude. While forestry is a feature of to-day, its fruitage is in the future, its function is planning for the welfare of a nation, in which none now in official position will partici- pate and present differences between individuals may not be worthy a notice in history. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association is en- gaged in an effort in which men are subordinate to principle, and it gladly gives its support to all who have or who do render service in advancing true conservation. J- B. :{: " * * ^ * It would be difficult to indicate a more apt il- lustration of the appreciation of forestry, as inter- preted in Pennsylvania, than that supplied by the cordial invitation extended to the President of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association to attend the Annual Meeting of State Lumberman's Retail Dealers' Association, and address its members upon the forestry problem. The acceptance of this in- vitation recognized that the practical business methods followed in the Keystone State are ac- cepted by the people as progressive, and that the co-operation of those whose livelihood is based upon tree cutting, and those who aim to protect and propagate forests, is essential to secure the permanence of an important industry. It is such co-operation which promises to ultimately secure for the nation conservation of its natural resources. The presence of a representative of the National Forest Service and his participation was also evi- dence that the lumber interest appreciates its de- pendence on forestry. J. B. Commenting on the relation of forests and fresh- ets, the Philadelphia North American says edi- torially : **We need not look to the dead im- perial cities of what once was the Garden of Eden, now buried by the sands of ages. We need not study the history of famine, drought, flood, and pestilence of treeless China. We need not look to the desert of North Africa. -K ^jc hj We need look — for onr pockets' sake as well as the sake of our civic and economic conscience — no further than our own naked watersheds, letting the waters sweep the richest farmlands in the world into river mud and closing our channels and harbors at the cost of other millions for dredging and removal, with the very crestm of the soil. We need look no further than stricken France to-day.'* President Taft's Conservation Message.. ON January 14th, President Taft submitted to Congress a special message upon con- servation of our natural resources, the keynote of which is as follows : ** The problem is how to save, and how to utilize, how to conserve and still develop, for no sane person can contend that it is for the common good that Nature's bless- ings are only for unborn generations. ' ' This is a practical rebuke to the doctrinaires whose concep- tion of conservation, as emphasized by speeches and writings, is saving by non use, for the true conservator recognizes that it is abuse and not use which is to be condemned. Forest Leaves has been consistent in advocat- ing the preservation of the forests as a source of supply of indispensable material for national prog- ress. It has been outspoken in condemning waste or misapplication of forest products, and has been urgent in advocating propagation of new forests as well as protection for existing forests, and it believes that the broad-minded definition in the President's message will be of material help in advancing conservation. The message treats of land grants and their abuses, recommends segregating mineral from other lands, approves of completing reclamation projects, which local influence provided in excess of appro- priations, and indorses liberality in improving inland waterways. The message demonstrates the magnitude of the conservation problem, and should command careful consideration from Con- gress and from the people. Concerning forestry, President Taft says: — ** The forest reserves of the United States, some 190,000,000 acres in extent, are under the control of the Department of Agriculture, with authority adequate to preserve them and to extend their growth so far as that might be practicable. The importance of the maintenance of our forests can- not be exaggerated. The possibility of a scientific treatment of forests, so that they shall be made to yield a large return in timber without really reducing the supply, has been demonstrated in other countries, and we should work toward the standard set by them as far as their methods are applicable to our conditions. * ' Upwards of 400,000,000 acres of forest land in this country are in private ownership, but only 3 per cent, of it is being treated scientifically and with a view to the maintenance of the forests. The part played by the forests in the equilization of the supply of w^ater on watersheds is a matter of dis- cussion and dispute, but the general benefit to be derived by the public from the extension of forest lands on watersheds and the pronation of the growth of trees in places that are now denuded and that once had great flourishing forests goes with- out saying. The control to be exercised over private owners in their treatment of the forests which they own is a matter for State and not na- tional regulation, because there is nothing in the Constitution that authorizes the Federal govern- ment to exercise any control over forests within a State, unless the forests are owned in a proprietary way by the Federal government. '' It has been proposed, and a bill for the pur- pose passed the lower House in the last Congress, that the National government appropriate a cer- tain amount each year out of the receipts from the forestry business of the government to institute re- forestation at the sources of certain navigable streams to be selected by the Geological Survey, with a view to determining the practicability of thus improving and protecting the streams for Federal purposes. I think a moderate expenditure for each year for this purpose for a period of five or ten years would be of the utmost benefit in the development of our forestry system." We interpret the above remarks relating to private forest lands as indicating approval of State organizations to aid the legislature in formulating healthy laws which encourage the maintenance and care of such forests, and believe that the history of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association demon- strates the assistance which such organizations can give. We endorse the suggestion to utilize some of the revenue obtained from the forest for reforest- ation, as mere protection will not assure a growth for the future. The magnificent area of forest re- serve, now held by the government, will prove a good investment in proportion to the amount of reforestation which supplements forest protection and forest care. j. b. The Narrative of the Annual Meeting. THE annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association was held at 1012 Walnut St., Philadelphia, on Monday, December 13, 1909, at 3.30 p.m., President Birkinbine in the chair. Considering the in- clement weather the attendance was remarkable, the room being comfortably filled, some having come from considerable distances. The reading of the minutes of the last annual meeting was dispensed with, having been printed in Forest Leaves, and was approved as published. The President, Mr. Birkinbine, congratulated the Association upon the satisfactory financial statement, and emphasized the fact that the attendance on a stormy day evidenced the in- terest in which forestry was held. He stated that while the propaganda of education had re- sulted in securing large areas of forest reserves managed in a business way, there was much yet to be accomplished, for the people of the State were to be impressed with the importance of re- newing the forests by propagation and educated to realize that some of the best of the timber is yearly sacrificed by the taxation placed upon it as it app^;oaches maturity. He also said that there are avenues of usefulness which are limited for the want of funds to properly exploit them, and while money to carry forward the propaganda could undoubtedly be obtained from the friends of forestry, he was sure more good would result if the additional income was obtained from increased membership, for this would array permanently on the side of forestry many who, although favoring the movement, have given no expression to their sentiment. The Reports of the Council, the Treasurer, and the General Secretary were read and will be found on other pages of this issue. In introducing Miss M. L. Dock, whose remarks on a Forest Exhibit will be found in another column, the President referred to the complimen- tary way in which the governor of the State had mentioned her and her work in the cause of con- servation. Mr. Herbert Welsh suggested that it would be a good thing for the Pennsylvania Forestry Asso- ciation to lead in such a pictorial exhibit, and if Miss Dock would write out her remarks, placing them in Forest Leaves, the money could readily be raised. Miss Dock said she did not wish the Society to commit itself, but wanted to present the matter to them. Dr. Rothrock moved that Miss Dock prepare a description for Forest Leaves, and the subject of an exhibit be referred to Council. Mr. Welsh called attention to the advantage of placing in schools and elsewhere photographs which by comparison would show the influence of forests and the efl'ect of deforestation. Dr. Henry S. Drinker and Herbert Welsh were appointed Tellers of the Election, and having col- lected the ballots, announced the following officers elected to serve during the coming year : — Presidenty John Birkinbine. Vice- Presidents y Wm. S. Harvey, James C. Haydon, Albert Lewis, Richard Wood. General Secretary, Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. Recording Secretary, F. L. Bitler. Treasurer, Charles ?:. Pancoast. 100 FOREST LEAVES. I Council. A^ Large^ Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Robert S. Conklin, Samuel L. Smedley. Adams County, C. E. Stable. Allegheny County, Wm. A. Baldwin, H. M. Brackenridge, Hon. Geo. W. Guthrie, Thomas H. Johnson, George M. Lehman, Wm. Wade. Beaver County, Charles H. Stone. Berks County, Mrs. George Brooke, J. H. Sternbergh. Blair County, Jos. S. Silly man. Bradford County, C. S. Maurice. Bucks County, T. Ogborn Atkinson, Henry T. Moon. Cambria County, Hartley C. Wolle. Cameron County, Charles F. Barclay. Carbon County, M. S. Kemmerer. Centre County, Prof. Hugh P. Baker. Chester County, Henry T. Coates, Wm. S. Kirk, Samuel Marshall, William M. Potts. Clarion County, Jos. M. Fox. CUarfield County, James P. O'Laughlin. Clinton County, Sidney D. Furst. Columbia County, S. C. Creasy. Crawford County, E. O. Emerson, Jr. Cumberland County, Frank C. Bosler. Dauphin County, Miss Mira L. Dock, E. C. Felton. Delaivare County, Joseph Elkinton. Charles Potts, Dr. Samuel Trimble, Chas. S. Welles. Elk County, C. H. M'Cauley. Erie County, Herman J. Curtze. Fayette County, Hon. Nathaniel Ewing. Forest County, T. D. CoUins. Franklin County, Geo. H. Wirt. Greene County, A. H. Sayers. Huntingdon County, Mrs. William Dorris. Indiana County, S. J. Sides. Jefferson County, S. B. Elliott. Juniata County, S. E. Pannebaker. Lackawanna County, W. W\ Scranton. Hon. E. A. Watres. Lancaster County, J. H. Baumgardner, Prof. E. O. Lyte. La7vrence County, David Jamison. Lebanon County, Mrs. Bertham Dawson Coleman. Lehigh County, Dr. J. M. Backenstoe, Luzerne County, Mrs. Eckley B. Coxe, vSidney K. Miner, Cien. Paul A. Oliver, (Jen. H. W. Palmer, Col. K. Bruce Ricketts, LA. Stearns. Lycoming County, Hon. J. Henry Cochran, C. La Rue Munson. McKean County, F. H. Newell. Mercer County, Jonas J. Pierce. Mifflin County, Frank Ci. Kennedy, Jr. Monroe County, Chas. F. Berkey. Montgofnery County, Dr. J. M. Anders, Isaac H. Clothier, Dr. H. M. Fisher, W. W. Frazier, Monlcomery County, Dr. J. Newton Hunsberger, Dr. Samuel Wolfe. Montour County, H. T. Hecht. Northampton County, John Fritz, Dr. J. S. Hunt, Abraham S. Schropp. Northumberland County, G. R. Van Alen. Perry County, Mrs. John Wister. Philadelphia County, Hon. W. N. Ashman, Henry Budd, Henry Howson, J. Franklin Meehan, J. Rodman Paul, Albert B. Weimer, Dr. W. P. Wilson. Pike County, Arthur M. Adams. Potter County, Arthur B. Mann. Schuylkill County, Wm. L. Sheafer, Heber S. Thompson. Somerset County, H. D. Moore, M.D. Susquehanna County, Edgar A. Turrell. Tioga County, H. L Fick; Union County, Andrew Albright Leiser. Venango County, James; Denton Hancock. Warren County Hon. H. H. Cumings. Wayne County, Alonzo T. Searle. Westmoreland County, Hon. Lucien W. Doty. Wyoming County, James W. Piatt. / York County, Dr. L C. Gable. Mr. Welsh reported that a letter received from Mr. Philip VV. Ayers called attention to the proposed Appalachian bill, and requested mem- bers to use their influence with Pennsylvania Con- gressmen to secure its passage, as it benefited the whole eastern section of the country. Dr. Rothrock replied the Pennsylvania Forestry Association had always been favorable to the movement, and had sent representatives to Wash- ington in the hope of getting a hearing. On motion adjourned. Report of General Secretary. THE statement has frequently been made, of late, that the progress of forestry in Penn- sylvania has been slow. This is true in the sense that all important public reforms move slowly. But when we consider the advances made by forestry in the last quarter of a century, in this State, the statement is not true, and can only be made by those who are ignorant of the work act- ually done, doing, and in contemplation ; or by those who have motives of their own for conceal- ing these achievements. No fair-minded person, who is familiar with the facts, will fail to recog- nize that our State leads all the others in forestry sentiment, work, and legislation. Having said this much, it now becomes me to say how much remains to be done. Two things present themselves at once as im- peratively necessary: (i) The State should re- double its very best efforts in planting all suitable ground in its possession with forest seedlings, and protect absolutely against forest fires all forest land on which there is a growth of young timber ; (2) the State should reduce the burden of taxation on forest land so long as the timber remains uncut, and collect an income tax from the owner when he cuts the timber. This is the whole sum and substance, in this Stale, of forest protection and restoration, so far as securing the co-operation of the individual timber owner is concerned. We will briefly consider the condition of Penn- sylvania forestry under these two heads : ( i ) The State should redouble its very best efforts in planting all suitable ground in its forest reserves with forest seedlings, and protect against forest fires absolutely all its forest land on which there is a growth of young timber. The question of planting refers mainly to old fields, abandoned farms, and the like, because the growing seedlings can be there better protected against fire than when placed among the litter of an established forest, and because, also, it will require years of active planting before all the open grounds on the State reserves are fully planted. The large areas of burned-over lands that will require replanting as early as possible after an effective protection against forest fires, gives a reasonable guarantee that they will not be de- stroyed by fire. It will, however, be a waste of time, trees, and money to replant these areas until such protection is possible and probable. As to the rate of planting, it must be said that we have not done enough of it, though we have done all that our fimds allowed. Whatever fault there may be in this direction does not lie with the F'orestry Department. We repeatedly hear that if the fires are kept out nature will do the rest, and that we shall again have the same splendid forests that once covered our hills. The statement is not true. As a rule, neither white pine, nor hemlock tend to reproduce themselves on the ground from which they have been cut, though they grow readily enough when planted and protected there. When they have reappeared spontaneously it has been usually in small areas and on ground from which wood of some other kind has been re- moved. The various species of pine seem also, in this State, to come spontaneously on abandoned fields, provided there is a seed tree near enough to furnish the seed. The forests which would come spontaneously on other soil if the fires were kept off would contain many of the less valuable timbers, for example, the bird cherry, soft maple, gum. The chestnut would sprout again from the old stumps, and so, too, would the oak, and to a certain extent also the hickories. To secure the most prompt return in the way of a desirable forest restoration we must plant where we can. It is well here to emphasize the fact that haste has become an important element of the problem. Long before the new crop is produced we will feel the pinch of the timber famine. I cannot too strongly urge upon you the necessity of this organization using all of its influence to have sufficient appropriations placed at the dis- posal of the forestry department to raise and plant at least twenty 'million forest seedlings annually. The magnitude of this problem is appalling. We or our children must face it. There is no evading the issue. As to the question of forest fires, it is time for us to cease speaking of them as an unavoidable evil. If those who are charged with the execution of the law will simply obey the oaths of office, which they have taken, forest fires will in a great degree cease. Furthermore, it is time for us to accept the fact, which is well known to every progressive lumberman, that it is cheaper to pre- vent forest fires by a competent patrol than it is to suppress them when started. The Commissioner of Forestry should have ample authority to employ reliable men, in sufficient numbers, to guard our forest lands during the period of destructive fires, and to enable him to dispense with the motley crowd which congregates to ** fight fires." It is stating the fact very mildly to say that, in most instances, the zeal and efficiency of such help is open to suspicion. It would be wise if railroads were to ditch the outside limit of their '* rights of way," and keep the ditches open. Maine has learned to rely upon her lookout stations placed on high ground, from which a fire may be detected and located as soon as started. These stations are connected by telephone with points to which the alarm may be sent and help promptly summoned. It is said that five hundred dollars is a sufficient sum to furnish the entire equipment for such a station. Forest fires will cease to recur as an annual plague when public sentiment has matured suffici; ently to compel a literal enforcement of existing law upon the subject. Only those who have been in this forestry work for the last twenty years know how much less severe and frequent destructive forest fires are now than they were a quarter of a century ago. The improvement thus noted is, on last analysis, simply the result of pressure upon the public conscience, and may be taken as an evidence of what is possible from more strenuous effort. We may now allude briefly to the question of taxation of land with standing timber upon it. This is one of the planks in the platform of the National Conservation Association, of which Dr. 102 FOREST LEAVES. I FOREST LEAVES. 103 Charles W. Eliot is president. It is thus stated : '' The separation, for purposes of taxation, of the timber from the land on which it grows, so that the forest crop shall be taxed only when it is hari^ested, while the land shall be taxed every year. ' ' Perhaps, as a matter of strict equity, it would be most just to tax, each year, the annual increment in the timber, and to collect an income tax on the whole crop when cut, but that seems impracticable, and therefore I am in sympathy jvith the proposi- tion above quoted. Looking at this question of taxing the land every year and the timber only when it is cut, I am in favor of it for the following reasons : 1. Every tree, as a rule, earns the right to stand by the public service which it renders. 2. The man who destroys the tree deprives the community of the good which the tree might continue to do. In other words the existing heavy taxation of growing timber encourages or compels him to deprive the community of a public servant in order to protect, or to enrich himself. The tax levied leads to impoverishment rather than to enrichment of the community. Remove the tax from this standing timber and you remove the strongest inducement to cut the timber, and when the owner does remove it he is punished for doing it by having to pay an income tax out of the monev received from the trees of whose services he has deprived the public. This seems to me to be the most cogent reason, if it is not the most correct, from an abstract point of view. It is fair to say that the principle of taxing timber, only when cut, will sooner or later be recognized as the correct one, and be placed upon our statute books. It has been a grievous wrong that it has not been approved by our legislators before this. Allow me to urge once more upon this Associa- tion the extreme importance of using all its influ- ence to secure the passage of a law which will authorize setting apart of fixed portions of the forest reserves as outing grounds for the citizens of the State. There are thousands of our fellow - •citizens passing from impaired health into actual disease which destroys their usefulness and often terminates in making them charges upon the bounty of the Commonwealth. We are spending annually millions of dollars upon asylums and sanitariiuns for the cure of disease, and ignoring the fact that it is not only more humane, but / infinitely cheaper to prevent disease than to cure it. Nothing that I know of would be more pro- ductive of longevity and of health than to encour- age the outing spirit in those of our citizens who are financially unable to seek rest and restoration in distant, costly summer resorts. We cannot too soon, or too urgently, take up this question, for no nation is stronger than the aggregate of its people. It would be a proper use of the State forest land, because it would awaken a popular interest in the forest work, and because it would be giving to the people the use of ground which belongs to them by right of purchase. The present condition of the country emphasizes the need of increased areas of forest growth over the entire State. Last year was one of exceptional drought. The normal condition of the soil had not been fully restored by rainfall before the pres- ent season began. This year has also been one of • prolonged drought. Our entire State is suffering from scarcity of water. Streams are lower than they have been within the memdry of men now living. The evaporating areas are diminished, and there may be, when the spring opens, an atmospheric condition which will retard the growth of our crops. Springs which have never before become dry have now ceased to flow. And in many of our cities and larger towns the question of water supply has become an alarming one. Even if rain, or snow, were now to fall, much of it would simply be carried off of the cleared sur- face and out of the country if the ground were frozen, as it most likely will be. In the forested portions the thick bed of leaves will serve to en- tangle and delay the water, thus preventing its escape, and the ground so protected by the leaves and kept in an unfrozen condition will absorb the water and retain it for future use. It is evident that extensive forests in the central portions of the State will not wholly relieve the suffering in the eastern and western parts. Hence it would seem as if each county requires, for its own protection, extensive forested areas. The agricultural parts of Lancaster County need forests quite as much as those of Clinton County. Respectfully submitted, J. T. Roth ROCK, General Secretary. One of the causes which lessens the available water supply is deforestation, and the results of the work of this Commission show that stream flow is more irregular than formerly, and the value of the streams to the Commonwealth greatly de- creased for this reason. The investigations of the Commission on this subject demonstrate that, in order to preserve the pre«=ent value of our streams, active steps must be continued to protect and pre- serve the existing forest lands of the State, as well as to reforest those districts which have been de- nuded of the timber land. — Water Supply Com- mission of Pennsylvania. Treasurer's Report. THE fiscal year of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association ends December i, 1909, and the statement of finances on that date was as follows : Treasurer* s Statement to December /, igog. Dr. To balance on hand December I, 1908, . . % 368 77 Cash, annual dues to November 30, 1909, . 2183 15 Cash, donations and subscriptions, . . 158 00 Cash, sale of Forest Leaves and advertise- ments, . . . . . . 129 54 Cash, interest on Life Membership bonds and deposits, . . . . . . 370 62 Cash, Life Membership fees, . . , 175 00 Cash, Chester County Branch, dues, . . 10 00 Cash, sale of badges, ..... 3 00 Total, ..... By cash, sundries, postage, office rent, etc., Publication of Forest Leaves, Assistant Secretary's salary, Official Badges, Meetings, .... Life Membership fund, Membership Committee, expenses of, Lecture on Desolate Pennsylvania, 1 axes, ..... Balance on hand December I, 1909, Total, Invested, In Bank, Forest Leaves Fund. ^339« 08 Cr. % 486 21 994 90 6oo 00 mm 1 50 139 45 175 00 12 67 IS 00 8 00 959 35 53398 08 51963 42 52 00 $2015 42 Life Membership Fund. Invested, . . ..... $3435 00 In Bank, 175 00 Invested, $3610 00 General Fund. 53013 31 Charles E. Pancoast, Treasurer. Audited and found correct. William S. Kirk. Albert B. Weimer The almost world-wide movement to protect and establish forests has reached China. The//'j/ Chinese school of forestry will soon be opened at Mukden. The floods which are periodically poured down from the denuded mountains are destructive beyond comparison with any other country, and the want of forests is the chief cause. Wood is scarcer in China than in almost any other region in the world, although the country is well adapted to the growing of trees. — Philadelphia Public Ledger. Report of the Council of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association^ PURING the past year there has been con- tinued activity in forestry, and at the last session of the legislature many bills having in view changes or amendments to the existing laws were presented, all of which have been men- tioned in Forest Leaves. The chief step forward was the creation of a paid system of district fire wardens, appointed by the Commissioner of For- estry, who is the Chief Fire W^arden, and to whom all reports are made. These wardens receive 25 cents per hour and expenses while engaged in suppressing forest fires, and can employ other per- sons for such purpose at 1 5 cents per hour. In each township or borough the district fire warden may appoint assistant fire wardens, who are paid 20 cents' per hour and expenses. In addition, during the danger seasons, viz., the months of April and May, and from September 15 to Novem- ber 15, the fire wardens may, at the discretion of the Commissioner of Forestry, be required to keep daily patrol, receiving a stated sum not in excess of $25 per month. The legislature appropriated $300,000 for the carrying out of this law, but it was reduced by the governor to jt5o,ooo. While it is regrettable that a larger sum could not have been made available, the act is a considerable im- provement over the old one, where the constables served ^ ex-officio fire wardens, as it makes an independent force, free of local prejudices, and accountable to a central authority. If the new law is found to fulfill the intentions of its framers, and reduce the great and useless waste from forest fires, 850,000 acres being burned in 1908, there is no doubt that an increased appro- priation can be obtained from the next legislature, if the present one is found insufficient. Liberal appropriations were made for the Department of Forestry and for the Forest Academy, but the amount set aside for the purchase of forest reserves was reduced to 1 100,000. This, however, may not be an unmitigated evil, as the department will be able to devote more attention to the improve- ment of the reserves already secured. A number of commendable bills to unify the system of protection for State lands, for recreation camps, etc., were defeated, the one most regretted being that for the creation of auxiliary forest re- serves, which were to be under the direction of the Department of Forestry, and the land assessed for taxation purposes at not to exceed $1.00 per acre. Then when the owner cuts the timber an additional tax of 75 cents per 1,000 feet b.m. of coniferous timber and 50 cents for broad leaf tim- ber was to be paid. It is freely admitted that the ft |-»i|fcBj*»l^ii' 104 FOREST LEAVES. ) I } if I I I 1| forests of this country are being cut more rapidly than they are being reproduced, and we in Penn- sylvania have seen the decadence of the lumber industry, as the supplies of the more important species were depleted. While in this State the government owns a considerable area of forest reserves, amounting to nearly 1,000,000 acres, and having next to New York the largest State re- serves, it is small when compared with private holdings. The non-agricultural lands of Penn- sylvania have been estimated at about 45 per cent, of its area, or, say, 20,000 square miles ; sub- tracting from this the amount of State reserves, 1,500 miles, will leave 18,500 square miles, and allowing for water surface, cities, towns, and boroughs, over three-fourths of that available for forest growth is held by private companies or in- dividuals. Most of this iscut-over lands, and that portion which has been fireswept repeatedly is covered with brush, and will need to be replanted to ^ive good results, while others may be reforested by reproduction, but in order to have the lands yield even a moderate rate of interest during this reproductive period, it will be necessary to enact some legislation affording relief from a constantly increasing taxation of land which is yielding no revenue. A member of this Association in Lu- zerne County, who had retained a tract of large timber, stated that owing to the continually augmented tax he would be forced to cut his timber, as he could no longer stand tke drain. This is not a solitary example, as others could be given. While the State forest reserves have been in- creased in area, the need of their improvement has been kept in mind. The State Forest Acad- emy is now supplying thoroughly equipped men each year, who will be put in charge of the various reserves. Three nurseries have been established at Mont Alto, Franklin County ; Asaph, Tioga County ; and Greenwood Furnace, Huntingdon County, where there are now nearly six million seedlings for planting on denuded areas in the forest reserves. These State re- serves, while containing a small amount of virgin timber, are mostly cut-over lands, and although natural reproduction assisted by improvement cuttings and thinnings can be depended on in some sections, in others planting will be essential, and this will be a slow and costly operation. In the United States National Forests there are now 190,000,000 acres, most of which is in the western section of the country, and many of the employees of the Forest Service have been trans- ferred to different points in the far west, con- venient to the reserves, only the administrative office being retained in Washington. Some States, enthused by the popular demand for conservation, are paying more attention to forestry, both in the matter of proper laws and in some instances the commencement of forest re- serves, also to the need of preventing useless waste by forest fires, etc. The campaign of education has been kept up,, aided by the press throughout the country, numerous State forestry associations, women's- clubs. Boards of Trade of various cities, etc. Courses of study or lectures in the colleges and universities aid in an intelligent presentation of the need of forestry, which is also advocated by organizations whose aim is to secure the utili- zation of our magnificent system pf water courses, navigation in which is being affected by the cut- ting off of the forests. Pennsylvania stands to the fore in all of these efforts ; besides the State Forest Academy already mentioned, the Yale Forest School has its practical lessons at Milford, Pike County ; the Pennsylvania State College has a Forestry Department, whose roll registers over 150 students ; Lehigh University has a course of lectures on forestry, and has established an arbo- retum, while talks on this subject have been and are being given at other colleges and high schools. In the lower schools celebration of Arbor Day serves to keep the coming generation advised of the necessity of conserving the remaining timber- lands, as well as the reforesting of denuded areas. On July 7-9 a well- attended meeting was held at Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania, where members had an opportunity of seeing the care taken of cut-over lands by the Pocono Manor Association, the Pocono Lake Preserve, and others in the Pocono Mountains, and hearing the interesting and instructive addresses on forestry, as well as enjoying congenial personal intercourse. The papers presented at this meeting, together with the discussions, appeared in Forest Leaves. We regret to chronicle the loss during the year through death of 34 members, one of them a member of Council, which, with resignations and those dropped, makes the present member- ship 1541. There is as much necessity as ever for a forestry association in Pennsylvania. It has been shown above that over three-quarters of the non-agricul- tural lands are in the hands of private companies and individuals ; and, if these are to be cared for and made valuable to the State at large, proper legislation, particularly in regard to taxation, must be secured ; and the Department of Forestry- should be upheld when occasion arises. Other important objects for the Association to foster and disseminate knowledge in regard to it are : the useless waste from forest fires ; the necessity vfn I Forest Leaves, Vol. xii., No. 7. Forest Leaves, Vol. xii., No. 7. "mht .*^-* WHITE CEDAR. THUYA OCCIDENTALIS, L. #vX BALSAM FIR. ABIES BALSAMEA. MILL. h TRUNK OF WHITE CEDAR. THUYA OCCIDENTALIS, L. %. TRUNK OF BALSAM FIR, ABIES BALSAMEA, MILL. iis^m-: Forest Leaves, Vol. xii., No. 7. Forest Leaves, Vol. xil, No. 7. ^•^ ^^t^ ^^:%^ -^V--^ 1^' ..:^\ ^:.''> V »,>?*■♦ f^, -m WHITE CEDAR. THUYA OCCIDENTALIS, L. 1« T .."^"t ,.,^-^.H*4'^^':^4N. >'te^':C:«^% ; ••^:^'* ■'•'-" 3^' ''♦W*S«v :^^ ' U .'^*,/' .' •"»/ '> jkj- #<^:c ■mp*'.mim<--ii# ,*^ ■" r^'' ♦*— . ' 7 "^si ^$J^ L^-X s , 1 r* J* i W M || / .-i -''^' TRUNK OF WHITE CEDAR. THUYA OCCIDENTALIS, L. BALSAM FIR. ABIES BALSAMEA, MILL. I TRUNK OF BALSAM FIR ABIES BALSAMEA, MILL. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE FOREST LEAVES. 105 of the forests for proper regulation of our water courses, thus maintaining the deep waterways es- sential for river transportation, and for the pro- tection of the watersheds from which municipal water supplies are obtained ; the value of forests for sanatoria, as outing places for the people, for the preservation of valuable game and birds, etc. F. L. BiTLER, Recording Secretary. ^Vhite Cedar. Arbor vitae (Thuya occidentalis, L.). THIS is essentially a tree of the north or of the colder parts of our southern Alleghen- ies. It is rare in Pennsylvania, so rare, indeed, that the late Professor Porter was doubtful whether it could actually be considered a native. Of this, however, I am convinced. It has been found in places where its introduction was at least improbable. The illustrations I have used were taken in the State of Maine, because more truly characteristic specimens could be found there, and because the environment was also more character- istic. The white cedar thrives well in cultivation, and produces a fairly good ornamental hedge. It is sometimes allowed to attain tree size on our lawns, but would hardly attract one by any beauty inher- ent in it, though it serves often admirably to di- versify the landscape. The chief uses of the wood are as telegraph poles, fence posts, and railroad ties ; though one wonders how long a wood which is so light can sustain the crushing weight of heavy railroad trains. It is very durable in contact with the soil. In a small way the deliciously scented,, freshly split wood serves a useful purpose as a kindling in making fires. The moose and deer during the severe winters of northern Maine '* yard up " in the cedar swamps and subsist on the branchlets of the arbor vitae until the disap- pearing snow enables them to leave the ♦* yard " and extend their wanderings over wider fields in quest of food. This tree attains a height of from fifty to sixty feet, and occasionally has a diameter of three feet. It forms almost impenetrable thickets in Maine, thence toward the north and northwestward. It is found also in Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota ; southward along the mountains it reaches Virginia and Tennessee. The trunk is covered with a gray, or brown, light fibrous bark, and the scaly foliage varies in color from pale green in the young state to a dark bronze as it grows older. The foliage is credited with possessing remedial value. The physical properties of the wood are stated by Sargent to be 0.3164 ; weight in pounds of a cubic foot of dry wood, 1 9. 7 2 ; in order of strength* it stands 275 out of 310 species of American treesv J. T. ROTHROCK. Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea, Mill.). T IKE the white cedar, this is a northern tree. I \ Strangely enough, however, though it is much more common in the northern woods of Pennsylvania than the white cedar, it is much less hardy here and seldom attains any great size be- fore it shows signs of approaching death. In this State it is most frequently associated with the red spruce, and, where it appears, it is usually now as I a second growth after the removal of the white pine. '^^TT^^vV I The Bush is gray in color, smooth in the young ' or middle-aged tree, except where raised in the form of blisters, which are about half an inch I across, and which when picked exude a beauti- fully transparent, fragrant, liquid gum. This gum ; is used as a medium for mounting microscopic I objects. I At its best, in this State, the tree seldom attains a height greater than sixty feet. Its value I is not now, nor does it ever promise to be, great i commercially in Pennsylvania Though while ' young and thrifty, it is fairly attractive on a lawn,. where the wind has a chance to reveal the contrast I between the beautiful, dark green upper and the silvery lower surfaces of the leaves. I The balsam spray bed and the balsam pillow are fragrant with sylvan associations to those who have camped much in the northern woods. The : dark purple, cylindrical cones are likely to be re- membered by those who have clearly observed them. The wood is light, weak, and perishable. J. T. ROTHROCK. Prevention is far cheaper than cure. Afforesta- tion should be undertaken upon a reasonable scale,^ especially upon woodlands and longer-settled sec- tions. Where the plan would not interfere with agricultural operations, every farmer should plant a tree for every one that he cuts from his woodlot. The drainage upon the forest for firewood would thereby be checked. — Manufacturer' s Record, 106 FOREST LEAVES. Forest, Orchard and Garden Exhibit. BEADERS of Forest Leaves for December, 1909, may recall a complimentary editor- * ial regarding an exhibit under the above title given in Harrisburg, Nov. 9th to 13th, through the co-operation of several State depart- ments, and also State College, with the State Federation of Pennsylvania Women during their Fourteenth Annual Meeting. The exhibit has received so much commenda- tion for its practical character, and the simple but effective manner in which it was arranged, with everything clearly labeled in non- technical lan- guage, that inquiries as to possibilities of its repe- tition elsewhere have been received and are being considered. Origin of Exhibit. — The idea originated with the Committee of Forestrv and Horticulture of the State Federation, as an answer on a large scale to the constantly increasing letters of inquiry from persons who are genuinely interested in forestry, in the care of street trees and orchards, the pres- ervation of beautiful places, the improvement of home grounds, and the establishment of school- gardens and garden schools. Each State depart- ment bore the expense of installing and removing its own collections ; the Federation paid for hall rental and catalogue printing, while other various charges incidental to such work were defrayed by persons interested in the different groups. Purpose of Exhibit. — The specific purpose of the exhibit as a whole was to convey an idea of the large extent and great variety of information and education, both by personal or printed instruc- tion, and especially by concrete illustration, which the Commonwealth now offers freely to individuals or communities who desire such information or education, yet who very frecjuently are absolutely unaware that the State is carrying on a great edu- cational work for the people at large. Owing to lack of space and time, many valuable and beauti- ful additions were declined. Another special purpose was to call attention to the necessity of planting forests and the methods of raising forest trees for such planting, and the help which the Department of Forestry can and does give to all who desire help in this most im- portant but neglected duty. Until individuals and communities avail themselves of the privileges our laws now give as regards the establishment of private and municipal forests, we shall never have freedom from fire. There must be something at stake to develop more real interest in the preven- tion of fire, and the writer believes only by gen- eral planting can a general spirit of protection be developed. In the exhibit of the Department of Forestry it was possible for people visiting to see the effect of fires on soil, and also to see the resulting worth- less growth, then to compare, by means of large photographs of wasted and burned lands in Penn- sylvania, topography almost similar to that shown in the splendid set of Black Forest drawings loaned by Scribners, in which those formerly wasted and denuded mountains are now covered by valuable and beautiful forests, all of it due to protection from fire, and much of it planted forest. Best of all, one could follow the actual con- structive work in our own State step by step, from seed lying in drills in a regulation size nursery bed, on up through seedlings of various ages to beauti- ful white pines from the first State plantation, trees only nine years old, but ten feet high. ■ People, as a rule, think of tree planting in con- nection with individual trees, the largest they can afford planted with more or less care. Instead of single trees eight to sixteen feet high, they will have to learn to think of trees by thousands and in inches planted as rapidly as possible over as nmch area as can be afforded ; the cost of trees in quantity, the difficulty in planting, and the length of time required for growth are often greatly exaggerated. Another purpose was to call attention to the effi- cient orchard work now being carried on through- out the State by Dr. Surface, of the Agricultural Department, with such marked success, and to the splendid horticultural work at State College. All of the department exhibits contained collections of the tools required in general forest, orchard, or garden work, of which people are strangely igno- rant. One exhibit which drew attention was from the Free Traveling Library Commission, with a fine collection of nature and outdoor books and a large map of Pennsylvania full of pins indi- cating the present location of the hundreds of traveling libraries sent out each fall to schools and study clubs, for the expense of only one dollar toward traveling charges. Another feature of value and interest was pro- vided by officials and private individuals abroad, who responded not only generously, but in some instances munificently, to requests for literature and photographs illustrating historic gardens, hor- ticultural education and other interesting related subjects in several countries of Europe. The exhibits, which numbered hundreds, were grouped under the following heads : — Pennsylvania Department of Forestry. Division of Economic Zoology, Department of Agriculture. School of Agriculture of the Pennsylvania State College. FOREST LEAVES. 107 , Fruit Exhibit, Perry County Horticultural As- sociation. Pennsylvania Free Library Commission. Garden Schools for Women in Europe. Horticultural Training in Europe. Gardening in America. Historic Trees and Sites. Black Forest Scenes. Preservation of Beautiful Places. Commercial Nursery Exhibits. Results. — First, there was the actual education by seeing. Then there was the fixed fact that the exhibit was not a new thing, but was a simple bringing together of many factors actively at work in different parts of the State, but all for the benefit of the State. The whole atmosphere was helpful and progressive. It was an exhibit to make any Pennsylvanian both glad and proud, especially in noting the interest and enthusiasm of those men and won^en in the State service who, though often overworked and never overpaid, keep right on doing the best they know how to serve the State. One of the most marked features among visitors was the intelligent interest and great enthusiasm shown by the school children, who not only came once, but some of them several times, and owing to the interest of some of these children the public spirited mother of one personally arranged for an extension of time when the closing hour drew near. Boys were intensely interested in Dr. Sur- face's collection of injurious and helpful insects. The head master of a large boys' school, after in- specting the forest exhibit, arranged for the For- ester in charge to address the school the following dav. The beautiful fruit of the orchard exhibit was a source of surprise to many visitors, who had not realized the great development of orchardry in Pennsylvania. It was altogether a happy co-operation of women who for years had labored on behalf of practical education, forest protection, and many other measures in which for several years the Federa- tion was the only State organization that not only advocated all these measures, but also put some of them into practice, and the State departments which are now doing such effective work for the betterment of conditions in Pennsylvania. MiRA L. Dock. France has given to the world many valuable lessons in forestry, especially in the reclamation of sand dunes and marshes by the department of the southwest; 2,500,000 acres of what were barren sand dunes prior to 1803 have been reclaimejd by forest planting until it has become one of the most productive and healthful regions of France. — Harper' s Weekly. Through What Agencies Can the Res- toration and Conservation of Our Forests be Secured?*^ F'' VERY student of the history of nations is ^ aware that the destruction of the forests over any great expanse of a populated country has led to soil conditions there which now show little better than absolute barrenness ; and he is also well aware that the intellectual condition of the inhabitants of such regions verges on barbar- ism. He is likewise cognizant of the converse fact that the countries which have conserved their forests in usefulness have also maintained the fer- tility of the soil, are enjoying abundant prosperity, and stand high in intellectual, moral, and social well-being. It certainly is not necessary to show at length that this assertion is true, for even the casual ob- server must see that it is ; and whoever seriously doubts it needs only to glance at the conditions of several of the Old World countries to be con- vinced of its accuracy. Assuming it to be an established fact that the destruction of the forests of a country results in barrenness of soil and a low state of civilization, and that the useful con- servation of the forests promotes prosperity and high intellectuality, it would be illogical and un- reasonable to conclude that an intelligent people, with history before them, will permit such destruc- tion and thereby suffer the inevitable results that it entails. And, further than this, it is safe to conclude that such people will put forth every effort to restore their forests where destroyed and to conserve and maintain them in perpetual useful- ness after restoration, for any other course is in- conceivable. Accepting this as a settled endeavor of the people of this country, it is left for our consideration, on this occasion, to determine through what agencies the restoration and con- servation of our forests can be secured, and by whom and through what instrumentalities, both near and remote, such desirable ends can be brought about. Not until recent times has the general public given any thought to our forest resources. It has been believed that they were ample to supply all our needs, and that we had only to exploit them, and could do so to any extent, but the irresistible 'Mogic of events," manifesting itself through the growing scarcity of the best grades of lumber, and the rapidly increasing price of all kinds, has forced a consideration of what must be done to avert a timber famine in the near future — a famine which it is but truth to say will surely be felt for a long • Second address of the Lecture Course on Foresty, at the I^high University. 108 FOREST LEAVES. time, and its severity will be measured by such action as shall be taken to alleviate it. Realizing that something must be done, it was but natural that the agencies through which it could be brought about should be considered, and the trend of thought, or, to use a somewhat hack- neyed phrase, the ** consensus of opinion," has designated the National and State governments as the proper parties to begin and carry on the work. Now, while the question of ownership and exploi- tation of our natural resources is involved in the restoration and conservation of our forests by gov- ernment, that debatable. subject must be ignored here for the reason that conditions and not theory will determine in the matter of the forests. But this much can and should be said : If conditions were alike there is no more reason why either National or State governments should grow, main- tain, and dispose of forests and forest products | than there is that they should grow, harvest, and sell wheat or other products of the soil known as farm crops, a work not recognized as a govern- mental function. But conditions are unlike ; the element of time of maturity enters largely into the case. Farm crops, in the main, mature in one year, while it takes well on towards a century for forests to grow fit to harvest. In one case the time is well within the limits of the average indi- vidual's lifetime ; yet that feature does not prevail when he grows trees, but it does when the govern- ment engages in it. We do not contemplate the government's death ; we assume that it will live for all time, and that it is as much its duty to provide for the future as for the present. For that reason growing and disposing of the forests of the country should not be classed with the con- trol of other natural resources. Nor is this the only difference. It is no wild shriek when we declare that the forest is the only one of our natural resources that can be perpetuated. It is a living, burning fact, the existence of which all must admit ; and it carries with it the obviously greater need to put forth efforts to maintain in perpetuity the only one possible, for in our frantic efforts to exploit our natural resources we are hastening the period of their exhaustion, and when that time is reached development and destruction will have become practically synonymous terms. In a recent speech at Spokane, President Taft stated that: **The United States government timber land is only about one-fourth the timber land owned by private individuals.** He referred to the productive forests and did not include cut- over lands, of which the United States government owns but little. This gives us a basis upon which to approximately determine what our National gov- ernment can now do towards furnishing a supply of forest products. If the forests of the country are ample in extent and productiveness then the gov- ernment's supply of one-fifth will sufifice ; if not ample, then that supply may fall far short of the needed amount, a supply which will continue to grow less through exhaustion until new forests can be grown. The question then arises, are they ample ? Recent statistics show that we are con- suming our forest products more than three times faster than they grow. If this be so, and it undoubtedly is, the forests owned by the United States government will utterly fail in supplying the demands of the country, and that, too, without considering any increase of population or new uses for wood, both of which will inevitably occur ; and, furthermore, it must be remembered that some of the timber lands now belonging to the government must be given up for settlement, for forestry must not claim land suitable for agri- culture. Thus the restoration and conservation of our productive forests by the United States gov- ernment will be greatly restricted unless it shal plant additional ones or purchase them, as advo cated in the case of the Southern Appalachian and the White Mountain Reservations — a propo- sition which the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives in Congress has decided would be unconstitutional, unless for the sole and declared purpose of providing for the protection and preservation of the navigable rivers receiving their waters from such areas ; and this would probably give no power to harvest the timber ; and without that power such areas would be of little value in supplying forest products. It will appear from this that a constitutional amendment will be necessary to enable the government to increase its timber-producing forests, unless by planting. That such power should be given there is no question ; but whether it will be is a matter of uncertainty. Whether the United States is administering its forests in the best manner possible to produce the fullest yield is not a point that need now be con- sidered. If it is not, that certainly can be reme- died ; but those who anticipate large returns from government lands must bear in mind that most of the timber lands owned by it are in mountainous regions where intensive forestry will be found ex- tremely difficult, if not impossible, and that much of the present stand must be maintained intact in order to preserve the water- sheds of the rivers that are to be used for irrigation. Of course, the gov- ernment may possibly increase its forest area by planting trees where none now are, and it is grati- fying to know that vigorous efforts aie being made in that direction. But it must be understood that the forest trees of the Great West aie not suited FOREST LEAVES. 109 for all locations. In fact, the most important ones have been found to flourish only in their natural habitat. Notwithstanding that government ownership of our timber lands seems inconsiderable, it may ap- pear in a different light when we compare it with that of European nations, where the crown and state of the German Empire own but 33 per cent, of the productive forests within her borders, the government of France 13, and the crown and state of x^ustria 7 ; and that, too, where forestry has been systematically carried on for more than 150 years. But for all this it must not be inferred that any thought is entertained that the United States government should not do all reasonable things within its power to maintain our forests in per- petual usefulness, for it certainly should ; but that is not the question under consideration. We are discussing only its ability to do. When we consider the part that our State gov- ernments can and should take in caring for the forests we find a somewhat different condition. Few States now hold land by sovereign right, as does the United States government. Nearly all the older States disposed of their original posses- sions long ago. If there exist within any State forests which do not belong to it and it shall seek to possess them, the State must purchase them of the owners by agreement, or exercise its rights of eminent domain and pay such sums therefor as may be adjudged under legal process. In either case the cost would, no doubt, be prohibitive. There may be those who would favor such pro- ceedings at any cost, but they should remember that no matter who owns them such forests must be harvested in the near future to supply the demand for forest products, nor should the power of eminent domain be tyrannically invoked. So it will be seen that there is little probability that many States will secure productive forests to any appreciable extent. However, the State of New York has purchased quite a large area of such forests, but not one tree therein can be cut until the State's constitution shall be amended, while Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Minnesota, and possibly one or two other St^es, have secured «ome lands upon which there is a young growth coming on and from which a small amount of tim- ber can soon be harvested ; but, in the main, we must wait until forests grow. A change of owner- ship will help little ; the need of the hour is more forests. Therefore, about all that can consistently and profitably be done by the States in their gov- ernmental capacity is to purchase land now prac- tically devoid of forests and grow new ones thereon, and when grown to so conserve them that they will yield a continuous supply ; and this also brings up the question of ownership and exploi- tation of natural resources by State governments, quite the same as in the case of forests owned by the National government. That the States should own and manage forests to a limited extent will, doubtless, be conceded by most economists, and possibly some would set no limit ; but that question need not here be discussed any more than before, for conditions govern here as well, and put a limit beyond which it appears impracticable if not im- possible to go ; and we must accept such' condi- tions and do the best we can. There are some States in which there is comparatively little land, except the farmer's woodlot, which should be given to forestry, because quite all of it is well calculated for agriculture and should be devoted to that purpose. Then there are some States whose financial resources are so limited that no considerable planting of forests and maintaining them until maturity need be expected of them. It is unnecessary to name these, but such is the fact, and the truth is patent that no great amount of forest restoration and ownership by the State governments can be depended upon. It is true that there are some States in which this can be profi t - ably undertaken, but there is a limit even there. Take, for instance, our own State of Pennsyl- vania, which is among those best conditioned — if not the very best — for the restoration of her forests and conserving them in useful perpetuity when restored. Her virgin forests are nearly all gone, and will be practically so within the next decade ; but were there a million acres she could not pur- chase even one, for the law limits the price to be paid by the State to $5.00 per acre, and the value of such forests is now not less than $50.00 and much of it above $100.00. Whatever is done must be done along the line of restoration on cut- over and burnt-over lands. There are about 8,500,000 acres — practically 30 per cent, of the total area — of non-agricultural land within her borders, and, mark you, it is not proposed to devote land to forestry that is suitable for agricul- ture. While much of this is in large bodies, and some owners have large holdings, still a great proportion of it is in possession of small land- owners. There is scarcely a farm that does not contain some of it, and but few of such small tracts can be secured by the State, except by the exercise of its right of eminent domain, even were they desirable, and they certainly would not be if in small and detached pieces. The State already owns almost 1,000,000 acres of cut-over and much of it burnt-over land, and it is constantly purchasing more. But there is a limit to what it can as well as what it should do, for fully three- fourths of what it now owns, or will be likely to 110 FOREST LEAVES. own, must be reforested by planting trees, as has been found necessary in European experience, in order to restore and maintain forests in perpetuity. It is possible that the State can secure, say, 2,000,000 acres, perhaps more, but she should possess not less than 6,000,000 to meet the demands of her own citizens, and it is not probable that so much can be obtained ; and that would be only about 21 per cent, of her total area, while Ger- many's forests cover 26 per cent, of the Empire's domain, and she imports one-third of the forest products consumed by her people, and her forests are far more productive than ours. Thus it will be seen that the power of the State governments to restore and conserve the forests within their domain is, as in the case of the gen- eral government, quite limited ; but were they not limited by prevailing conditions which cannot be overcome, would it be best for a State to own all or any great portion of the forests within her borders ? If our government were of a form in which there would be little or no change of policy consequent upon the triumph of one or the other of the political parties, it would present a different case than now confronts us, when a change of party control may come every four years. As long as politics can be kept out of forestry manage- ment all things may go along well ; but who can depend upon or guess what may happen in the realm of politics when the forests become valuable ? To imagine they would not then become the prey of the grafter and political schemer would be no less absurd and improbable than to believe the millennium would then come. That the State as well as the National government should own and control enough forests to at least prevent a mo- nopoly through a combination of private owners must not be denied ; but that either or both should do all this is impossible, and would be imprac- ticable were it possible, yet the claim advanced by some that private interests should alone develop natural resources is as objectionable as that the State should do all. Private ownership of a public necessity should be placed under such govern- mental control as to protect public interests, and it may be best, ere long, for the States to exert their inherent police power to control, to a limited extent, the forests belonging to corporations, muni- cipalities, and private individuals. This has been found necessary in Europe in order to prevent damage to public interests. The State of Maine has already adopted measures looking to such con- trol, and others will be likely to follow. At first glance this seems a serious encroachment upon pri- vate rights, but, as in all like cases, the rights of the public are paramount. S. B. Elliott. ( To be continued. ) New Publications. A List of the Trees of the State of Florida, 8 vo. 24 pages. By John Gifford, Cocoanut Grove, Fla. This brochure was prepared by Dr. Gifford for the Forestry Department of the Florida Federa- tion of Women's Clubs, and gives both the botani- cal and common names of the trees found in Florida, with short notes in regard to each ; 281 different species are mentioned, and if several kinds of Citrus, Eucalyptus, Annona, etc., had been included the number of native and intro- duced trees easily exceeds 300. Report of the State Forester of Wisconsin for igoy and igo8. Madison, Wis. 8vo., 135 pages, illustrated. "^ . Mr. E. M. Griffith, State Forester, gives inter- esting information as to the State forestry policy in Wisconsin. According to the act of the Legis- lature of 1905, forest reserve lands which are scattering or agricultural can be sold, and the proceeds used for purchasing other lands to be added to the permanent forest reserves. Under this act all of the forest reserve lands in four counties, and most of those in a fifth, were adver- tised for sale, the proceeds of those sold being reinvested. The total acreage of the reserves on October 16, 1908, had risen from 234,065 acres in 1906 to 253,573 acres. The land purchased cost from $2.48 to $3.91 per acre, mostly cut-over land with a satisfactory young growth upon it, but some sections which have been severely burned will not restock naturally. The subjects of re- forestration and natural reproduction are consid- ered, while the important subject of the farmer's woodlot is also taken up, as well as the waste in lumbering, and piling and burning of slash. Fig- ures for the latter show that it can be done for from 12 cents to 14 cents per 1,000 feet B.M., and on the average should not exceed 25 cents. The year 1908 was one of severe fires all over the country, Wisconsin being no exception, and the State forester estimates that $2,996,975 of merchantable timl^er and property was destroyed, while millions of acres of small but thrifty growth of pine and hardwoods, the future forests, were swept by the flames, being valued at $6,047,060, making a total loss to the State of approximately $9,000,000; 1,435 individual fires were reported and 1,209,432 acres burned over. It is estimated that 499,495,791 feet of merchantable timber was burned. Of these fires, 60 per cent, were started by farmers burning brush or clearing pasture lands, 15 per cent, due to sparks from locomotives, and the remaining 25 per cent, to various causes. FOREST LEAVES. Ill J. T. ROTHROCK, Consulting Forester, WEST CHESTER, PA. Terms upon Application. FORESTERS CONSULTING AND OPERATING The beauty and value of forest growth depends materially on the proper care and training of the trees. Nature is in many things a rough mother. Her method of pruning leads to decay ; she over- burdens the trees with superabundant growth ; the feeding matter is washed off the hillsides and in exposed situations the dropping leaves, the main source of food supply, are blown away. Proper and scientific pruning will prevent decay and relieve the tree of superfluous growth, while well advised planting will conserve the food supply. With our professional foresters and trained corps of scientific pruners we 'are prepared to give the best possible attention to forestry problems and to properly treat ornamental trees and shrubs of all kinds. Thomas Meehan & Sons, Inc. LANDSCAPE GARDENERS AND ENGINEERS Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Pa. Biltmore Forest School. BILTMORE, N. C 0000 ^ ' ' The Biltmore Forest School is the oldest school of forestry and lumbering in America. Its working fields comprise the Southern Appalachians, the Lake States, and Central Germany. It never leaves the woods. The complete course covers twelve consecutive months at the school, fol- lowed by six consecutive months of practical prenticeship. Write for particulars, addressing C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D., Director, BILTMORE, N. C. CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, CHESTNUT HILL, FHILA. 90 minutes from Broad St. Station. BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BOTS. Illustrated Catalogue upon applieation^ JAMES L. PATTERSON, Head Kaster. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rt. Rev. Ozi W. Whitaker, D.D., President. 8AMUEL F. Houston, Vice-President. George Woodward, Secretary and Treasurer. JAMES M. beck. WALTON CLARK. JACOB 8. DIS8T0N. EDGAR DUDLEY PARIES. FRANCIS I. GOWEN. J. LEVERING JONES. DR. HOWARD A. KELLY. FRANCIS D. LEWIS. RANDAL MORGAN. H. GORDON MOCOUCH. GIFFORD PINCHOT. JAMBS R. SHEFFIELD. r..4»^. 112 FOREST LEAVES. 3^^-a:^4f^ ^ Know Andorra's Trees? If Not — Why Not? ONE ITEWl-OUR PIN OAKS. AhookkVs pin O.KS have given all purchasers absolute sa.isfe«lon. . ^ c A ^Ua.^T V.QVP the Quality — roots and vitality. Thp reason is not hard to find— they have me qudnt^ T pro K presents points which readily distinguish ,. fron, a 1 others ^1 it is undoubtedly the most valuable for all praccal purposes. The dens 6nely divided foliage is a beautiful shining green through the Summer months, and colors to sparkling red and yellow m the Fa^ The P,H 0« is easily transplanted, and is the quickest growing of all the Oaks. As an avenue or lawn tree it is unequalled. , , The Pi" Oalthr|v^jLfl-^^^^^^^^^^ and situations. ■ ■ ' EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN. OUR BOOKLET "MORE SPEC^mrj±SO,m^MSOmSJ^^ _. eifCDY TREE A SPECIMEN! REMEMBER! EVERY TRtfc m ^^ ^ ^ ^^^^^ $1 oo $8 50 6 to 7 ft. Low-branched : i 25 10 00 $7° ^ 7 to 8 ft. Low-branched / * 1 i 5° ^3 5© "5 00 8 to 9 ft. Low-branched; i^ to i^ m. cal ^ ^ ^^ ^^ ^35 00 9 to 10 ft. Low-branched; i^ to 2 in. cal ^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ,^5 00 10 to 12 ft. Low-branched ; 2 to 2>^ in. cal '...... 3 50 30 00 275 00 10 to 12 ft. 2^ to -3 in • • • • ^ • • * * 00 • ' Exti;a-heavy Specimens, ^yi to ^^ m. cal 5J>7 5o <>.^i^rfc P-OU PRICE LitST. ANDORRA NURSERIES, Rnv F CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA, PA. WM. WARNER HARPER, Prop. BOX F, bntJ> I HU 1 mui.. Vol. XII. Philadelphia, April, 1910. No. 8. Published Bi- Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, loia Walnut St„ Philadelphia, Pa. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as second- ;lass matter. _ CONTENTS. ^*^i^ I— Editorials 113 Spring Arbor Day Proclamation 114 The Foresters' Convention 114 A Declaration of Principles 115 Common Insects Destructive to Forest Trees in Pennsylvania 116 Address of Governor Edwin S. Stuart at the Opening of the Penn- sylvania State Foresters' Convention, March i, 1910 119 First Locust Tree in Europe •.... 120 Forest Taxation ,20 Through What Agencies Can the Restoration and Conservation of Our Forests be Secured? 121 State vs. Private Ownership » 124 New Publications 126 Subscription, $i.oo per Year. Tne attentim 0/ Nurserymen and others is called to the advantages ■9/ FoRBST Leaves as an advertising medium. Rates will be fur- nished on application. J3 The Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Founded in June, 1886, Labors to disseminate information in regard to the necessity and methods of forest culture and preservation, and to secure the enact- ment and enforcement of proper forest protective laws, both State and National. Annual membership fee. Two dollars. Life membership, Twenty-five dollars. Neither the membership nor the work of this Association is intended to be limited to the State of Pennsylvania. Persons desiring to become members should send their names to the Chairman of the Membership Committee, 1012 Walnut Street, Phila. President , John Birkinbine. Vice-Presidents, Wm. S. Harvey, James C. Haydon, Albert Lewis, Richard Wood. General Secretary, Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. Recording Secretary, F. L. Bitler. Treasurer , Charles E. Pancoast. Council-at- Large, Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Hon. Robert S. Conklin Samuel L. Smedley. * Finance, W. S. Harvey, Chairman; Dr. Henry M. Fisher, W. W. Frazler, Charles E. Pancoast, and J. Rodman Paul. Membership, Albert B. Weimer, Chairman ; Mrs. George F. Baer, Edwin Swift Balch, Robert S. Conklin, Hon. Lucien W. Doty, Dr j' T. Rothrock, W.W. Scranton, Dr. Samuel Wolfe, and Hon. S. P. Wolverton. Law, Hon. W. N. Ashman, Chairman; Henry Budd, and John A. Siner. Publication, John Birkinbine, Chairman ; F. L. Bitler, S. B. Elliott, Alfred Paschall, and Harrison Souder. Work, Mrs. Brinton Coxe. Chairman ; Mrs. George T. Heston William S. Kirk, J. Franklin Meehan, and Abraham S. Schropp. ' County Organization, '^2im\ic\ Marshall, Chairman; Eugene EUicott, J imes C. Haydon, Dr. J. Newton Hunsberger, and Richard Wood. Office of the Association. 1012 Walnut St.. Philadblphia. EDITORIALS. Y proclamation, which is given in full in an- other column, Governor Edwin S. Stuart has designated April 8 and 22 as Arbor Days for Pennsylvania, a circumstance which demon- strates that in this State forestry is not overlooked. Arbor days are useful as a means for suggesting tree planting at a definite time, and thus awaken- ing interest in arboriculture, but as it may not be possible to plant trees in every locality, the rec- ognition of Arbor Days is advantageous in reviv- ing interest in our forests, and appropriate exer- cises in schools may direct attention to forestry and be most beneficial. Tree planting which is not supplemented by care and attention to the growing plant means little, for a tree worthy of transplanting is entitled to care and attention at least sufficient to protect it from damage. In fact, fio one feature of for- estry is more important than the care of trees, whether as individuals or as groups. We firmly believe in Arbor Days and in tree planting, but a proper recognition of their pur- pose includes the placing and the protection of the trees planted. When no planting is possible, talks upon trees, their characteristics, habitat, enemies, uses, are proper celebrations of Arbor days. J. B. ***** We invite our readers to peruse the record of the Foresters' Convention, and such of the papers read thereat as we could use in this issue. We expect to print others of these papers — to demon- strate that in Pennsylvania forestry is appreciated as asefious business and not a fad, to show that the education supplied at the State Forest Acad- emy is practical, and that the graduates from this school enter upon their life work with enthusiasm and well equipped. The Governor of the State and the Forest Reserve Commission may well be proud of the results accomplished. J. B. '"— I 114 FOREST LEAVES. 1^ lit Spring Arbor Day Proclamation. IN the name and by authority of the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania. Executive Depart- ment. Proclamation. The conservation of our natural resources has become a ques- tion of national importance. Among these re- ^ sources trees and forests hold a conspicuous place. It is the common belief that forests regulate the flow of water in our streams. The destruction of I our forests has intensified the floods and freshets which rob the soil of its fertility, clog the streams , with silt and sand, and fill up navigable rivers 1 and harbors. On the other hand, he who plants i a tree or protects it from fire and other enemies, ! helps to make his State a better dwelling-place, and makes a substantial gift to future generations. Wise legislative enactment has made it the duty of the Commonwealth's Chief Executive to name in each year one or more days for the planting of trees and the dissemination of useful information in regard to their growth and economic value. Therefore, I, Edwin S. Stuart, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby issue this my proclamation, designating Friday, April eighth, and Friday, April twenty-second, 1 910, as Arbor Days throughout the Commonwealth to be observed by the planting of trees and by other exercises that may be helpful in directing the at- tention of the people to the importance ot con- serving and restoring the forests upon the water- sheds, and of planting trees around their homes, upon the hillsides, and in the public parks. Two dates have been designated so that every section of the State may find a day for tree plant- ing suited to its climatic conditions. Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State, at the City of Harrisburg, this seventeenth day of March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and ten, and ot tne Commonwealth the one hundred and thirty - fourth. Edwin S. Stuart. By the Governor : Robert McAfee, Secretary of the Commonwealth. The Chinese government has begun to make forest plantations, especially in the neighborhood of Mukden, where a forest school was started two years ago. Some 600 acres were planted with acacias, and trials of other species made. * About 25,000 acres have been purchased for reforesting. Private owners are becoming active, and the Shan- tung Railroad is planting along its right of way. The Germans in their sphere of influence in Tsingtan have been quite successful with their acacia plantations, also larch, walnut, oak, ash, and fir. — Silva. The Foresters* Convention. IT is doubtful if anywhere in the United States an occasion could be mentioned which off*ered greater encouragement to the friends of for- estry than the Pennsylvania Foresters' Convention, held in Harrisburg, March i, 2, and 3. It was our privilege to attend a session of the convention and we gained inspiration from it. The commodious Senate caucus room was well filled with an attentive and appreciative audience, and the walls displayed maps and charts illustrat- ing forest conditions in Pennsylvania. The delegates included the five Forest Reserve Commissioners, thirty-three foresters on reserves, mainly graduates of the Mont Alto Forest Acad- emy, th: senior class from the Academy, and specially invited guests. ' - . Commissioner Conklin presided, and at the six sessions 38 papers were read, most of which were freely discussed— an important feature, for often discussion expands a topic, brings forward com- parisons, or emphasizes salient points. Governor Stuart addressed the convention, ex- pressing his continued interest in forestry with so much enthusiasm as to evoke hearty cheers. 1 The assembly so impressed the Governor that he ' equested a photograph of the delegates, and we i are gratified to present a reproduction of this 10 the readers of Forest Leaves that they may see ; who are administering and caring for the forests of Pennsylvania. I Governor Stuart was justified in feeling proud of the delegation and its work, and all friends of forestry may congratulate him and the commission- ers upon the advanced position which Pennsylvania maintains. I We found in the intervals between sessions and late at night, the Forest Reserve Commission offices open for conferences between the commis- sioners and their employees, to familiarize the superintendents with the office detail, or permit them to use the library. We gladly give much of our space to a record of the proceedings of the convention, regretting that we cannot submit to our readers the full text of interesting papers and discussions. All of the following 'papers were presented by foresters in charge of State reserves, all of whom, with but one exception, are graduates of the For- est Academy at Mont Alto : — What Has Forestry Accomplished ? By R. Lynn Emerick. ^ j a Is Education in Forestry, as at Present Conducted in our Forestry Schools, Adequate for Ameri- can Needs ? By George A. Retan. FOREST LEAVES. 115 % \ < Should the Department of Forestry Conduct a Bureau of Publicity ? By Robert G. Conk- lin. Shall we Require Berry-Pickers to Procure Per- mits? By Harry J. Mueller. State vs. Private Ownership. By John E. Avery. Municipal Ownership of Forests. By Forrest H. Dutlinger. What Should be the Attitude of the Forester Toward the Community in which he Lives ? By William L. Byers. Forest Conditions on the Big Flat. By W. Elmer Houpt. The Improvement of Woodlots. By H. E. Bryner. Forest Taxation. By James E. McNeal. Should the State Operate its Own Mills in Connec- tion with its Work in Forestry? By Lewis E. Staley. What Shall be Done With Scattered Large Trees Upon Areas Where a Good Even Growth is Coming? By John A. Bastian. Influence of Forests Upon the Climate of the Sur- rounding Country. By Carl L. Kirk. The Importance of Geologic and Soil Study on the Reserve Previous to Preparation of a Forest Working-Plan. By John L. Witherow. The Instruction of Rangers and Their Relation to the Forester. By H. C. Evans. The Efficiency of a Reserve Labor Force. By Alfred E. Rupp. Specialization in the State Poorest Service. By John R. Williams. How Can We Best Solve the Grazing Evil? By Harry A. Thomson. Should a System of State Forest Inspection be Established ? By A. C. Silvius. Common Insects Destructive to Forests in Penn- sylvania. By W. Gardiner Conklin. The Relation of Animal Life to Forestry. By T. Roy Morton. Shall Improvement Cuttings be Made by Con- tract ? By John W. Seltzer. Should Precedent be Followed in Pennsylvania Forestry Practice, and to What Extent ? By John L. Strobeck. The Important Timber Trees of Pennsylvania, and Where They Should be Planted. By Paul H. Mulford. Condition of Tree Planting in Northern Pennsyl- vania. By Harry E. Elliott. Should Lumbering be Encouraged Before Efficient Fire Protection is Established ? By Homer E. Metzger. The Reforesting of Our Denuded White Pine and Hemlock Lands. By William F. Dague. A System of Forestry Nursery Records. By Ralph E. Brock. ^ The Forest Nursery. By William H. Kraft. An Improved Form of Nursery Screen. By Tom. O. Bietsch. Other papers presented were: — A Compilation of Facts Relating to Tannin as a Product of Commercial Importance. By Dr. J. T. Rothrock. Some Observations Relating to Forests and Water Supply. By Dr. J. T. Rothrock. The Evolution of New Sources of Construction Materials to Compensate for the Decadence of Our Forest Supplies. By Mr. John Fulton. Present Day Forestry Education. By John A. Ferguson, Professor of Forestry, State Col- lege. An Improvement Cutting in Pennsylvania. By William Springer, Jr., Forest Assistant, Penn- sylvania R. R. Co. Preservative Treatment of Railroad Ties. By C. W. Tiffany, Assistant in Wood Preserva- tion of the same railway. The Collection of Growth and Yield Data as a Working Base for Plans of Management and the Value of Permanent Sample Plots. By Prof. E. A. Ziegler, Instructor State Forest Academy. Original Land and Timber Surveys of Pennsyl- vania, and Their Relation to a Present Forest Survey. By Mr. S. T. Moore, C. E. In addition, addresses were made by the Com- missioner of Forestry, Hon. Robert S. Conklin, Mr. S. B. Elliott, his associate, and Mr. John Birkinbine, President of the Pennsylvania For- estry Association. A Declaration of Principles. THE Pennsylvania Foresters' Convention en- dorsed a declaration of principles which we gladly reproduce as follows : — The Pennsylvania Department of Forestry in every part of its organization being mindful of the interest of the farmer, the lumberman, the manu- facturer, the dwellers in cities, the continued health and prosperity of a long-lived Common- wealth, has since its organization followed and will continue to follow the policy herein outlined as the one best fitted to produce desired results, and invites the co-operation of all the interests affected as a prerequisite for a successful system of forest conservation. I. That since private wood-lot owners hold more forest land than the State, they should be aided in its care and development by the distribu- tion of seedling forest trees at cost, by personal 116 FOREST LEAVES. ft assistance where desired, and by information re- lating to the best and most economical methods of forest preservation and restoration. 2. That complete publicity concerning the work of the Department is desirable in the inter- est of both the State and its citizens, and forest officials should utilize every opportunity to reach the public through the press, through public meet- ings, or other suitable means. 3. That since the present system of taxation drives the timber owner to cut his forest that he may avoid what amounts to confiscation by exces- sive taxation, the only wise system of forest taxa- tion in this State is to tax the land annually and the timber land only when the latter is cut for the market. 4. That at least twenty millions of young forest trees should be planted annually on State lands alone, and that private wood -lot owners should be encouraged and aided in planting as many more as possible. 5. That no forester should be expected to de- velop and care for more than 10,000 acres and do it well. 6. That foresters should be so located on re- serves as to bring several into the same neighbor- hood, that their isolation may be broken, their safety assured, their families educated, and that better protection may be afforded the forest be- cause of their mutual assistance. 7 That a system of telephone communication, especially for use in pressing emergencies, should exist between important forestry points ; that a system of good roads be established and maintained on the reserves to connect w^ith other important public roads, and to reduce to a minimum the ex- pense of removing and marketing the product. 8. That a system of look-out stations, as rec- ommended and discussed in the report of the De- partment of Forestry for the years 1903-4, con- nected by telephone or equipped with complete signal, map, and range-finding outfits, should be erected at commanding points to detect and locate fires ; that during fire seasons a sufficient force of laborers should be employed, immediately avail- able for the prevention and suppression of fires, and when not so engaged, in doing other necessary and valuable work, on the theory that it is cheaper to prevent than to suppress a fire and that in addi- tion the timber is saved. 9. That because of its location on one of the most important reserves where students learn for- estry practice by actual labor, and the principles of forest science by class-room instruction, the State Forest Academy at Mont Alto should be continually developed as a school of forestry and brought to the highest possible point of efficiency. 10. That since American forestry is in its in- fancy, extensive experimental work by plots for seeding and planting, by pure and mixed forests for rate of growth and result of different methods of management of natural stands of timber, should be carried on within each reserve, and accurate data collected and preserved for future use ; that since the public is the owner of these lands they should be encouraged to enjoy them to the fullest extent that may be done without interfering with the purpose for which they were purchased. 11. That these policies, some of which now are and others of which ought immediately to be car- ried into practical operation, would mean a pro- duction of timber for the farmer's fences, fuel for his fire, and lumber for his buildings; for the lumberman perpetuation of his industry ; for the manufacturer a steady supply of raw material for his plant ; for the dwellers in cities outing-grounds and a permanent supply of pure water ; for the tired, underpaid citizen, who needs simply rest and recreation to prevent his becoming an actual invalid, a place where he may find health and renewal of life ; and for the Commonwealth and • for all her citizens the restoration of an industry which once was worth thirty millions of dollars annually as the lumber fell from the saw, and for which there can be no substitute ; and also to curb the rapidly advancing prices of the necessary prod- ucts of the forest. To accomplish these results, desirable, legiti- mate, and born of economic necessity, it is in- cumbent upon the legislature to provide the means. FOREST LEAVES. 117 Common Insects Destructive to Forest Trees in Pennsylvania. (Read at the Foresters* Convention at Harrisburg.) THE subject of forest entomology or forest insects is almost a distinct branch of economic entomology, and comparatively little attention has been given to it as yet in this country, although there has been considerable advance in the last few years. The preservation of our forests is certainly a subject of very great importance. Next to the destruction of forests by fires, the attacks of in- jurious insects are most widespread and far-reach- ing. Our forests are yearly becoming more valuable, and at the same time the ravages by in-* sects are becoming more extensive and noticeable. In France and Germany private persons have published valuable works on forest insects, but we have many more species of trees of importance in this country, and in our own State ; and the study of forest entomology assumes much more import- ance and takes in a much broader field. Therefore, it seems to be the duty of the State and National governments to provide for a systematic study of insects injurious to forest trees. It is true that our State has a division of zoology, which has published valuable material on a few insects, principally the scales, but this division deals more with the farmer than with the forester. There might be a Division of Forest Entomol- ogy of the Department of Forestry. This divi- sion could devote its entire time to the study of forest insects, and in time we would have material on forest insects which would be of great value. Perhaps this subject does not appear important enough at present, as the damage done up to this time in Pennsylvania has not been great. It is a fact, however, that the dangerous insects are in- creasing in numbers, in this State as well as else- where. Hence the damage done must be on the increase. The best plan would be to study them now, systematically and carefully, and be pre- pared to fight them if the time ever comes when it will be necessary. There has been much material published on how to destroy noxious in- sects on shade trees, but it must be remembered that fighting insects in the forest is an entirely different proposition and must be done in an en- tirely different way. It would be almost impos- sible to go through a forest and spray the trees two or three times a year, and about the only other way to get rid of the pests is by burning the trees themselves. The time is sure to come when the protection of forests from insects will be of much more importance than it is now. We ought to be better prepared for that than we are at present, and it seems to me that the best plan is to make a Division of Poorest Entomology in connection with the Department of Forestry. As previously stated, the damage done to Penn- sylvania forests has not, as yet, been of great ex- tent. However, it is greater than we sometimes think. The area of timber is so large that there is much chance for considerable damage to be done before notice is taken of it, and many times it may be entirely unnoticed. It is impossible here to give even a short de- scription of all or nearly all of the insects which are destructive to the forest trees in this State. Therefore, I have selected a few that are con- sidered to be among those most destructive to our trees, and hence more to be feared. One of great importance to us is the white pine weevil, as it frequently attacks young plantations. T/te White Pine Weevil (^Pissodes strobi {Peck)). — This beetle does most of its damage by the deformities it causes in the tree. The weevil is oblong oval, about one-quarter inch long, reddish-brown to a very dark brown, and with ^ somewhat peculiar whitish spot near the posterior third of each wing cover. The beetle is also somewhat mottled with white^on the sides and legs. The snout is rather long and stout and the legs somewhat so. The creamy white pupa is about the same length as the beetle, and in recently transformed individuals is nearly uniform in color, except for the dark brown eyes and the brownish tips of the mandibles. As the pupa ages the coloration be- gins to appear, and in rather old pupae the snout may be reddish-brown and the legs show traces of color. The tip of the last abdominal segment is ornamented with a pair of rather slender curved spines. The grub is a white, footless creature, varying in size according to the stage of development. The bark of the infested twig may have all of the inner bark and a portion of the sapwood reduced to a decaying mass of borings. The life history of this insect can be sum- marized as follows : The beetles occur most abundantly in early spring, and it is probable that most of the eggs are deposited in the lead- ing shoots at this time. Dr. Fitch states that the female places her eggs in the bark of the topmost shoots of the tree, dropping one in a place at irregular intervals throughout its length, and that the worm or grub after hatching eats its way in- ward and obliquely downward till it reaches the pith in which it burrows for a short distance, the whole length of its track being about one- half inch long. It frequently happens that there are so many eggs placed in a shoot as to limit very closely the portion occupied by each grub, and therefore some of them are compelled to burrow in the wood outside of the pith. The attacked shoot continues its growth during the early part of the season, but soon the grubs cause so much injury that it begins to wilt and wither about the middle of July, and the tender parts above dry and perish. Examination of the affected shoot reveals small oval cells, about one-third inch long, placed lengthwise in the center of the stem. They are so very close in some cases that their ends are nearly in contact, and in others they are more or less widely separated by masses of borings, and not infrequently small cells may be found in the sapwood just beneath the bark. Each of these contain a plump white larva or grub, which later changes to a pupa, and the adult insects appear abroad the next spring. Pupal cells of this weevil may also be found under the bark of pine , logs and stumps. The attack frequently begins just below the ter- 118 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 119 minal whorl, and is evidenced by the small irregu- lar masses of pitch and the lighter color of the foliage above the point of injury. The larva or grub makes a longitudinal burrow in the inner bark, which is closely followed by a drying and shrinking of the tissues immediately above and adjacent to the wound, forming a darker, sunken area on the shoot. The work is extended down- ward under the bark to the next whorl and possi- bly below. The infested bark soon becomes a mass of burrows and decaying matter, eventually peeling off and revealing oval pupal cells in the wood. This weevil is well known as a serious enemy to most of our native pines. Ba^ or Basket Worm {Thyridopteryn ephe- vierceformis {Haiu.) ).— This insect is of con- siderable economic miportance to us, as it mani- fests a great liking for certain evergreens as well as most of the broad-leaved species. As the ever- greens are usually killed with one defoliation, there is need of watching them very closely. A stud>f of the insect shows it to be one of the most inter- esting of our native fauna. The larva case or bag of this insect is usually the first to attract notice. It is a fusiform structure from one and a half to two and a half inches long, and in fall and winter it is firmly attached to a twig by a broad band of silk. The form of the bag is quite characteristic, | but as this shelter is covered with particles of bark, pieces of leaves, leaf stems, etc., from the tree on which the larva feeds, its appearance may vary considerably. This case is spun by the worm, and serves not only as a protection to it, but also to the eggs. Upon cutting open the larger of these bags in winter they will be found to contain the shell of a chrysalis or pupa, which is filled with numer- ous small yellow eggs. In this condition the eggs remain from fall throughout the winter and early spring. About the middle of May the eggs hatch into small but active larvai, which at once commence to construct a portable case or bag in which to live. The way in which this bag is prepared is curious. The young larva crawls on a leaf, and gnawing little bits from the surface, fastens these together with fine silk spun from its mouth. Continually adding to the mass, the larva finally produces a narrow, elongated band, which is then fastened at both ends to the surface of the leaf by silky threads. It now straddles this band, and bending its head downward makes a dive under it, turns a complete somersault, and lies on its back, held down by the band. By a quick turning movement the larva regains its feet, the band now extending across its ^ neck. It then adds to the band at each end until the two ends meet, and they are then fastened to- gether so as to form a kind of narrow collar which encircles the neck of the worm. It now adds row after row to the anterior or lower end of the collar, which thus rapidly grows in girth and is pushed further and further over the maker. The inside of the bag is now lined with silk and the larva marches off, carrying the bag in an upright posi- tion. When in motion or when feeding, the head and thoracic segments protrude from the lower end of the bag. As the worms grow they continue to increase the bags from the lower end, and they gradually begin to use larger pieces of leaves or bits of twigs or any other small object for orna- menting the outside. The worms undergo four molts, and at each of these periods they close up the mouth of their bags to remain within until they have cast their skin and recovered from this effort. The larvae are poor travelers during growth, and though, when in great numbers, they must often wander from one branch to another, they rarely leave the tree upon which they were born, unless the tree is defoliated. When full grown, however, they develop great activity, and letting themselves down by a fine silken thread travel from one tree to another. When ready to transform, the larva firmly secures the anterior end of the bag to a twig or branch. The inside of the bag is then strength- ened with an additional lining of silk, and the change to the chrysalis is made with their heads always downward. The chrysalis is of a dark- brown color., that of the male being only half the size of that of the female. In the case of the male, the skin of the chrysalis bursts and its imago appears as a winged moth with a black hairy body and glassy wings. It is swift of flight and its life is very short. The female imago is naked, save a ring of pubescence near the end of the body of yellowish-white color, and is entirely destitute of legs and wings. After fertilization, the female works her way back with- in the chrysalis skin and fills it with eggs. She then withdraws and soon perishes. Th£ bag-worm is known to feed on a large number of trees, one of the most important to us being the oak. Owing to its protective coverings, insectiverous birds avoid it ; but it is attacked and kept down by at least six true parasites. Another insect which is by no means of minor importance is The Oak Carpenter Worm {Frionoxystus robinice {Peck) ).— This insect is the most directly injurious of all the insects preying on this noble tree, since it sinks its tunnels deep in towards the heart of the tree through the living wood and is a difficult insect to discover until after the injury is done. It may be found in the autumn and winter months, of different sizes, showing that at least there is an interval of one year between the smaller and larger sizes, and that consequently the moth is two, and probably three, years in attaining maturity. Its perforation is a hole the size of a half- inch auger, requiring three or four years for the bark to close over it. This gives plenty of chance for fungus to attack the tree through the injury. This insect is a most prolific breeder. The abdomen of the female is so filled and distended with eggs that it becomes unwieldy and inert, falling from side to side as its position is shifted. Dr. Fitch obtained one which deposited 300 eggs an hour after capturing ; and in analogous Euro- pean species more than a thousand eggs have been found on dissection. It, therefore, appears that a single one of these insects is capable of destroying many acres of oak trees. This calam- ity is prevented, however, probably by most of the eggs being destroyed either by birds or by other insects. The moth comes abroad in June and the early part of July. It flies only in the night, remain- ing at rest during the day. Clinging to the trunks of trees, its gray color being so similar to that of the bark, it usually escapes notice. In repose its wings are held together in the shape of a roof, covering the hind part of the body. The female probably does not insert her eggs into the bark, but merely drops them into cracks and crevices upon its outer surface. The life history and a good description of the insect in its different stages can be obtained from the Fifth Report of the U. S. Entomological Commission, page 54. Its principal food-plants are the black oak and black locust, as well as ash, maple, willow, poplars, and chestnut. Leptua Zebra. — An insect of which little is known, but of economic importance if it became numerous, is the Leptua zebra. It is a beautiful black golden-marked beetle about five-sevenths of an inch long, and occurs on various trees in June. A single specimen of this handsome insect was cut from living chestnut bark just above where a chip had been taken. This species presents brilliant contrasts of golden yellow and black on the thorax and wing covers. Underneath, the insect is clothed with a yellowish pubescence, thickest on the posterior margins of the abdominal segments. The mouth parts and legs are yellowish-red. This insect has been recorded on chestnut, oak, and beech ; also on pine. Little is known about its life history, but it is an insect which, if it became numerous, would cause great damage. W. Gardiner Conklin. Address of Governor Edwin S. Stuart at the Opening of the Pennsylvania State Foresters* Convention, March i, 1910. i do not come here with a set speech, but am here as Governor of Penn^lvania, wishing to present my approbation of the forestry work in this State. ** We know that nearly everyone in this country is interested in the question of tree-preservation and conservation, and that Pennsylvania was among the first to start this great work, and great credit for this is due to a gentleman sitting on this plat- form. Doctor Rothrock. Of course, no one man can accomplish everything, for however successful he may be he attains success with assistance ; and I believe the Pennsylvania Forestry Commis- sion has been of great help in this most important work. Few of the State Commissions have a woman among its members, and I am constrained to reiterate my remarks on the occasion of a meet- ing in Harrisburg last November, when I spoke of the great good that has resulted through the efforts and attention of Miss Mira L. Dock, a member of the Commission, who has done her full share. **To illustrate the extent to which planting in this State is being carried on by one corporation, the Pennsylvania Railroad has within the last eight years planted 3,500,000 trees, in order that it may be supplied with railroad ties in the future. When one corporation in Pennsylvania can do this there must be great need for such work. '* Forestry, like any other business, must be practical to be successful, and no man starting a business can succeed unless he carry it on in a practical and s'ystematic way, but the results which count for most are those obtained in adhering to a practical and systematic program. '' Each of the departments of the State govern- ment thinks that it is the only department entitled to special preferences in the matter of appropria- tions, but each department is given as much of an appropriation as the State can afford, and the For- estry Department was allowed all that could be allotted at the time, owing to lack of available funds. '*The question of planting trees is a very im- portant subject, for the State of Pennsylvania has more than 918,000 acres of land in forest reserves, and all this area must be taken care of. She hopes in the near future to have more than 1,000,000 acres, purchased with the people's money, and must be cared for for the people by the servants of the people of Pennsylvania and working for their in- terest. *' This is a great work now being done by the State of Pennsylvania. You are educated by the s 111 120 FOREST LEAVES. State, and in return you agree to give to the State three years' service at a small salary. The State has given you a profession, and now employment in that profession. In order to show a proper appreciation for what the State, through its De- partment of Forestry, has done for you, you must work and must work hard. You must be indus- trious and you must be energetic. ** Young men, the things that other people are thinking about doing count for little ; it is what you do and not what you think about that produce results. The work that you have done has more than compensated the State for its expenditure in giving you your training , and if you persist in carrying on your duties, work with the industry and energy with which you seem to have devoted to them, there is no doubt that in the future you will accomplish great results." First Locust Tree in Europe. IN 1890 Garden and Forest published an article by Prof. Sargent on the celebrated locust tree living in the Botanical Gardens, Paris. In this article it was stated that it was the *' first of its race to grow in the soil of Europe ; it has survived for more than two centuries and a half the wars of the elements and the social cyclones which have swept over it." Prof. Sargent's article was illustrated by a view of the tree in its winter appearance, which con- veyed no idea of the beautiful verdurous effect of the younger branches, which are themselves the size of a good-sized tree. The American locust (^Rohinia pseiidacacia^ was first introduced into Europe in 1601 by Jean Robin, after whom Linnceus named this American species. This tree was planted by Vespasian Robin (son of Jean Robin) in the Jardin des Plantes, Paris, in 1636, and has survived many injuries. I visited the tree in October, 1899, and, after many unsuccessful attempts to procure a good pho- tograph, Messrs. Vilmorin, Andrieux et Cie had two views taken in June, 1909, when in bloom. One of these is shown in the illustration. The original main trunk- was of very great size. The tree is shut off from the touch of the public by a circular fence. MiRA L. Dock. Attention is directed to pages 1 21-124, the conclusion of the lecture of Mr. S. B. Elliott, Forest Reserve Commissioner, the first install- ment of which appeared in our February issue. Forest Taxation. (Read at the Foresters' Convention at Harrisburg.) IN order to encourage reforestation of denuded watersheds of navigable and other valuable streams, and protect the land along such streams from periodical and destructive floods, and to supply the demand for timber, it has become imperative that such legislation be enacted as will induce the owners of forest land to practice for- estry. Four-fifths of the forest land of the country is in the hands of private individuals, and the State can never hope to control more than a small por- tion of this amount. The growing demand for timber, especially that used on the farms and by railroads and mines, must be met by the yield from this class of land. Under our present system of taxation there is not only no inducement offered to the private owner to conserve and wisely manage his stand, but there is a premium put on deforestation. In the past many owners of timber tracts have been forced to cut their product and place it on an already overstocked market in order to escape what amounts to confiscation. It has become necessary that *' unfair taxation of the timber crop and inconsiderate and excessive over-valuation be eliminated, and a premium be put on the plant- ing of trees instead of on the denudation of forest land. Such inducement must be offered private owners as will lead them both to conserve what they have and to reforest where they have cut the stand. How, then, can we meet this condition? We have been offered several remedies, but none has answered the purpose. Under our present system of taxation a stand of timber is compelled to pay taxes each year, based on the assessed valuation of the property, the land and growing stock together being regarded as real estate. Since a stand of timber does not yield an annual revenue as agri- cultural crops do, and the owner is compelled to wait until it matures before he can realize the highest returns, the payment of an annual tax is an expense which must run at compound interest to the end of the technical rotation, and then be deducted from the proceeds of the sale of timber. It is clear that such a system is unjust, because of the fact that the owner must carry all insurance risks, and because the application of an annual tax to the growing stock causes a financial maturity to be reached before the timber itself is mature ; thus compelling the owner to cut in order to avoid financial loss. In some States growing crops are exempt from taxation. None of the States taxes ordinary crops ; 1 » ' i \ 00 o > > < C/5 O < ^1^ ' O) "^ •■ CO I L^.. ?;1 I pPr" 1 o ^ 1 QC . k^ < 5 f-f! 2 o . ^0= z rl JS? ->j J ^O 3 ','1 '^ O CE li. ^"' '''ffl QC U. . 1 D QC \ CQ Z ^ =i»^': CO - jS '^ *"^ WK QC z H -' oc o H ."■• < ,-7 o 1 ■■ ' X CO — ■*- CO -1 t. — _i \ ■ «r 2 uj O 2 . 1^' 1- O QC ■'?.-■■ 10 2 r J O 5 i^ ' . ^ o o '* M ij; H- o w I < QC • '"P i- > I . ^ »- H u O < CO QC UJ z cc . E>- H i ^. »- ^"^ UJ CO 5 > UJ g Z QC § o o ° O i^ CO r«^- CO L. 5 s ^ i QC Q X o " z 4 ' i^ CO O ^ cc o < UJ Z 00 of < 2 2 > ^ -J s > CO z !^ z jf . .*i UJ « 0. UJ I 1- 't . Forest Leaves, Vol. xii., No. 8. >^f£/* ■ ^^1:- -*rx /#=^ ^^^^ x.> .:^S^'-;. •■'^e-> *.^ J**;' .'S ■^'Nfei. f ^>-t L * ^% *<• • * 'tof . r^<,-V ,•<>•> ^. ■ vNt LOCUST TREE PLANTED IN THE JARDIN DES PLANTES, PARIS, FRANCE, ' IN 1636. PHOTOGRAPHED IN 1909. y FOREST LEAVES. 121 yet timber, upon which the growers of agricultural and other crops depend on account of its conserv- ing effects upon streams, is taxed annually with the land, and is often over- taxed because the value '' of the young growth is not properly estimated and assessments are made hastily by men who have* little or no idea of the value of timber. The State of Pennsylvania cannot exempt tim- ber land from taxation according to Act IX, Sec- tion I, of the State Constitution, and rebates have been declared unconstitutional according to the decision of Judge David Cameron in the case of Tubbs vs. Tioga Township, August 7, 1906. Here is a workable basis upon which a reason- able system might be devised. Divide the total value into two components, land and growing stock. The first mentioned should be regardless of the value of the timber. This value should remain constant because of the fact that many rural dis- tricts are dependent largely upon the tax revenue for school and road purposes. Given this perma- nent valuation, the owner can at any time calcu- late past and future expenses and determine the time at which the crop is to be harvested. As conditions in our country are far from being normal, it is necessary that the timber be taxed on a basis of the yield. This can be done on both intermediate and final yields, on a basis of stump- age value, or in the case of pulp wood or other products, of the gross money yield. By these means the forest will pay to the community in which it is located a moderate permanent tax in- stead of an excessive temporary revenue, and then cease to pay at all ; and at the same time the owner will be afforded a safe investment which will be both valuable and attractive. James E. McNeal. Through What Agencies Can the Res- toration and Conservation of Our Forests be Secured ? * (Concluded.) As has already been stated, public opinion has heretofore been almost entirely in favor of gov- ernmental action alone, and other agencies have been given little consideration ; but if what has been thus far insisted upon are the actual condi- tions prevailing, then others, though at present thought of little moment, are the important ones ; for if the government cannot do the work other agencies must or it will not be done. Who, then, must conserve the forests on four-fifths of the tim- berland of the United States which the President tells us is in the hands of private individuals? and who must plant and restore the forests on the * Second address of the Lecture Course on Forestry, at the Lehigh University. cut-over and burnt-over lands unfitted for agri- culture? It would seem that the answer is not hard to find, and yet few have given it serious thought. As has been indicated, the duration of the life of the party undertaking the restoration and conservation of our forests plays an'^ important part in the probability of their accomplishment. Those having a legal existence — created by law and '* take no note of time ' ' — do not labor under the disadvantages incidental to human life. Such are known as corporations whose lives are seldom limited by the power which creates thenj. Among those whose interests would be greatly enhanced by the restoration and conservation of our forests are the railroads, who need timber for ties and many other purposes ; the mining corporations, who must have timber for props and a multitude of other uses ; the paper manufacturers and lum- bermen, whose very existence depends upon a supply of wood ; and others, like the tanneries, which largely depend upon forest products to carry on their work. Not only is there an economic reason why all these should engage in the work of restoration and conservation, but there is another feature that is important and must not be forgotten. All these are consuming the forests for what may be termed self-aggrandizement or gain, and the public at large receives only the benefit of being served at a price, and a good round one at that. All such bodies should recognize the duty they owe to the public to restore and keep good the forests which they are exploiting for themselves only, and if they will not recognize that duty, and act upon it, they should be compelled by law to do so. In some European countries no one is permitted to remove trees from his own land without planting an equal or greater number, so that destruction of the forests will not ensue. If the corporations do not possess forests of their own — but many of them do — laws should be enacted whereby those who cut down forests for them shall restore them by planting. Doubtless this scheme to compel the replacing of what is cut off will be looked upon as revolutionary and subversive of natural rights, and we may not be prepared for it just now, but be that as it may, it will come to that in due time, or the index hand on the dial of progress of this nation- will go backwards, never to again advance until that or something akin to it shall prevail. But there is another class of corporations which stand in a different attitude towards the public. In such the public at large is interested in every- thing connected with them, and is in full control of them — in fact, they belong to the public. These are the municipal corporations — the town- 122 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 123 I :. ships, boroughs, cities, and counties. That they can and should grow and maintain forests is no new thing in forestry in Europe. It has long been carried on there by cities and communal organizations, and to their financial profit, too, and I beg indulgence to give a few statistics which have been furnished me by a friend who secured them recently from original sources in Germany: — ** The Grand Duchy of Baden contains, 3,726,- 732 acres of forest, of which 577,465 — about 16 per cent. — belong to communities and corpora- tions. These are allowed to cut annually 261,- 724,000 board feet, with a value of about $3,600,- 000, free from the expense of cutting. This shows a yield of 700 board feet per acre ; our forests do not exceed 125 feet. **The city of Baden owns 10,576 acres, which yield a net annual income of $6.25 per acre. **The city of Frieberg has 8,085 acres and receives $5.79 net per acre annually. '' The city of Heidelberg possesses 6,860 acres and it brings in annually $1.91 per acre. This city is acquiring forest land and is in the period of expense ; besides, the city looks more to aesthet- ics than for income from forests. *' The city of Villingen has 8,822 acres and receives annually a net return of $4-84 P^^* acre. **The village of Braunlingen has 1,600 inhabi- tants and owns 4,507 acres. The yearly annual allowance is 2,500,000 board feet — 700 feet per acre — of which an equivalent of 3,500 board feet is given each citizen,* and ioc,ooo board feet is given to schools, churches, town hall, etc. The timber sold brings in an annual income of $21,- 600, so that the community is not only free from all communal taxes, but is able to establish modern works, as electric plants, water-works, school houses, churches, etc. *' The village of Wolterdingen has 784 inhabi- tants and owns 1,124 acres. The annual allow- ance is 675,000 board feet — 600 feet per acre — and the village realizes more than enough to be free from all communal taxes and to be able to keep the v illage on a good financial footing. ** The village of Aufen has 220 inhabitants and 163 acres of forest. It gives each citizen 8 cubic meters of wood (value, $12.00) and sells $1,440 worth annually. The sanctioned annual yield of this forest is 137,500 board feet — about 800 feet per acre." We may not yet have .reached the point when townships and counties must undertake restoration and care of forests, but the period is fast approach- ing when some of the counties in this State, whose ♦ ** Citizen'* should be understood as the bead of a family, and tbe amount given is for a ** household.*' areas are composed largely of cut-over and burned- over forest lands, will be compelled to take such lands for unpaid taxes, and will then receive no income from them whatever, and unless relief shall come *in some way not now seen they will, ere long, face bankruptcy and possible extinction as county organizations. But we have some boroughs and cities which may now profitably engage in it in an official capacity — in part as a business transaction, but more for securing and controlling an ample and uncontaminated water supply. This has been made possible in our State by an act passed at the last session of the legislature, largely through the instrumentality of the American Civic Association. By its provi- sions municipalities can engage in forestry ; but for some unaccountable reason the act mentioned was robbed of an important feature — the right of eminent domain. However, that^an be restored and undoubtedly will be by a more enlightened legislature. To illustrate this view of the possibilities of municipal undertaking in forestry, permit me to cite the case of the great city of Philadelphia. Suppose it had purchased a few years ago from 100,000 to 200,000 acres of land in the counties of Monroe and Pike, in this State, which could have been secured at an expense of not exceeding $2.50 per acre, and probably less. Upon most of this there was a growth of young timber which, by proper treatment, and adding thereto by plant- ing, could have been made productive enough to" soon aid in defraying expenses for care, and by the lapse of forty years, or thereabouts, come into full production and be as remunerative as the German forest noted. By doing this it would have come into possession of a large number of lakes with which that elevated region abounds. These could have been converted into storage reservoirs for the numerous clear pure streams that flow into them, by constructing dams at their outlets. Then, if at the time of purchase, it had conducted that pure water supply by gravity to the distributing system in its borders — the eleva- tion is ample — it would to-day be far better off financially and thousands of lives would have been saved. The city's dependence now is upon a filtering system both costly in maintenance and uncertain in results and, withal, insufficient. The returns from the forests would more than defray the expense of maintenance to the city limits. Such an undertaking would have been no more gigantic and expensive for Philadelphia than is the one New York city is now carrying out to secure a new source of water supply from the Cats- kill Mountains, where no revenue can come to the city from the forests, nor as much so as that of Los Angeles, where water is being obtained in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 200 miles away. Be- sides, Philadelphia could have furnished water to towns and cities along the route. When our people come to understand and appreciate how importatit forests are in maintaining an equable flow of springs and streams they will see that munici- palities, by an investment in forests on the water- sheds of streams which supply them, can secure a pure and continuous supply, and beyond that reap a financial profit from the sale of forest pro- ducts. Dismissing National and State governmental action, and that of all kinds of corporations, we come, at last, to the land owner, who must do what the others will not, and who must do it in his indi- vidual capacity ; and here is a problem so compli- cated and so large that it can be discussed only in a general way at this time. Conditions here are wholly unlike those in most countries. With us large land holdings by individuals are frowned upon as inimical to public interests, and entail is not tolerated. Our land owners comprise a vast multitude. They hold in fee, and their domains are mainly small, and nearly all of them should, for their own protection, engage in restoration and conservation of the forests of the country. This is especially true of farmers who must, of necessity, possess what are known as woodlots, where 'can be grown their fuel and such other timber as may be required about the farm. In a short time such work will become imperative, and the farmer should no longer delay entering upon it. Two- thirds of the people in the United States use wood for fuel, and more will do so as soon as natural gas and coal become less plentiful. Unfortunately, the great importance of this feature is not yet realized, and every eff"ort should be made to awaken the farmer to a conception of it. There is no more reason why the farmer should purchase his fuel than that he should buy his food. He must become an important factor in restoration. Besides the farmer there are others who may own large areas, and these can in no other way leave a more beneficent legacy to their children than in a well-forested domain. It will be better than life insurance, and individuals whose large wealth gives them an opportunity to bestow benefits upon posterity can do so in no better form, nor one which will so benefit mankind at large and bless those whose rightful inheritance we are rap- idly destroying. From whatever stand-point we may look at it we will see that individual action must largely control, and that it will not prevail until the people are educated to an appreciation of its importance. But after all this insistence that corporations. municipalities, and individuals shall engage in the good work, I am forced to, and sorrowfully do admit and declare that, under the present tax laws of our own and most other States, neither corporations, municipalities, nor individuals can now aff'ord to engage in reforestatioli, for if they do their trees will be practically confiscated by tax levies. The assessor is bound by law to add the value of the trees to that of the land on which they stand, and that value is, in the main, a pros- pective and uncertain one. It may never mate- rialize. Disease, winds, fire, or insects may de- stroy the trees, and at best there can"' be no return for a long time, while the taxes are continually increasing. Our tax laws were framed when we had a plethora of forests ; now we have the reverse, and our laws should be made to conform to present and prospective conditions. The land upon which young trees of valuable species are growing should be taxed as naked land only, and when the crop matures and is harvested that should be taxed, but not before. Tax the land and product separately. Here is a point for serious consideration, and our lawmakers should take a broad, statesmanlike view of it and remove the incubus that now rests upon the restoration of our forests, for unless it shall be removed no improvement of our forest conditions can be expected, except what National and State governments can bring about. President Taft stated in the speech to which I have referred that but 3 per cent, of private timber lands of the United States were administered according to for- estry methods. My belief is that not i per cent, is, certainly not in Pennsylvania. But that is as much as we should expect under our present system of taxation. Such changes should be made in our tax laws as will encourage all landowners to plant and grow forest trees. We now not only discourage but practically prohibit them. No half-way work will answer. Hamlet's advice to the players to *' reform it altogether" will apply here. It is confessed that the foregoing exhibit of our condition is neither assuring nor cheerful ; but, on the other hand, it is somewhat discouraging. But it must not be forgotten that the whole subject is a new one to our people. Believing our forests inexhaustible, we have not only been diligent in exploiting them but actually wasteful ; and all this must and will cease. It has been this almost universal belief in a permanent supply that has brought about our deplorable condition. But there is good ground for hope. The same conditions prevailed in Germany, France, and Switzerland 200 years ago, and they have succeeded in estab- lishing remunerative forests, and to deny or assume that our people are unable to cope with our present conditions is to challenge their spirit and intelli- 124 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 125 gence. We can retrieve our misfortune if we but first comprehend the situation. But how is this to be accomplished ? Briefly stated, it must come through the education of the people ; and before closing it will be well to see, for a moment, what instrumentalities are or can be made most potent in that work. Foremost among them all is the public press, next the schools, and after these come the efforts of associations, socie- ties, and individuals. Too much cannot be said in praise of the willingness and desire of the press to do in the matter of forestry. Rarely dpes one see anything against the forestry movement in the editorial columns of any influential newspa- per of the day. It is only when a partisan spirit is manifested over some proposed legislation, which some one deems should be opposed because the opposite party favors it, is anything hostile to be seen. The public press may be safely set down as friendly to reforestation and conservation. Editors seldom fail to publish any well-written communication favoring such measures. It is through the press that the great mass of the peo- ple can be reached, and newspapers should be encouraged in their eff'orts. Next to the public press, but not so quick to meet conditions and bring about results, are the schools of the land, especially those of the higher grades. Out from their doors go teachers, men who, in a broad sense, are public educators and of wide influence, and they mingle with the youth of the land who must, ere long, take up the work now in its infancy. No more useful effort can be put forth than you are displaying here in Lehigh University. Your efforts are not confined to the classroom, from which they may be a long time in reaching the public, but they are manifest to all, and you may well rejoice in the beneficence and spirit which give you an opportunity to make your Institution one of the agencies through which shall come the restoration and conservation of our forests. The work that associations and societies may perform is such as the other instrumentalities named are not especially seeking to accomplish, for that of the former is mainly along aesthetic lines. The efforts of associations and societies lead to an appreciation of the beauty of the wooded landscape, the opportunity the forests offer for nature study, and their enjoyment as places of amusement, recreation, and health resorts. Though not what commercial forestry mainly seeks, their work is of great importance. Yet some of these, like that of the Pennsylvania Forestry Associa- tion, have taken up the practical as well as the sentimental features of forestry and have accom- plished much good. Lastly is the individual. Here, as well as else- where in all societies, communities, and nations, the height which each attains and keeps is prac- tically that of the average individual composing them. Our forestry advance will be just what the average individual endeavors to make it, and you and I must take upon ourselves the work that is to be done as though the burden were ours alone, to the end that this nation's prosperity shall be continued and maintained and new for- ests grown for those who are to come after us. S. B. Elliott. State vs. Private Ownership. (Read at the Foresters' Convention at Harrisburg.) THE forests of this country have been and are being squandered by man with disregard of the future, and the destruction will con- tinue until absolute necessity forces a more careful utilization. The unrestricted private owner usually has only one interest — namely, to obtain from these resources the greatest personal gain that can be had with the least possible amount of money expended and without a thought of the destruction to the country that will follow, or the needs of the following generation. George P. Marsh in his classical work states : *' Man is constantly modifying the earth and mak- ing it more and more uninhabitable ; he goes over its rich portions and leaves behind a desert." Nothing could better describe a slashing than the above. With the removal of the marketable timber, the interest of the individual is usually gone, the forest is neglected, and fire follows which destroys the accumulated debris left in the woods. It not only kills the worthless trees and weeds left standing, but the young growth as well. It also destroys the soil, an accumulation of decayed leaves and litter of many years, leaving only black- ened stumps and rocks. Thus the country is left a wasted desert, and re- forestation is almost impossible. We need not go to China or France to see consequences of such destruction ; the change of climatic conditions and uneven water flow, for here in the United States we are fast realizing that our floods and droughts and the climatic changes of our southern States are being caused by the rapid destruction of our forests. These floods which carry into the rivers and oceans the best of our farming land, in- flicting damage on communities far removed from the cause and unable to protect themselves, and causing vast sums of money to be expended by the government for dredging, can be traced back to the individual and corporation who are rapidly destroying that great heritage, our forests, which God meant us to protect and to use in an economi- cal manner for the good of our country and pos- terity. To the individual it is usually only the timber^ that has accumulated and grown for centuries, which is of interest, and which he cuts for the purpose of making a profit on his labor, without a thought of the future and without a thought of cither the direct or indirect influences that are de- rived from the forests which he is so rapidly de- stroying. The excellent and valuable white pine timber that once forested the State of Pennsylvania is rapidly becoming extinct. The virgin pine, called *^ pumpkin ' ' pine by lumbermen, has been entirely removed. As late as thirty-five or forty years ago some of the counties of this State were richly cov- ered with stands of white pine ; but through the eagerness of the individual to convert this growth into money it has been cut in a wasteful manner, and at the present time about the only thing that can be seen of the white pine forests are the black- ened stumps. The individual can hardly be expected to take into consideration all of the results derived from his forest ; therefore, the State should take a hand in the management of it. President Taft, in his message to Congress on Conservation, states: **The control to be exer- cised over private owners in their treatment of the forests which they own is a matter for the State and not for National regulation. Therefore, what policy the State should take in regard to the forest resources owned by the individual is a ques- tion to be solved by the government of the State. On the other hand, the State is driving the indi- vidual to cut and waste his forest and convert it into money at a rapid rate through the means of taxation." Our forests are taxed under the general property tax. This mode of taxation has been successfully abandoned by other great nations. Statistics show that we are the only great and advanced nation with the crop of standing timber on the tax roll. Under the present manner of taxation the hold- ing of a young forest until mature causes an annual financial loss to the owner and thus hastens the harvesting of the crop. At the present time it is being advocated by the National Conservation Association that the timber should be taxed separately from the land, and, like other crops, taxed when harvested, the land being taxed annually. A law of this kind would be fair and well adapted to the conditions of for- estry investments in this State. If the taxes from the standing timber were removed many an indi- vidual would delay the cutting of his forest until it fully matured, and when cut would willingly pay the income tax from the money received for the timber. Since the community as a whole is seriously and grievously affected by the removal and waste of the individual's forests, it is the duty of the State to make laws that will be of interest and benefit to the present as well as the future generations. When it was realized that the iish and game were rapidly being destroyed by excessive hunting and fishing, the State made laws for their protection, limiting the size of the fish to be caught and the time for the hunting of game on private property. Like- wise, the State could make laws to protect her forest resources, which are far more important than fish and game, by limiting the size of the tree to be cut, regulate the cutting of timber, and encourage owners to replant the land from which timber has been taken. When the government of the State exercises its authority over the forest, and the individual real- izes the right of State government to regulate the cutting of timber, the forestry problem of our State will be solved and the :emaining portion of our timber standing to-day will be saved from waste and destruction. For while the supervision of private property by the State might be found ex- pensive and in a manner unsatisfactory, it would be at least effective in securing conservative man- agement. Forestry, to be carried on successfully, requires the bringing of large areas under one manage- ment ; it requires a large amount of capital per- manently invested, and it cannot be carried on as a speculative business ; hence, it is necessary for the State to practice forestry to counteract the de- structive tendencies of the individual and the speculator and provide for the future. The State is permaner>t, and we believe that the practice of forestry will also be permanent, for it is the duty of a State to provide for the future as well as for the present ; therefore, the State cannot let the future look out for itself as does the individual. The practice of forestry on State lands should serve as a model for the individual to follow. Everything must have a beginning, and the public must be educated to the fact that forestry is not regarded as a sentiment but as a business ; hence, the State is better able to place this problem before the public by making experi- ments, and establishing experiment stations and nurseries, than the individual. After the individ- ual once sees that forestry as practiced by the State is a profitable business, he will gradually work his own forests on a forestal and scientific basis. IP 126 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 127 .' In State ownership and forestry practiced by the State, there are still some very important problems to be solved, especially for the reserves that are almost isolated from a market and where the country is not thickly settled, problems which are well represented on the Pike county reserve — namely, a system of good roads, manner of utiliz- ing dead and down timber, the product from im- provement cuttings, and means of transportation to market. In the problem of fire protection, it is true that the State has made laws for the quenching of fires, and under the recent law the Commissioner of Forestry has the authority to appoint fire wardens in each township ; but the men appointed must work for their living, and, as a rule, when a fire breaks out they are several miles from home. Before they discover the fire and get to it with a gang of men it has made such headway that it is almost impossible to put it out. The above system of fire suppression may be satisfactory at the present time for the individual who does not care whether his land burns over or not, but for State ownership and forestry it is hardly sufficient. If there were lookout stations established on various high points and a code of signals decided upon, or, better still, a telephone system over the re- serve and a gang of men employed and kept on the ground, then when a fire is sighted from the lookout station the alarm could be given and the men taken to the fire in a short time. At the present time it takes about half a day on some parts of the reserve in the above-mentioned county to collect a gang of eight or nine men to go to a fire. The State is in possession of comparatively large tracts of land with no way at hand, on the isolated reserves, of utilizing profitably the dead and down timber and the product from improve- ment cutting, a predicament largely shared by the small owner in the same locality. If excelsior or acid factories were to be established, and these materials that are now not only going to waste but also serving as fire-traps during dry weather could be converted into valuable products of such bulk that could be more easily and cheaply transported, it would without doubt not only be a benefit to State land but also induce the small owner to combine and operate in like manner, thus aiding the individual in a better and more useful man- agement of his own land. In conclusion : — I. Because of the time element involved, the risks that have to be taken from fire, the danger of financial loss, and because of the possession of large areas, the State is in a better position to practice forestry than the individual. 2. The average individual will not make in- vestments unless he sees an immediate return. 3. The State will work on a conservative basis^ and the individual will not until he is educated to the fact that conservative forestry pays. 4. The attention of the public is centered on the State ; therefore, the State is able to place the forestry problem before the public. John E. Avery. New Publications. Fourth Annual Report of the Forest Park Reser- vation Commission of New Jersey for the Year Ending December 31, 1908, Trenton, N. J. 8 vo. 147 pages. Illustrated. This interesting publication contains the ad- ministrative report of Dr. Henry B. Kummel, that of the Forester, Mr. Alfred^ Gaskill, and of the State Fire Warden, Mr. Theophilus P. Price ; also articles by Mr. Alfred Gaskill on '*The Planting and Care of Shade Trees ; " by John B. Smith, on ** Insects Injurious to Shade Trees ; '* and ** Fungi of Native and Shade Trees," by Byron D. Halstead, closing with the forestry laws of the State. There are approximately 2,000,000 acres of w oodland in New Jersey, of which 9,899 are in State reserves. Of these reserves, 373 acres are in Atlantic County, known as the ** May's Landing reserve ; ' ' the ' * Bass River reserve * ' in Burling- ton County contains 1,633 acres; the ** Lebanon reserve" of 2,439 acres is in the same county; the Edward C. Stokes reserve of 5,432 acres in Sussex County, and the Mount Laurel reserve of 20 acres near Moorestown. During the year 533 forest fires occurred, 52,978 acres being burned over, doing damage estimated at {64,536, and costing $7,530 to extinguish. The largest number, 149, attributed to a known cause, was from locomotives, and possibly some of the ** unknown" may also be attributed to this source. The special articles on planting and care of shade trees, insects injurious to shade trees, and fungi of native and shade trees are all interesting, containing much valuable data and suggestions, the illustrations aiding in the presentation of the subjects treated. J. T. ROTHROCK, * CoNSUi/riNG Forester, WEST CHESTER, PA. Terms upon Application. J The Pennsylvania State College FOUR YEAR COURSE IN FORESTRY. A thorough and practical undergraduate course in technical forestr>' — preparing men for all lines of professional and applied forestry. Special attention is paid to practical field work in surveying, mapping and forest measurements. One of the largest of the State Forest Reserves is within a short walk of the College. For information regarding entrance requirements, expenses, etc., address DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, STATE COLLEGE, PA. CONSULTING AND OPERATING The beauty and value of forest growth depends materially on the proper care and training of the trees. Nature is in many things a rough mother. Her method of pruning leads to decay ; she over- burdens the trees with superabundant growth ; the feeding matter is washed off the hillsides and in exposed situations the dropping leaves, the main source of food supply, are blown away. Proper and scientific pruning will prevent decay and relieve the tree of superfluous growth, while well advised planting will conserve the food supply. With our professional foresters and trained corps of scientific pruners we are prepared to give the best possible attention to forestry problems and to properly treat ornamental trees and shrubs of all kinds. Thomas Meehan & Sons, Inc. LANDSCAPE GARDENERS AND ENGINEERS Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Pa. Biltmore Forest School, BILTMORE. N. C. 0000 The Biltmore Forest School is the oldest school of forestry and lumbering in America. Its working fields comprise the Southern Appalachians, the Lake States, and Central Germany. It never leaves the woods. The complete course covers twelve consecutive months at the school, fol- lowed by six consecutive months of practical prenticeship. Write for particulars, addressing C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D., Director, BILTMORE, N. C. CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILA. 30 minutes from Broad St. Station. BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BOTS. niuatrated Catalogue upon applicatian, JAMES L. PATTERSON, Head Master. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rt. Rkv. Ozi W. Whitaker, D.D., President. Samuel F. Houston, Vice- President. George Woodward, Secretary and Treasurer. JAMES M. BECK. WALTON CLARK. JACOB 8. DIS8T0N. EDGAR DUDLEY PARIES. FRANCIS I. GOWEN. J. LEVERING JONES. DR. HOWARD A. KELLY. FRANCIS. D. LEWIS. RANDAL MORGAN. H. GORDON MCCOUCH. OIFFORD PINCHOT. JAMES R. SHEFFIELD. n 128 FOREST LEAVES. \ Know Andorra's Trees? If Not— Why Not? ONE ITENI-OUR PIN OAKS. Andorra's Pin Oaks have given all purchasers absolute satisfaction. The reason is not hard to find— they have the quality— roots and vitality. The Pin Oak presents points which readily distinguish it from all others,' and it is undoubtedly the most valuable for all practical purposes. The dense finely divided foliage is a beautiful shining green through the Summer months, and colors to sparkling red and yellow in the Fall. The Pin Oak is easily transplanted, and is the quickest growing of all the Oaks. As an avenue or lawn tree it is unequalled. The Pin Oak thrives in all sections, in all soils and situations,= Try Andorra's stock. EVERY TREE A SPECIMEN. OUR BOOKLET "MORE SPECIALTIES:' 3d EDITION. DESCRIBES THESE AND MANY OTHERS. SPECIAL OFFER. REMEMBER! EVERY TREE A SPECI Each 6 to 7 ft. Low-branched $i oo 7 to 8 ft. Low-branched ^ *5 8 to 9 ft. Low-branched; i»4 to i^ in. cal i 50 9 to lo ft. Low-branched; i^^f to 2 in. cal a OO lo to 12 ft. Low-branched; 2 to 2)4 in. cal 250 10 to 12 ft. 2^ to 3 in 3 50 Extra-heavy Specimens, 3>^ to ^}4 in. cal $7 50 to 15 00 B^° SKND FOR PRICE T^IST. -^ft EN! Per 10 $8 50 10 00 13 50 17 50 22 50 30 00 Per 100 $70 00 125 00 135 00 175 00 275 00 ANDORRA NURSERIES, WM. WARNER HARPER, Prop. Box F, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA, PA, I vou XII. Philadelphia, June, igio. No. 9. Published Bi- Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, loia Walnut St„ Philadelphia, Pa. \ Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as second-class matter. CONTENTS. Forests and Water Flow. Editorial Correspondence 129 130 The Relatioi of Animal Life to Forestry 131 The Improvement of Farm Wood-Lots 133 A Forest Road 13s Municipal Ownership of Forests 137 Forestry in a New Nation 138 New Publications 142 Subscription, $1.00 per Year. The attention 0/ Nurserymen and others is called to the advantages «/"FoRBST Lkavks as an advertising medium. Rates will be ft nished on application. ur- The Pennsylvania Forestry Association, FOUNDBD IN JUNB, 1886, ^^^A 'o.d;««°»inate information in regard to the necessity and methods of forest culture and preservation, and to secure the enact- Sluonal *"^°''"'"^"* °^ P'"<>P*^»- fore" protective laws, both State and Annual member ship fee. Two dollars U/e membership. Twenty-five dollars. r« kfr Vj "'e'nbership nor the work of this Association is intended r^.lK"""^'* '?i^*^ ^?\^ °^ Pennsylvania. Persons desiring ?o Income ?omm1trV.^°"'^ t^"? "^^""^ "*"»*^ *° **»« Chairman of the llemb^rsh^p Committee, loia Walnut Street, Phila '^mucrsmp President, John Birkinbine. RiS'a'r/wot?.'"'' '^"- ^^ '^^'''^' J^"^» ^^ "^y^^^' ^'^ert Uwis. General Secretary, Dr Joseph T. Rothrock. Recording Secretary, ¥. L. Bitler. Treasurer, Charles E. Pancoast SamuTu wff;; ""• """"•" ^^o"' «°"- ^"'^^ S- Coaklin. Finance W. S. Harvey, Chairman ; Dr. Henry M. Fisher W W Frazler Charles E. Pancoast. and J. Rodman Paul. ' ' * Membership, Albert B. Weimer, Chairman ; Mrs. George F Baer dwm Swift Balch. Robert S. ConkUn Hnn T .,^{-« w fil ' t^**^^' i?j • c- .\. c --.^>... .^. .T^^iiiici, v^uMiriiiHu ; inrs. v^eoree f Ha T P^fk-^ V A.r «; o o. v^uiiKiin, non. i^ucien w. Uoty, Di Wolverton • Scranton, Dr. Samuel Wolfe, and Hon. S A.^Mr^°"' ^' ^' ^'*''"*°' Chairman; Henry Budd, and John Alfr^'pjfe/^J'^H^iV''''"^^ • ^' L- «>'»«^ S. B. Eliiott, ur ^^^*^"*"» *"d Harrison Souder. * MrrfVnr^rV^o"*°" ^'i^^ Chairman; Miss Mary Blakiston, Mrs. Oeorge T Heston, Miss Florence Keen, William 8 Kirk J. Franklin Meehan, and Abrahams. Schropp. "' r^m/l"/*^ g'T««««//>«, Samuel Marshall, Chairman; Eugene Ellicott James C. Haydon. Dr. j. Newton Hunsbflrger, and Richard Wood. ' Office of the Association. loia Walnut St.. Philadklphia. EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE. WHEN newspapers reach one from five days to a week after their dates of issue, it is difficult to keep posted as to home affairs ; but, on the other hand, distance may permit of arriving at conchisions uninfluenced by local considerations. In an attempt to follow at long range the investigation in progress at Washington, in which the forestry policy of the government is a prominent factor, the impression is made that a laudable purpose and a desirable effort has been and is hampered by bureaucratic jealousies and personal animosities. In a former issue we expressed our purpose to await the result of the investigation without preju- dice, and such is our desire, but we feel that with- out taking sides in the main issue Forest Leaves would be false to its duty, if it failed to protest against forestry suffering in order that personal or departmental ambitions should be gratified. The country is far more interested in the practical con- servation of resources than in the men to whom are delegated certain duties in connection there- with, and whose acceptance of their respective offices and the compensation allowed, should mean patriotic devotion to the duties thereof It has been our pleasure and it will be our duty to support all efforts looking toward practical con- servation of our resources, especially as affecting our forests, and we consider the exhibition of bureaucratic friction or individual aspersions as jeopardizing the forestry interests of the nation. The investigation may prove serviceable in secur- ing a better and more thorough system of care and protection for our natural resources. But we re- peat our regret that differences between those in high governmental positions should jeopardize the progress of forestry in a direction which means material advancement for the country. The intelligent people who advocate conserva- 130 FOREST LEAVES. tion, and their number is legion, do so from pa- triotic motives, and those in official position should unite in conscientious efforts equally patriotic to secure the best use and protection for our natural resources. J. B. B Forests and Water Flow. (Read at the Foresters' Convention at Harrisburg, Pa.) EARING directly upon the forestry side of the conservation problem, two statements ^ have recently been made by the Chief of the Weather Bureau in Washington. The first, that forests have no influence on increase of rain- fall, is not likely to be disputed by any intelligent man. The second statement, alleged to have been made, that forests do not prevent the rapid ' * run off " of rain, or melted snow, from the surface is likely to lead to serious discussion, and some facts noticed lead me to doubt the latter assertion. In Chester County, Pa. (my home), there was on Christmas day of 1909 a snow fall which con- tinued until noon of the following day, there being 16 to 18 inches of snow, on the level, laying on the ground, and serious drifts blocked the rail- roads for thirty-six hours later. Notwithstanding a rainfall during December 13th of 2. 78 inches and some snow before Christ- mas, the ground was in a thirsty condition because of the long-continued drought of the previous summer and autumn, wells and springs drying up all over the region, and in many instances water was hauled long distances for domestic purposes. So it is fair to assume that the soil was in a recep- tive condition for any water which could pene- trate it. Examination, however, revealed the fact that the general surface of the open country was frozen solidly, though not deeply ; but that in the woods, under cover of the fallen leaves, the soil was not frozen. In the open, whether the surface was cov- ered with snow, or whether it had been laid bare by the wind drifting the snow away, it was quite impossible to thrust an iron-shod, strong, hickory cane into the ground. In the woods on the same slope and adjacent to the same open ground I could easily push the cane through the leaves and mould from I foot to 1 8 inches, unless stopped by a stone or a root. There was no frozen surface, and one might say, practically, no sign of ** frost in the ground." On December 28th the mean temperature was 21° F., December 30th it was 10°, December 31st it was 17°. The freezing was continuing and the country was covered with snow. The New Year, 1910, was ushered in by a rise in temperature. The mean for the first day was 27° F., and on January 2d it was 43°. The thaw was upon us, we could see the snow going. On January 3d the mean temperature was 35°. It seemed as if another day would practically remove all of the snow. The following day, January 4th, the tempera- ture fell and the mean was 10°. On the road from West Chester to Philadelphia pools of water lay in the depressions of the open fields, where the water was unable either to escape by gravity, or to enter the frozen ground. Where the slope allowed the escape of the water it had run off during the thaw, for the pools showed that it could not pene- trate the frozen surface. On the other hand, I could find no such pools in the woods ; there was no water visible in the small forest depressions, and there was no other escape for it than into the ground. The only legitimate Conclusion an observer could reach was that the water from the frozen fields had gone out of the country, and that, whether or not, a freshet followed would depend simply upon the volume of the snow or rainfall flowing away. On the other hand, it seemed equally certain that the water received by the woods had entered the soil where it was safe from either evaporation or from immediate ** run off," and that it would probably find its way to the level of our deeper-seated springs and reappear months hence, when needed. On January 20th, while passing down the Cum- berland Valley by train, I noted constantly large accumulations of water in depressions in the fields, and frozen streams from these which were congealed as the overflow passed away. At the State Forest Academy at Mont Alto, in Franklin County, Pa. , I went to the forest seed- ling nursery where the surface was frozen. If any water entered the ground it must have been small in quantity. But, as soon as I entered the woods and came to a leaf- covered spot the ground was again unfrozen and the surface was in a condition for the reception of moisture. January 21st there was registered at West Chester a rainfall of 0.72 of an inch, and the mean temperature of the day was 45° F. I had no means of making exact observations for the day, but am safe in saying that there was at least as much rainfall at Mont Alto and that the tem- perature was well above the freezing-point. From the low, open grounds the snow rapidly melted. The streams rose rapidly, and at some points cov- ered the tracks of the Cumberland Valley Rail- road. On the open mountain top, 1,650 feet above tide, where there was an extensive clearing, the water was flowing off so rapidly that at one point it covered the road and the culverts were unable FOREST LEAVES. 131 ^ «^ I -hf^ to carry it away. During six years of observation I had never known this condition of affairs at that point before. This flow, it is to be observed, came from the open ground for the most part, because the only wooded part of the region, above the road, drained into another stream almost entirely ; but it was observed, that this stream which re- ceived the drainage from the steep, wooded hill- sides, covering from 2,000 to 3,000 acres, and from the sunny slopes of which the snow was rap- idly melting, responded very slowly, and when it did show an increase of flow it was inconsiderable as compared with any increase of water in the open ground below. There seemed to be but one conclusion possi- ble— namely, that the water in the woods was going into the ground, and that from the cleared lands was in great part flowing away over the sur- face. It is probable that some of the water, how- ever, did enter the ground, though it was a small part of the whole flow. Another factor enters largely into the problem of water flow from forested lands. It is an exception, rather than the rule, when there are not extensive forest fires in the spring and the fall. These conflagrations remove the leaves, and often the humus, from the forest floor and leave it in such an exposed condition that the surface there is as likely to freeze and shed the water as it is in the cleared land. This, however, is not a natural condition, and can hardly be con- sidered as an essential part of the problem ; for it is hoped that, under the increasing attention given to forest land, such ravages will become less frequent, less severe, and ultimately, to a great extent, cease. J. T. ROTHROCK. The Relation of Animal Life to Forestry. (Read at the Foresters' Convention at Harrisburg, Pa.) IN Studying the relation of animal life to fores- try, the subject may be divided into three groups : mammals, birds, and insects ; each of these is again capable of further subdivision. The division mammals may be further sub- divided into domestic animals, such as sheep, swine, cattle, animals of the chase, and rodents. The domestic animals are the grazers, and the amount of injury done to a forest by this class of animals depends largely upon the age and character of the woods. A young forest is more exposed to injury than an old one. Broad-leaf trees are more likely to be browsed off", resulting in a scanty growth, than coniferous, while the latter are more likely to suff*er from trampling. In both cases no pasturing should be allowed, at least until the trees are large enough to be out of dan- ger. Even then forestry and pasture cannot be very well combined. Where the range is large enough and not over-stocked, the injury is much less than where the range is crowded. On steep slopes, where the soil is loose, the sharp hoofs of these animals cut and powder the soil, and in many places destroy the forest floor. This interferes greatly with the character of the runoff. Hogs are less harmful to forestry than either cattle or sheep, as they eat mostly seeds and nuts. On the other hand, they may be beneficial when turned into a place in which natural regeneration from seed is desired. They root up the ground and prepare it to receive the seed during a seed year. The second division of mammals comprises animals of the chase. Here we find deer, hares, and rabbits. On account of the comparatively small number of deer in this State they do but slight injury. Hares and rabbits are very injurious to forests, especially to young plantations and seedlings. They cut off the ends of branches and twigs with- in reach, and eat the bark. They destroy both evergreen and deciduous trees by cutting in later- ally and tearing away a strip of bark. This is repeated until the tree is entirely girdled. They are most likely to do this when the ground is covered with snow. The third subdivision of mammals, or rodents, includes squirrels, mice, and moles. The work of mice is much like that of rabbits, only not so extensive, and is usually at or below the ground. It is true the mole destroys some seed, but it is equally beneficial by holding in check injurious insects in the form of grubs. They destroy whole colonies of grubs as they go from place to place beneath the ground in the heavy mulch and under rotten logs. This is true of nearly all kinds of animals, no matter how much damage they are doing. In most cases they do some good, and be- fore any steps are taken to clear the forest of them, the relation to the forest should be more carefully studied. It is a well-known fact that when this State was covered with a virgin growth of trees game of all kinds was plentiful. Now, taking up the second great division of animal life, the birds, we may say that most of the birds are beneficial. It is true that some are injurious, eating buds and seeds that we wish to gather, or scratching up and destroying newly- sown seed. Sapsuckers injure trees by making holes in the bark for the purpose of securing in- sects and eating the sweet cambium layer. 132 FOREST LEAVES. 7 We may class the birds as being beneficial in two ways : distributing seeds and destroying in- jurious insects, and adding to the beauty of the woods and fields and to recreation and pleasure. It has been said that '* if all the birds were de- stroyed, insects, unchecked, would in ten years eat every green thing off the earth." Birds are decreasing in number, and anything which will tend to increase their number will prove of great and immediate economic value. The destruction of the forest due to the change in animal life may be summarized as a destruction or a reduction in the number of forms useful to man and a conse- quent increase in the number of forms injurious to man. The birds living largely on insects and worms are the wren, swallow, martin, woodpecker, cuckoo, swifts, and fly-catchers. Within certain limits birds feed upon insect enemies of the forest. These are wood-boring beetles, both adult and larvae, and ants that live in decaying timber. These insects are not accessible to other birds, and could pursue their career of destruction unmolested were it not for the woodpeckers, whose beaks and tongues are specially fitted for digging them out and devouring them. To them more than to any other agent we owe the preservation of our timber from destructive insects, and for this reason, if for no other, they should be protected in every possible way. The third division of animal life, insects, may be subdivided into two classes : those beneficial to forests and those injurious. Taking up those that are beneficial, probably the lady-bird beetle and the ichneumon fly are the most valuable of insects to foresters, and should be protected wherever found. The lady-bird beetles feed on plant lice, scales, and the legs and larvae of other insects. Ichneumon flies are beneficial in holding in check the wood-boring insects. Borers and lice cause serious injuries to trees, and the only prac- tical way to combat them successfully is by means of their natural enemies ; for the rise and fall in the number of insects depend largely on the num- ber and variety of natural enemies. So to para- sitic insects, as those mentioned before, we owe, to some extent, the preservation of our forests. But, on the other hand, we may state that more injury is done to trees by injurious insects than by any other agency except fire. Injury by in- sects is done in carrying out two objects which they have in their attack : searching for food, and preparing a place for the development of their brood. Injurious insects may be classed under six groups — namely, wood-boring or timber-de- stroying, leaf-destroying, root-destroying, bud- destroying, seed-destroying, and producers o^ deformities by puncturing the plant and sucking the juice. Probably the white pine weevil is one of the most injurious insects in the pine forests, and espe- cially in pure pine plantations. The damage done by this weevil not only results in the death of the shoots but in the abnormal development of the trees so injured. The dying of the leading shoot which has been injured throws the next year's growth into the lead. This results in a forked and many-branched top in the place of the normal straight trunk and symmetrical crown necessary to a tree of commercial value. The economic importance of the widely-known locust borer as destructive to the growth of the black locust is realized by almost every one. Natural growth and whole plantations are de- stroyed. So extensive is the damage to planta- tions that it is regarded as unprofitable to grow the tree for timber. The injury to the tree con- sists of punctures in the sapwood. If repeated these result in a stunted growth or the death of the tree, as well as rendering the timber almost worthless on account of the numerous worm holes. Hickory trees are attacked by an insect which is fast destroying this kind of timber. The twigs and terminal shoots are girdled, causing a crooked stem. Young growth suffers more from the attack than old trees. Before hickory can be success- fully grown, much must be done to eliminate this class of insects. Cicadas, or seventeen-year locusts, do consider- able damage to young trees in two ways : first, by the larvae feeding on the juice of roots ; and, second, by the adult puncturing the limbs to lay their eggs. Little damage is done to old trees in this way, but young trees and saplings are badly injured. Their shape is completely spoiled, and the main branches may be weakened in such away as to render them unable to form the proper top. Perfectly healthy wood is not attacked to so great an extent by injurious insects as healthy leaves. Caterpillars and leaf-eating beetles prey upon healthy leaves, almost defoliating some trees. On account of leaves being the most important factor in the formation of new wood, the growth for that season is necessarily checked. Oaks, maples, and elms are the species mostly attacked by leaf-eating insects. The seed of the hickory, chestnut, oak, and walnut are destroyed by the larval form of the nut weevil. The weevils eat the embryo, destroying the power of germination. This injury is causing a rapid decrease in the nut crop and in the natural reproduction of these species. To a certain de- FOREST LEAVES. 133 r n gree this determines the future state of our hard- wood forests. The exact relation then of animal life to 'for- estry, as shown in the few examples just given, may be summarized as those beneficial to forestry and those injurious to forestry. Therefore, it is necessary for the forester to know what are bene- ficial and what injurious. T. Roy Morton. The Improvement of Farm Wood-Lots. (Read at the Foresters' Convention at Harrisburg, Pa.) ON many farms in the State there are wood- lots, varying in size from several acres to a hundred or more, from which the farmer gets his own supply of fencing, fuel, and construction material. Often he has additional land from which he cuts material for market. If he expects to cut successive crops of trees from this land, he should make every acre of it produce as much wood as possible. The modern farmer has learned that concentration of effort, better culture, and modern rotations are what make farming profitable. This plan of manage- ment can be applied equally well to the wood-lot, and with less trouble than to an equal area of cul- tivated land. The question of caring for these timberlands so as to yield a yearly and better crop is not only becoming important but serious, because the supply is rapidly decreasing and the price of timber is steadily rising. In order to bring about an improvement of this condition it is necessary for the farmer to acquaint himself with the princi- ples of practical forestry, which for him means the study, nurture, and care of such trees remain- ing on his land which will net him the largest in- come when ready for cutting and the replacing of the trees cut, or the planting of new stands for his own future benefit, or for the benefit of those who follow him in generations to coriie. The custom has usually been either to cut the woods clear, or, in case of small wood-lots, to cut trees for special uses from time to time with- out regard to the effect on those remaining, leav- ing in most cases inferior trees in possession of the ground. Such cutting has a tendency to re- duce the number of valuable species, and permits seeds and undesirable trees of little value to crowd in in the place of more valuable trees, such as white oak and hickory. In some places the poor condition of the woods is not due so much to injudicious cutting and neglect as to damage from fire. Fire destroys the young growth which would perhaps form the basis of a succeeding crop, and encourages the growth of weeds, shrubs, and grass, all of which retard the development of young trees. This poor condition also exists to some extent where I grazing is permitted, as the animals browse upon the young hardwoods and prevent them from de- veloping and filling the gaps made by cutting or other causes. Owing to the usual management which wood- lots receive they are not producing so much each year, nor of so good quality, as they might under proper treatment. Their productiveness is im- paired every time they are cut, and their value will continue to decline until given the care re- quired for every growing crop. If the farmer desires to improve the condition of his wood-lot so as to produce larger and better crops he should try to secure the following con- ditions which constitute a good wood-lot : — 1. The wood-lot should be well stocked with trees, so that every foot of ground is not only productive but also protected. 2. The trees should be of good quality and of such kinds as will be most useful. Only the healthy, vigorous ones of the valuable kinds, such as oaks, chestnuts, hickories, ash, and yellow poplar, should be provided for. 3. There should be an undergrowth of trees to take the place of those that fail or are removed, in order to renew the forest. The larger trees I should be distributed over the area so as to shade I the ground and at the same time have sufficient : room in which to develop. 4. The trees along the exposed borders of the j wood-lot should be covered with branches to the ; ground, so as to form a dense border to safeguard j against damage by storm. 5. The soil should be porous, rich in vegetable mold, and covered with leaves and litter to the exclusion of grass and light-demanding weeds. When fires and cattle are kept out of the wood- lot, the above condition of the soil is a natural consequence. 6. The forest should be kept clear of dead trees and those having little value, usually called weed trees. Although such conditions are seldom if ever realized, the farmer should constantly have such a standard before him in order to put the wood-lot into the best condition. In discussing methods of management for the improvement of woodlots, no rules can be laid down that will fit every wood-lot, as no two wood-lots are exactly alike. Certain methods of management are here given which if modified to suit local conditions will cover nearly all cases. T/ie Selection Method. — In the selection method 134 FOREST LEAVES. the owner selects and cuts trees here and there which may suit his purpose. After the trees are removed, seed from neighboring trees and sprouts from the stumps are depended upon to fill the openings. In using this method, the farmer, when select- ing trees for cutting, must consider the effect which their removal will have upon the forest. If the forest is thinned too severely the openings which are made will be exposed too much to the sun and wind, which will dry out the soil and possibly kill the young growth. Grass and weeds might start and prevent seeds that fall in the openings from germinating. If the stand is dense there is also danger of wind-falls. It is also important that the trees left to seed the open areas are the kind that are wanted to re- produce the forest. This often causes the selec- tion method to be unsuccessful where only the better class of timber is marketable. The best trees of the valuable species are selected for cut- ting, and the inferior species remain to reproduce the forest. Consequently, the wood-lot runs down into undesirable species and poor individ- uals. The selection method of cutting is recom- mended for home wood lots, where the inferior wood can be utilized for fuel and the better trees either used or sold for special purposes. In making the cuttings, however, great care must always be taken not to injure young growth in felling and removing the trees, and to select the inferior species and poor individuals first. It will also be necessary to do a certain amount of clearing ancj cutting to improve the stand and control the mixture of species The Successive Thinning Method. — This is a good method for wood-land owners who do not wish to cut their wood clear at one time, but pre- fer gradually to transform it into a new and thrifty crop of desirable trees. By this method, while harvesting the crop, the main idea is to provide for the reproduction of a merchantable stand by a series of rather heavy thinnings. There is a complete cycle of changes that will follow from the time one crop of mature trees is cut until another is ready for the axe. This period is called the rotation. Beginning at the time the crop is ready to har- vest, our first thought must be how to secure a new crop of trees when the present crop is cut. It can be done by cutting out enough of the large trees to open the crown cover so that light mav get in and seed be permitted to germinate. The extent to which the canopy should be opened will depend upon the kind of trees with which one is dealing, and the condition of the soil. Light-seeded spe- cies of trees and rich soil will permit of a more open cutting. When the trees bear heavy seed, like oak or hickory, and there is danger of weeds preventing germination, or of the soil drying out, a close cutting should be made. The first thinning or cutting is made for the purpose of seeding the ground by seed from the standing trees and is called a reproduction cutting. In a mixed forest it is important in reproduction cutting to remove as far as possible trees of such species which the owner does not want to reproduce. The cutting should be made prior to the seed year. Secondary cuttings : x\fter the seeding is com- pleted and the young growth is well established, a second thinning is necessary to give the young growth more light and growing space. It may be from three to ten years after the reproduction cut- ting before the second cutting or thinning is re- quired. There will usually be some spaces which have not been seeded, and in this cutting seed trees should be left in the blank spaces. If the first cutting was of an open character and the entire area well seeded, it may be possible to make the second cutting the final cutting. Final cuttings : After the young growth is well advanced and requires more light and growing space the final cutting is made. All of the old trees are then removed. In the removal of these trees some of the young growth will be broken down, but with care the damage will be very light. Thinnings : By the time the final cutting is done, or possibly before it, the young trees begin crowding each other in order to get their crowns to the sunlight. The lower branches die for want of light, and are later broken off by the wind or forced off by the growth of wood. Consequently, long slim stems are formed. When straight trunks of sufficient height have been obtained, a thinning should be made so as to give room for increased root and crown development, which will be fol- lowed by increased wood production. In thinning a stand, the trees which will be most valuable for final crops should be left, and those removed which have the smallest crowns, show signs of deterioration, or are of less valuable species. Frequent light thinnings will give the best results. Each tree left standing should have a small clear space between its crown and those of its nearest neighbors, but openings should never be so large that grass will cover the soil before they close. Clear Cutting Method. — This method consists in cutting periodically portions of the wood-lpt clear and allowing it to reproduce by sprouts from the stumps or seed from the sides. The wood lot is usually managed for the purpose of producing a continual supply of fuel and lumber, so that the clear cutting method, except only for portions of FOREST LEAVES. 135 ^r ^A-^ t* it, is not practicable. There are, however, some cases where the method may be used to advantage.. There are two conditions that favor clear cut- ting : One is where hardwood lands are too thin and rocky to produce large material, and when there is a good market for small material ; the other is pine land which can be cleared in strips to secure seeding from the side. In either case only a portion of the land is cut over at one time so as to secure frequent returns. For instance, if the wood-lot contains thirty acres of hardwood and an acre be cut each year, at the end of thirty years, when the last acre is cut, the first will be ready for another setting. When the forest is re- produced by sprouts from the stumps the cutting should be done carefully so as not to injure the bark on the stumps. The stumps should also be cut low and smooth. In this way sprouts may be reproduced for a number of cuttings, but the sprouting power is impaired every time they are cut. Young seed trees should be encouraged, while some trees might be left over to the next rotation in order to seed the ground. Pines do not sprout from the stump, therefore the only way to reproduce them is by seeding or planting. Pine seed is very light and easily carried by the wind ; hence, if it is desired to cut a stand of pine and have another crop follow, it can be done by cutting strips about as wide as the trees are tall. Strips should be cut so that the seed will blow over them from adjoining trees. After the strip is well seeded another strip can be cleared and the whole area gone over in this way. When fail places occur in hardwood lands and there is no young growth starting to fill them, they can be planted with nuts or acorns gathered in the fall and planted from one and one-half to three inches deeo. Protection of the Wood-lot. — Fire : Constant care should be taken to keep fire out of the wood- lot. Sometimes it is burned over to improve the grazing. This destroys the leaf litter and humus, impoverishes the soil, and retards tree growth ; and the young sprouts and seedlings upon which the future of the wood-lot depends are often either destroyed or badly stunted. If the ground is burned over frequently the larger trees become scarred and afford openings for insects and rot- producing fungi, which not only destroy the tree attacked but often infect others. If the wood-lot is small and surrounded by cleared land, or is near houses, it is easily protected ; for if fire starts it is soon seen and extinguished. When the wood-lot is large and distant from any house it should be protected by means of fire lines. In the majority of wood-lots sufficient fire lines can be made by keeping the regular roads and wood roads free from inflammable material. If a railroad passes through the forest or near it, the right of way should be burned over occasionally and kept free from inflammable material. Grazing : Another source of danger is grazing. Animals browse on the young seedlings and sprouts, break off shoots and buds, and trample and break down the young growth. Hogs also eat the seeds and expose and injure the roots. Young trees suffer most, and reproduction will not be satisfactory where grazing is permitted. H. E. Bryner. A Forest Road. FOR almost one hundred years, what is now the Mont Alto Division of the South Moun- tain Reserve was managed as a charcoal- supply forest. The locations of the old coal hearths may 'still be seen, and they are by no means infrequent over the entire area. To each of these hearths there were sled- trails over which the wood was transported to them, and from each one was a wagon road over which the charcoal was hauled. Except in steep and rocky places, little or no attention was paid to making or keeping up the trails and the short roads connecting with the main roads. Even where some labor was exerted, no more was done than was demanded at the time of use, as there would be no cutting again for about thirty years. Connecting the outlets from each series of hearths, there was a main road along the ridge or the valley, as the case might be, which was usually kept in fair condition all the time. Such roads were permanent and were much used. Except in the cases of roads traversed in hauling the coal great distances across ridges to the furnace, appar- ently no attention was paid to grade. Sometimes where there was an uphill haul for the coal the grades were not very great, but even in such cases straight courses between hearths seemed to be more important than anything else. Horseflesh must have been cheap and time plentiful. Steep grades and lack of care in choosing proper locations resulted in much washing, and not in- frequently the stream-bed and road-bed coincided. In other places gullies were made, and rough stones and boulders were exposed. After a decade of no care, and in many cases a much longer period of non-use, many of the roads had grown shut. Such was the condition of the roads when the Mont Alto property came into the possession of the State. One of the first things necessary in the manage- ment of a reserve is the matter of protection, and roads figure largely in this respect. There were \\\ 136 FOREST LEAVES. m plenty of roads, but they had to be made reason- ably passable. During the first three or four years most of the main roads were opened by removing the trees and brush, and since then at times the sprouts have been again cut and removed, and at the same time some repairs have been made in the way of removing stones, opening water courses, etc. This work has made it possible to get back and forth on foot or on horseback with a fair de- gree of ease and rapidity, and at the same time has furnished open lanes from which to attack fires, and in many cases compelled the fires to terminate by reason of a lack of fuel, the road being clean and the fire not being blown across to fresh timber. It is thirteen miles from headquarters to the most distant part of the reserve, and it is three to seven miles that must most usually be covered in order to throw our force against fires when they occur. The beginning of a fire is the important time for attack, and every minute then counts for much. The roads as they are now located are not satisfactory from the standpoint of perpetual forest management, and consequently it is unwise to spend much upon their repair, and in their present condition it is frequently unsafe both to horse and rider to travel at a rapid gait over them, especially so at night. Consequently, from the standpoint of protection from fire, clean, smooth and even graded courses of communication with distant parts of the reserve are an absolute necessity. For this purpose two- or three- foot trails would be sufficient, but other considerations enter into the proposition. As soon as silvicultural work in the way of im- provement cuttings were begun, roads became necessities as highways of transportation. For some time the work was not far from the main public road and little road repairs were necessary, but the public road itself was a disgrace to a civil- ized community, and finally it was rebuilt with the aid of the township Board of Supervisors, but under the direction of officers of the reserve. Last year (1909), however, circumstances de- manded the building of the first good road through the reserve for purely forestry work. There had been a number of fires in the neighborhood of the '' Old Forge," and beyond ; there was planting to be done in that region and work of other kinds ; fire-killed timber should be removed from Sandy Ridge ; a possible outlet had to be wade for the products of improvement cuttings on both sides of the ridge ; everything, in fact, called for a new road, and one was begun in May. At first the forester of the reserve tried to locate the road by use of the topographic map of the Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania. It was found that the map was not accurate enough ex- cept to give extreme elevations, and from that could be calculated the approximate length of the road at any specific grade. The contour map, being made by successive classes of the Forest Academy, did not cover the entire area traversed by the road. An attempt was then made to follow the old roads in part with the idea of reducing the cost, but after considerable reconnoitering it was finally decided that an entirely new route should be staked out at a 3 degree or 5 per cent, grade. Some of the reconnoitering and a great deal of the preliminary surveying was done by the students of the Forest Academy. They used a transit part of the time, but most of the work was done with the aid of an Abney's level. The Academy graduate who has charge of im- provement work on the reserve then took charge of the road building. He had a large gang of men and a smaller gang working under the direction of a forest ranger. In this way work was being car- ried on at each end of the road and considerable progress was made. After the grade of the road had been staked out, the width, fifteen feet, was indicated, and choppers began opening the right of way. This wood was chopped into cordwood and piled at the edge of the way, to be removed later. Where poles, rails, or logs could be cut they were prepared at once and rolled aside. The brush was all piled in the middle of the opening and burned while green. Many of the leaves on the ground were burned at the same time. All of the forest floor which re- mained was removed from the surface and thrown beyond the limits of the road. Where there were fills to make, as far as possi- ble stones were used, and where cuts were neces- sary they were made so as to give as much of a solid bed as possible and yet not necessitate extra cart- ing. In many places stones were laid up dry so as to form retaining walls. One large gully had to be filled ; two stone arch culverts and one log bridge was built ; 3.47 miles have been completed at a cost of J 1, 5 70 per mile. This road will in time become one of the most used roads on the reserve, and will no doubt have to be widened and macadamized. Aside from its great utility value, it is a beautiful avenue through the forest, and will bring many people into the woods, where they may appreciate nature and revive their strength. George H. Wirt. By excluding oxygen under a pressure of two atmospheres and a temperature of 800 to 900 de- grees wood can be melted, making a compact amorphous mass which can be cast into forms. By adding preservatives it can be made indestructible. — Bulletin de la Societc Centrale Forestiere, Forest Leaves, Vol. xii., No. 9. :"% 4br- 1*5> >\^^«^ ^v< ^^ t-vr?..> I -^' '^^%-i% PUBLIC ROAD ON SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVE. 136 FOREST LEAVES. plenty of roads, but they had to be made reason- ably passable. During the first three or four years most of the main roads were opened by removing the trees and brush, and since then at times the sprouts have been again cut and removed, and at the same time some repairs have been made in the way of removing stones, opening water courses, etc. This work has made it possible to get back and forth on foot or on horseback with a fair de- gree of ease and rapidity, and at the same time has furnished open lanes from which to attack fires, and in many cases compelled the fires to terminate by reason of a lack of fuel, the road being clean and the fire not being blown across to fresh timber. It is thirteen miles from headquarters to the most distant part of the reserve, and it is three to seven miles that must most usually be covered in order to throw our force against fires when they occur. The beginning of a fire is the important time for attack, and every minute then counts for much. The roads as they are now located are not satisfactory from the standpoint of perpetual forest management, and consequently it is unwise to spend much upon their repair, and in their present condition it is frequently unsafe both to horse and rider to travel at a rapid gait over them, especially so at night. Consequently, from the standpoint of protection from fire, clean, smooth and even graded courses of communication with distant parts of the reserve are an absolute necessity. For this purpose two- or three- foot trails would be sufficient, but other considerations enter into the proposition. As soon as silvicultural work in the way of im- provement cuttings were begun, roads became necessities as highways of transportation. For some time the work was not far from the main public road and little road repairs were necessary, but the public road itself was a disgrace to a civil- ized community, and finally it was rebuilt with the aid of the township Board of Supervisors, but under the direction of officers of the reserve. Last year (1909), however, circumstances de- manded the building of the first good road through the reserve for purely forestry work. There had been a number of fires in the neighborhood of the ** Old Forge," and beyond ; there was planting to be done in that region and work of other kinds ; fire-killed timber should be removed from Sandy Ridge ; a possible outlet had to be made for the products of improvement cuttings on both sides of the ridge ; everything, in fact, called for a new road, and one was begun in May. At first the forester of the reserve tried to locate the road by use of the topographic map of the Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania. It was found that the map was not accurate enough ex- cept to give extreme elevations, and from that could be calculated the approximate length of the road at any specific grade. The contour map, being made by successive classes of the Forest Academy, did not cover the entire area traversed by the road. An attempt was then made to follow the old roads in part with the idea of reducing the cost, but after considerable reconnoitering it was finally decided that an entirely new route should be staked out at a 3 degree or 5 per cent, grade. Some of the reconnoitering and a great deal of the preliminary surveying was done by the students of the Forest Academy. They used a transit part of the time, but most of the work was done with the aid of an Abney's level. The Academy graduate who has charge of im- provement work on the reserve then took charge of the road building. He had a large gang of men and a smaller gang working under the direction of a forest ranger. In this way work was being car- ried on at each end of the road and considerable progress was made. After the grade of the road had been staked out, the width, fifteen feet, was indicated, and choppers began opening the right of way. This wood was chopped into cordwood and piled at the edge of the way, to be removed later. Where poles, rails, or logs could be cut they were prepared at once and rolled aside. The brush was all piled in the middle of the opening and burned while green. Many of the leaves on the ground were burned at the same time. All of the forest floor which re- mained was removed from the surface and thrown beyond the limits of the road. Where there were fills to make, as far as possi- ble stones were used, and where cuts were neces- sary they were made so as to give as much of a solid bed as possible and yet not necessitate extra cart- ing. In many places stones were laid up dry so as to form retaining walls. One large gully had to be filled ; two stone arch culverts and one log bridge was built ; 3.47 miles have been completed at a cost of $1,570 per mile. This road will in time become one of the most used roads on the reserve, and will no doubt have to be widened and macadamized. Aside from its great utility value, it is a beautiful avenue through the forest, and will bring many people into the woods, where they may appreciate nature and revive their strength. George H. Wirt. -^OC:::* By excluding oxygen under a pressure of two atmospheres and a temperature of 800 to 900 de- grees wood can be melted, making a compact amorphous mass which can be cast into forms. By adding preservatives it can be made indestructible. — Bulletin lie la Societe Cefitrale Fores Here. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE ^ k Forest Leaves, Vol. xil, No. 9. *.-t*^ \ jf .«?■ J. ^. *■- . ->-* '•^■i: \mf- N - •- ^ ^y^^ j?^> ' ■,-■.. ..,; PUBLIC ROAD ON SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVE, 1^ Forest Leaves, vol. xii., No. 9. •;> PUBLIC ROAD IN GAP ABOVE MONT ALTO PARK BEFORE IMPROVEMENT. Forest Leaves, Vol. xii.. No. 9. 'II t twc-^-- I » NEW FORESTRY ROAD-SHOWING GRADE, BUT NOT ROUNDED UP OR SMOOTHED. MONT ALTO, 1910. FOREST LEAVES. 137 Municipal Ownership of Forests. (Read at the Foresters' Convention at Harrisburg, Pa.) 7\ MONG the various acts passed during the jOpL. last session of the Legislature (1909), was one permitting municipalities to acquire forest or other suitable lands for the purpose of establishing municipal forests and providing for the administration, maintenance, protection, and development of such forests. It has been demonstrated by time and experi- ence in the countries of continental Europe that properly -managed municipal forests have proved to be important sources of municipal revenue, in connection with the general plan of forest preser- vation, thereby benefitting the Commonwealth as a whole ; and with these objects in view the bill was drawn up by the Department. At this time, when so little is known of fores- try, and especially of its financial possibilities among the majority of the people, little can be expected from municipalities relative to the pur- chase of forest lands or other suitable lands for the financial returns alone. The principal factor entering into the acquisition of forest lands by municipalities is that of procuring and protecting an adequate supply of water for the municipality. Due to their location, it would not be expedient for all municipalities to attempt the purchase of forest lands ; but a large number of boroughs and cities throughout the State are so located that it would be both commendable and financially prac- ticable for them to possess municipal forests. Municipalities situated in the more mountainous localities are best adapted for the possession of municipal forests, due to the low cost of the land and the desired supply of water. It can be easily seen that it would not be financially or practically advisable for a borough or city in the more i thickly.populated parts of the State to purchase I forest lands with the idea of obtaining a suitable water supply, as the distance the water would have to be brought would not warrant the same. The proposition was at one time suggested to the city of Philadelphia of piping its water supply from the various chains of lakes in Pike county, but no action was taken upon it. It is a question at this time whether the cost of the present supply and that of the one suggested above would have varied very greatly. As before stated, the water supply question is one of the factors that enters largely into the ac- quisition of municipal forests ; but there are numerous other important factors resulting from the protection and development of such forests. Section i of the act recently passed by the Legislature states that all forest land held by the municipality must be administered under the direction of the Department of Forestry in accord- ance with the principles and practices of scientific forestry for the benefit and advantage of the muni- cipality. This will not only mean a benefit to the municipality alone, but to the Commonwealth as a whole. With proper administration and protection, municipal forests can be made in the course of time to yield an annual revenue from the sale of forest products that will tend greatly to reduce the burden of municipal taxation. Since Germany has attracted the greatest atten- tion in all matters pertaining to forestry, as the science is there most thoroughly developed, it niight be well to quote some statistics of its muni- cipalities showing the practicability of municipal ownership of forests. Of the thirty-five million acres of forest land in Germany, five million acres, or 15.2 per cent., is communal forest. The city of Zurich gives the following returns for the year 1890: The city owns 2,760 acres of municipal forests, with a total expenditure of $14,000 for the year. The gross revenue from the forest was $26,000, or a net revenue of $12,000, or $4.40 per acre. It is a well-known fact that these re- sults have been accomplished only after a century or more of continued practical forestry methods, and they cannot be hoped for in this country for years to come. We have something to work for. Of Italy's forested area, the State owns only 1.6 per cent. , while the remainder is owned by munici- palities and corporations. France has over 27 per cent, of her forests owned by city or village corporations, while Prussia has 12.5 percent, under municipal owner- ship. The control of the municipal forests of the con- tinental countries of Europe is practically the same as is given in the above-mentioned act of Legis- lature— namely, that of State management in ac- cordance with the principle of continued supply. The municipality can employ its own forester, but all plans of management and operation must be submitted to State officials and approved before any work can be accomplished. • One of the best examples of municipal owner- ship of forests obtainable in this State is that of the city of Lock Haven. The movement in this instance was started for the betterment of its water supply, and ended with the city purchasing 3,000 acres of forest land outright and about 6,000 acres in conjunction with the State, the latter area to be under the absolute ownership and control of the State. As a result, the city of Lock Haven has as fine a water supply as any city in the State, with the vvatershed of the stream providing this supply 138 FOREST LEAVES. almost entirely protected by State and municipal forest lands. Another factor which brings Lock Haven to the front as a good example of municipal forest owner- ship, is due to the large annual revenue derived from the municipal ownership of the water-works. The expense of the installation of the water supply was very large, caused by the seven miles of pipe laid to convey it into the city. Notwithstanding the annual payment of the interest on this bonded indebtedness and the cost of maintenance of the water-works, the revenue for the present year will amount to $23,000, which will go far towards re- ducing municipal taxation or pay for municipal improvements. A strong argument against municipal ownership of water-works, and indirectly municipal forests, is that corporate w^ater companies can furnish water cheaper to the municipality than the city can do it. This is easily met in this case by a compari- son of the rates of other cities with those of Lock Haven, and, furthermore, with the rates of cor- porate water companies furnishing water to one portion of the city of Lock Haven and to the surrounding boroughs. Compared with the case of the surrounding boroughs. Lock Haven's water is cheaper, while the rates of the corporate water company are the same as those of the municipality. Another example of municipal ownership of forests is that of Lewistown, owning 800 acres of forest land, purchased in view of future trouble with the local corporate water company. One of the most important factors influencing the installation of a municipal water supply, and which has induced very often the purchase of forest lands along the source of the supply, is that of increased water rates. In this case it is the duty of the municipality to condemn the corporate water company and install a municipal water supply, thereby giving the citizens the water at a cheaper rate than that furnished by the corporate company. All of us being students of forest finance and knowing the financial returns possible from forest planting, with the European countries as an ex- ample, would it ifot be possible for a municipality to undertake an operation of this nature, say on the mountain sides of some of our denuded watersheds ? For example, take Pittsburg and other munici- palities in the western part of the State, that are subject to enormous losses yearly due to irregular stream-flow. Would it not be both proper and expedient to do this, with perhaps the help of the State, as is done in the continental countries of Europe ? It has been the policy of the Department to refrain from purchasing lands encumbered with underground rights- or subject to surface rights for any length of time, and it is the former encum- brance that has deterred the Department from purchasing lands for forestry purposes in the west- ern part of the State. It will be only a matter of time, however, until something must be done to relieve the condition existing west of us, and might not the municipal ownership of forest lands be one way of solving the problem before us ? At this time, when the aesthetic value of forests is being appreciated by a large number of people, both for its power of promoting the healthfulness of the community and as recreation grounds, it might be well to add this factor as one figuring largely in the advantage to be derived from municipal ownership of forests. The increasing interest of all classes in every community accentuates the movement toward better and healthier conditions in the territory contiguous to the centers of population. The creation, care, and maintenance of parks and recreation grounds have become one of the most important of municipal functions, and what will cover all these points more satisfactorily than a municipal forest ? Forrest H. Dutlinger. Forestry in a New Nation.* WHY are we all interested in forestry at the present time? One scarcely picks up a popular periodical to- day without seeing an article upon some phase of forestry therein. This attitude on behalf of the American people has suddenly developed, and it may be of interest to consider the reason. When our forefathers came to these shores what did they find ? A vast wilderness, primeval forests in all their grandeur, east of the Mississippi River. For the most part the whole country represented as it were a vast field of grain waving before the wind. It was necessary for the early colonists of this nation and pioneers of every state to clean and clear lands in order to gain a livelihood — what kind of a livelihood ? agriculture ; and what is agriculture? the basal industry of any nation. Trees and forests so common on every hand in the early days were considered a hindrance to civilization and progress. How to overcome and destroy the forests in order to utilize the soil and perfect agriculture has been the work of the nation up until recent days. The practice of cutting and piling logs in great heaps and burning them, the girdling of standing trees, called ''hackings'* ♦ Lecture course on Forestry at Lehigh University, by F. W. Rane, State Forester of Massachusetts, May 20, 1910. FOREST LEAVES. 139 in some sections, so as to destroy the foliage and thus let in the light that grass and crops could be grown, together with other apparently wasteful and destructive methods as viewed from the pres- ent standpoint, were necessary in those days. One would think that ''Conservation of our Natural Resources," a term so commonly used in these days, is an idea never heard of heretofore, and we are now imbued with altogether a different conception of National and State development. The idea is not new, nor is it of more importance at the present time than it has been right along. We as a people have been too busy up to the present generation in this new country, which has abounded in natural resources so lavishly, that we have not had time to think of conservation. How to simply harvest the crop and convert the raw material into bank accounts has been the great problem. Why are there so many wealthy fami- lies in America to-day ? The very fact of possess- ing a nation whose natural resources on every hand were free to the people offered the very op- portunity of accumulating wealth. It was only a few years ago that even in the middle northwest all that was necessary to accumulate forest lands was to send out prospectors or cruisers, locate the desirable tracts and pay the government from fifty cents to five dollars an acre to secure a good title. From these tracts millions of dollars have been the returns to those who invested in them. When I was a student in college one of my classmates lamented the fact that his father went south before the war of the Rebellion and took up large tracts of forest lands in the Carolinas and Tennessee. These lands at the time, 1891, were considered a burden to the family. It was neces- sary for him and his brother to go south each sum- mer vacation and spend the time in protecting themselves from poachers, who during their ab- sence persisted in establishing tar pitch and turpen- tine camps upon their holdings. The discourag- ing part was the inability to get the proper legal papers served upon these trespassers before they had secured what they wanted and were ready to move off of their own accord. I mention this simply to say that if these young men have held their properties to the present time, they are ex- tremely wealthy. I first went into college work at the West Virginia University. In the year of '93, I cruised some large tracts of the territory then in primeval condition in the central portions of the State. Here I found stately magnificent forests as yet untouched save for now and then some cherry and black walnut had been taken out. The species of tree that impressed one most in those days was the white wood or yellow poplar lumber. At that time the hope of the lumber- man was to induce the trade to use this lumber as a substitute for white pine and thus develop a market. One was impressed with the great amount of standing timber in this State alone at that time, enough timber apparently to supply the whole country for years to come. Plenty of these beautiful stately tulip trees that would measure four feet or more in diameter, and with boles that were clear of limbs for a distance of four log cuts, dotted the whole mountainous country. Two years ago, I was engaged by a large coal com- pany to examine a sixteen thousand acre tract in the same section, and to my utter amazement found that during my absence, a period of only fourteen years, the lumbermen had been so busy that it really was not an easy matter to find typical specimens of the once popular tulip tree throughout the whole tract. What in the world was done with so much lumber? In those days white wood was not good enough for finishing purposes in our homes, for we thought we must have walnut, cherry, or even mahogany, but to- day many of us feel fortunate if we can afford white wood. When I first came to New England I was just as enthusiastic over forestry as I am to- day, but even in the years of 1895 to 1900, a person was dubbed a " forestry crank" were he to show any perceptible enthusiasm over the sub- ject. During the time I was in college work and in our new building operations, we were able to secure Georgia pine, that was shipped to the north by water transportation, for $15 to $17 a thousand, fine, clean, clear, matched stock. Lumbermen would point to this product and say what is the use of worrying about depletion of forest products when one can secure such material at these prices. This argument was effective, and there was little use of trying to convince lumber- men to the contrary as long as the supply was equal to the demand. They not only felt that there was an inexhaustible supply in the South, but some thought it inadvisable to attempt to compete with this southern trade by even cutting the northern product. They also felt that the forests of Canada and even those of Maine and other New England States contained much more than people realized. In ten years, however, things began to change, and forest products of all kinds began to increase in value, and to-day the lumbermen are just as wise as to the inevit- able depletion of our forest supplies, if we do not practice economy, and carry on modern forestry management, as any class. When in college work I always endeavored to give the senior students a comprehensive concep- tion of natural resources and their uses, and a book 140 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 141 written by one of our noted embassadors, entitled The World as Modified by Human Action^ served very nicely among others to emphasize these points. This treatise was written by Mr. Marsh some thirty odd X ears ago, and is as suggestive to-day as ever. The main object of the book was to point out to country-loving citizens the importance of conserv- ing our natural resources. He goes on to show how in a few years we have changed the conditions in America and demonstrated that as a nation we are thoughtlessly wasting our birthright. He points out the fact that man is a destructive being, and gives many illustrations to show the same. The name of the book itself is suggestive, and I recom- mend it to any one. Demand for forest products has been increasing in greater and greater proportion as we have been developing the State and nation, while the prod- ucts themselves have likewise been approaching exhaustion. Our people have looked upon the , forest products as inexhaustible, thinking, natur- ally, that though Massachusetts or Pennsylvania should be depleted, there are plenty of other States at our very doors with indefinite supplies. Many country- loving and far-sighted citizens have time and time again in the past predicted the present calamity, but the commercial era has absorbed us, and the successful business man of America has been the admired of admirers. ^:sthetics in a new country are as nothing compared with com- nriercial activities, when the bases of the commodi- ties dealt in are free gifts and cost only for the marketing. The balance finally comes with the nation's development. From the substantial old-time sawmill — formerly so common upon the streams, now only relics of by-gone days— the evolution has developed to the portable mill. Instead of taking the logs to the mill, we now take the mill to the logs. While it is easy to comprehend this change of milling opera- tions and the economy therein, the effect upon for- estry itself and the country community has changed most remarkably. When logs were taken to the mills, most farmers employed their teams and labor during the winter months in getting out lumber for home consumption, but sold enough to make the effort and time profitable. The old-fashioned method, too, of not cutting clean but taking only the larger and mature trees did not destroy the forest, for replacement followed rapidly. ' The present method is to sell the stumpage ; and, as the purchaser finds he is able to market every vestige of the product, the forest area is stripped of vegetation. In earlier days this extreme of clearing was done only when the land was to be used for agricultural purposes. Where the larger growth only was taken out in the past, in twenty years or so the same land could be cut over again: at a profit ; under the present practice it will re- quire a period of nearly or quite twice as long for similar results. Again, even the cutting clear practice was not so productive of ill-results until it came into such common use. When only here and there a tract was cut, the surrounding growth reseeded it ; to-day the reseeding factor, also, is cut, leaving great areas where nature is unable ta assist as formerly. The white pine, for example, will re-establish itself whenever the conditions are favorable. When, as in earlier times, the ill- shaped and limbed specimens contained no com- mercial value, they were allowed to remain stand- ing. These trees make the best seed trees, hence were responsible for reforesting the land with this species. To-day even these seed trees have value. No matter how pronged or crooked, they will make box-boards, pails, tubs, matches, etc., and bring prices of from %\/^ to $i6 a thousand, when de- livered. The results of this practice are altogether too common. Portable mills are operating at the present on woodlots that in earlier times could not be used commercially. Where the diameters of trees were thought of in terms of feet, we have simply changed the feet to inches for present practical usage. The commercial pine tree of to-day hardly reaches the seed producing age before it is harvested. What is true of white pine is equally true of many other of our forest trees. The pulp companies chew up practically every- thing of the spruce and even balsam fir, which a few years ago was considered practically worthless, at present is of equal value to spruce in limited j amounts. Hemlock was little thought of for joists ' *7 and general framing material in building not long j ". since, but the carpenters now are not so particular. | The American larch, commonly called tamarack or hackmatack, found growing in low, moist situa- tions, was valueless until railroad ties and telegraph poles grew scarce ; and then they found immediate value, now having largely disappeared. Hickory, commonly called walnut in New England, was the only wood thought suitable for tools, axe-handles, whifile-trees, etc. ; but go to the market and see what are being substituted in its place. Of course, the tools do not last as long as formerly. Were there time, it could be shown that each and every kind of wood has special qualities that adapt it for specific usefulness. The more we advance in com- merce, industries, and manufactures, we continue to discover new economic uses for all of the raw materials and products. There is not a species of wood grown at present but has a recognized standard of value. The time has come when sim- ply the growing of cordwood in most sections of Massachusetts is profitable. Particularly is this true where the burning of brick is an important industry. We as a nation are at an extremely interesting stage at the present time as regards the forestry problem. It is not only true of Massachusetts bat of Pennsylvania, and, for that matter, the whole country, to a greater or less extent. As long as the prices of forest products remained low, we laughed at the idea of forest depletion. Experience is a wise teacher, and although the histories of older countries point out very clearly the mistakes made, the errors are seldom heeded in a new country until many of the same experi- •ences have resulted. When our forefathers came here, Pennsylvania was a vast wilderness, a primeval forest. We are told of the magnificent forests, and how individual trees reached great proportions throughout this whole section. Even the decaying stumps still extant remind us that but yesterday, in point of time, these monarchs of the forest, which had been growing for centuries, were with us. To- morrow a forest tree producing over a thousand feet board measure will be a veritable curiosity. We country-loving and public-spirited people are extremely anxious that the nation reserve certain portions of the White Mountains and the southern Appalachian range, that coming generations may enjoy, take pride in, and benefit therefrom. A birthright for them as small as this is a pittance compared with the vast and almost endless expanse of virgin forest areas that was ours. Viewing the subject as a whole, therefore, we must recognize that the time is ripe for action and public concern. To accomplish results, much thoughtful study and definite systematic planning must be done, in order that there will be no ob- structions in the way. Education and example are the tools to work with. '* Forestry is the science of art of forming and cultivating forests ; the management of growing timber.** Forestry, therefore, as the title of my address indicates, is concerned with the economic production of merchantable wood and timber. Forestry should rightfully be thought of as a com- mercial industry. The forest products of a coun- try should be one of her greatest assets, just as much as that of any other crop, agriculturally speaking, and even more to be relied upon than our income from mining ; for, with proper man- agement, the investment will be permanent, inex- haustible, and hence fundamental to the nation's life and prosperity. Lumbering is as important to successful for- estry as is the digging of potatoes or the harvest- ing of any crop when it is ripe. The same essentials of culture, also, must be understood in getting maximum returns in the one case as in the other. Forestry and commercial forestry are synony- mous terms. Forestry in its true sense, when managed properly, will utilize the millions of acres of land— at present seen scattered in every section, known as waste land, abandoned pastures, sprout lands, barrens, plains, etc. — returning them to forest culture. The same culture that will return saw logs to the mills, make work for the country folk in winter, replenish the town treasuries, re- paint the old red school house, pay the sexton to again ring the church bell, make better roads, and, in short, return the former substantial livelihood of country life, will also conserve moisture, protect and enrich the soil, give an equable climate, and return to my State and yours the natural beauty we all would love so much to see. If commercial forestry will do this, the aesthetic man, who now and then sets out a shade tree and spends more time criticizing the practical lumber- man, can employ his time to better advantage. Our portable mill operators, who are found in nearly every town, are, generally speaking, the best and most public-spirited citizens and, as a matter of fact, the leaders of the communities. These men also are the most approachable men in the world, and willing to foster and further every reasonable and commendable project. I am con- fident these will be the men of the future, to be relied upon to do things in forestry. The fact that forest products are valuable and likely to in- crease rather than diminish — it being an easy matter to demonstrate, even at present prices, that reforestation and better forestry management will pay— gives life and interest to the undertaking. Go into any rural section, or city, for that matter, and discuss modern forestry intelligently, beginning with the collecting of the seed, time of year to gather them, when to plant, how to care for the seedlings, distance apart to set for results, when to thin and whether to prune, number of years to maturity, the kind of soils for different species, probable returns upon the investment, etc., and there is little trouble in interesting the people. In Massachusetts we have been interested in studying out the practicability of carrying on for- estry as a definite commercial propo«jition, and if you are interested in knowing what the white pine, for example, is capable of yielding as a long-time investment, I will take pleasure in sending some very interesting literature on the subject. The great obstacle to overcome in getting Americans to invest money in forestry, particularly refores- tation, is the feeling that it takes too long a time to get results. As a matter of fact, this feeling is 142 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 14S gradually changing, and, ultimately, I am con- vinced, the people will realize that this kind of an investment will be one of the surer and more stable. It can be shown that even at present prices good interest upon the investment can be expected, and surely forest products are more likely to advance than decline in the future. As a long-time investment, the returns must be con- sidered as offering exceptional opportunities. No matter how attractive it is made, the fact still remains that few people are willing to make long-time investments and wait for their fruition. The time is coming, however, when far- sighted business men will recognize this source of invest- ment as a safe and profitable one. Each State, it is believed, can well afford to make a beginning in this direction by purchasing at low cost much of the cheap lands and re-stocking them as forest reserves. Not only can they be made a valuable asset in the future to the respective Common- wealths, but to serve as examples of forestry methods. Purest fires are a great menace to practicing modern forestry, and are undoubtedly one of the greatest drawbacks to forestry undertakings. The present laws regulating this problem are not effective enough. The laws relative to the taxation of forest lands are in no way systematized or deduced to securing the best results. It is to be hoped that some simple, practical, and expedient forest taxation laws may be formulated at an early date. The greatest of all needs, however — and we must come back to it as the foundation upon which our whole forestry structure must stand for success — is a well-defined educational system, by which the people may be taught not only to recognize the importance of forestry, but how to get the best results from a practical knowledge of the theory and practice combined. In conclusion, I would say, let us be wise and far-sighted. The Massachusetts and Pennsylvania of the future will be what you and I make it. History repeats itself. In the Old World the rise and fall of the Roman Empire had its associations with commercial forestry. Spain — once the coun- try of equable climatic conditions and beautiful meadows, the native country of the merino sheep and a progressive and prosperous agriculture — has cut down its forests, denuded its mountains ; and what is its present condition ? We are told that in Biblical times certain valleys in Palestine were so fertile that they sustained and nourished great flocks and herds. Figuratively speaking, these valleys flowed with milk and honey. In those days the cedar of Lebanon and other forest trees were found in all their glory. What sort of a country is Palestine to day? Travelers tell us it is dan- gerous to travel without a guide ; the country is parched, dry, and desolate. What do we propose for the future of this nation? If we are public-spirited, as I believe we are, and have a love for our country and Com- monwealths, we will awake to the responsibility ere it is too late. Instead of following the example of countries like those mentioned, let us emulate the example of Germany, where modern forestry is practiced successfully. Then, and only then, can we feel proud in believing we have done our full duty towards the forest interests of our native land. New Publications. The State Forester of Massachusetts. Sixth Annual Report, 1909. By Frank W. Rane. Svo.,. no pages. Boston, Mass. During the past year the Governor of Massa- chusetts placed under the State Forester the work of suppressing the gypsy and brown-tail moths, which necessitated a reorganization of the work. The principal parts of the new State legislation were acts making a railroad corporation liable for the lawful expense incurred in extinguishing forest or grass fires which are caused by the railroad or its agents ; placing the work of suppressing the gypsy and brown-tail moths under the State For- ester ; and, in order to encourage the growth of white pine timber, land stocked with thrifty white pine seedlings of a height of not less than 15 inches, shall, upon satisfactory proof of its con- dition by the owner to the assessors, be exempt from taxation for ten years. During 1909 examinations were made of 15,862 acres of land for persons requiring such assistance. In the same period 927 acres of land were planted with white pine trees at a cost of $5 to $10 per acre, and 28 plantations were thus set out, vary- ing in area from 5 to 107 acres; and the nursery has been enlarged, and is now estimated to con- tain 3,339,000 seedlings and 81,300 transplants ; 1,513 forest fires were reported in 1909, of which the largest number, 497, or about one-third, were caused by locomotive sparks; 42,808 acres were burned over, the damage being placed at $220,930. This interesting report closed with a state- ment in regard to the gypsy and brown-tail moth suppression, and the area infested in Massachusetts, which is 3,950 square miles. About $750,000 was expended by the State, cities, towns, and private individuals in the year 1909 in fighting these pests, the above amount not including any sums expended by the federal government. FOREST LEil VE^. J. T. ROTHROCK, Consulting Forester, WEST CHESTER, PA, o<:]t>^ THE OFFICIAL ORGAN Terms upon Application. OF THE L-Ein^IS* TREE CHT^RTS, Part I.— THE OAKS. Forty-two species. No. 1. Biennial Fruited Oaks. Black Oak and Allies. No. 2. Annual Fruited Oaks. White Oak and Allies. No. 3. Southern, Pacific, Hardy, Foreign, and examples qf Extinct Oaks. Part II.— THE NUT BEARERS. Numerous species. No. 4. TTie Chestnuts and Beeches. American, Japanese and European Chestnuts. No. 5. The Walnuts. American, Japanese and European species and varieties. No. 6. The Hickories. American species and varieties. Part III.— No. 7. The Willows and Poplars. Numerous species. No. 8. TTie Birches, Elms and allies. No. 9. The Lindens, and allied families of numerous species. Part IV.— ♦No. 10. The Magnolia and related trees. •No. 11. The Horse Chestnuts and allies. No. 12. The Maples. (Printed in advance.) (Those with an * as yet unprinted.) Price for the ten Charts published, |4.00. For further information address the author, publisher and proprietor, GRACEANNA LEWIS, Media, - - - . Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Forestry Association. ^s^^P^ The attention of the advertising public is called to the advantages we offer as a medium. Address, 1012 Walnut Street^ Philadelphia, Pa. RATES > % I insertion. i 6 nsertions. insertions.. I inch, . . $1.00 • $4.00 $8.00 y^ page, • • 4.00 17.00 34-00 7* • • 7.00 30.00 60.00 12.00 50.00 100.00 ■Jk'^'. ' 144 FOREST LEAVES. The Pennsylvania State College Biltmore Forest School. FOUR YEAR COURSE IN FORESTRY. A thorough and practical undergraduate course in technical forestr>' — preparing men for all lines of professional and applied forestry. Special attention is paid to practical field work in surveying, mapping and forest measurements. One of the largest of the. State Forest Reserves is within a short walk of the College. For information regarding entrance requirements, expenses, etc., address DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, STATE COLLEGE, PA. CONSULTING AND OPERATING The beauty and value of forest growth depends materially on the proper care and training of the trees. Nature is in many things a rough mother. Her method of pruning leads to decay ; she over- burdens the trees with superabundant growth ; the feeding matter is washed off the hillsides and in exposed situations the dropping leaves, the main source of food supply, are blown away. Proper and scientific pruning will prevent decay and relieve the tree of superfluous growth, while well advised planting will conserve the food supply. With our professional foresters and trained corps of scientific pruners we are prepared to give the best possible attention to forestry problems and to properl}^ treat ornamental trees and shrubs of all kinds. Thomas Meehan & Sons, Inc. LANDSCAPE GARDENERS AND ENGINEERS Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Pa. BILTMORE, N. C. 0 0 0 0 The Biltmore Forest School is the oldest school of forestry and lumbering in America. Its working fields comprise the Southern Appalachians, the Lake States, and Central Germany. It never leaves the woods. The complete course covers twelve consecutive months at the school, fol- lowed by six consecutive months of practical prenticeship. Write for particulars, addressing C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D., Director, BILTMORE, N. C. CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILA. 30 minutes from Broad St. Statioo. BOARDING SCHOOL FOR B07S. Illustrated Catalogue upon application, 0 JAMES L. PATTERSON, Head Master. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rt. Rey. Ozi W. Whitaker, D.D., President. Samuel F. Houston, Vice-President. George Woodward, Secretary and Theamrer. JAMES M. BECK. WALTON CLARK. JACOB 8. DISSTON. EDGAR DUDLEY FARIES. FRANCIS I. GOWEN. J. LEVERING JONES. DR. HOWARD A. KELLY. FRANCIS D. LEWIS. RANDAL MORGAN. H. GORDON MCCOUCH. GIFFORD PINCHOT. JAMES R. SHEFFIELD. U |E> nJ> Philadelphia, August, 1910. No. 10. Published Bi- Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, loia Walnut St„ Philadelphia, Pa. "^ Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as second-class matter. CONTENTS. Editorial 145 Forest Fires in 190; in the National Forests 146 The Importance of a Geological and Soil Study of a Reserve Pre- vious to the Preparation of a Forest Working Plan 146 The Chestnut Blight 148 The Collection of Growth- and \ ield-Data as a Working- Base for Plans of Management and the Value of Permanent Sample Plots 150 Our Illustrations jca Practical Forestry j-a The Forests of A'aska 153 Some Notes on Wood Preservation 154 Subscription, $1.00 per Year. 7'He attenitjn 0/ Nurserymen and others is called to the advantages ^Forest Lbavss as an advertising medium. Rates will be fur. nished on application. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Founded in June, 1886, Labors to disseminate information in regard to the necessity and methods of forest culture and preservation, and to secure the enact- ment and enforcement of proper forest protective laws, both State and National. Annual membership fee. Two dollars. Life membership, Twenty-five dollars. Neither the membership nor the work of this Association is intended to be limited to the State of Pennsylvania. Persons desiring to become members should send their names to the Chairman of the Membershio Committee, 1012 Walnut Street, Phila. President, John Birkinbinc. ^yi^*-PX"i^i^ts, Wm. S. Harvey, James C. Haydon, Albert Lewis. Richard Wood. * General Secretary, Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. Recording Secretary, F. L. Bitler. Treasurer, Ctiarles E. Pancoast. Councilat- Large, Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Hon. Robert S. Conklin. Samuel L. Smedley. J'inance, W. S. Harvey, Chairman ; Dr. Henry M. Fisher, W. W Frazler, Charles E. Pancoast, and J. Rodman Paul. Membership, Albert B. Weimer, Chairman : Mrs. George F. Baer Edwin Swift Balch, Robert S. Conklin, Hon. Lucien W. Doty, Dr j' T Rothrock, W.W. Scrancon, Dr. Samuel Wolfe, and Hon. S p' Wolverton. Law, Hon. W. N. Ashman, Chairman; Henry Budd, and John A. Siner, "^ A ^^^^^^^i<>^^ Jol^n Birkinbinc, Chairman ; F. L. Bitler, S. B. Elliott, Alfred Paschall, and Harrison Souder. '*'«'»'*, Mrs. Brinton Coxe. Chairman; Miss Mary Blakiston Mrs. George T. Heston, Miss Florence Keen, William 8. Kirk' J. Franklin Meehan, and Abraham S. Schropp. ' G7i««/^ (7r^a«/>a//V;«, Samuel Marshall, Chairman; Eugene EUicott J imes C. Haydon, Dr. J. Newton Hunsberger, and Richard Wood. Office of the Association. loia Walnut St.. Philadblphia. EDITORIAL. FOREST LEAVES has always chronicled with gratification the acquisition of forest reserves by the nation, the state, corpora- tions or individuals, and it will continue to encour- age the increase of forested areas, maintained for future utilization. But the number of square acres or square miles which are covered by forest re- serves is not the only measure of progress — in fact, unless cared for, some so-called reserves may be a menace to other property. In Pennsylvania the state reserves have grown rapidly, and while the Forestry Reservation Com- mission is alert to take advantage of areas procur- able at moderate cost, its policy is as far as possible to limit the extensions to its ability to care for them. A forest reserve to be of service to posterity needs care— fires must be kept from it, improvement cuttings should be made, new growths encouraged, and reforestation should as far as is practicable be of species and genera suit- able to the soil and promising the best returns in the future. Hence, it may under specific condi- tions be better policy to limit areas reserved than to increase these beyond the protective abili- ties at command. The general public has approved of liberal re- servations made by the national and state govern- ments and will undoubtedly accept additions to these as valuable; but to maintain forestry in favor, the reserves must receive care and over- sight. Any action which, while insuring the pro- tection of the forests, obtains value from their products will go far towards encouraging favorable appreciation of the value of forest reserves. Circumstances may make it advisable for the general government to withdraw from entry areas which may be held for future forest reserves, or encourage states to secure lands at times when they are procurable, proceedings which certainly \\ 146 FOREST LEAVES. are approved. But the public must learn that the possession of forest reserves carries a responsibility for their care, and recognize the wisdom of hav- ing appropriated sufficient funds for their protec- tion and preservation. That such appropriations will ultimately prove good investments is demonstrated by the results in other countries, and even in this nation, where forest reserves are practically a novelty, most satis- factory financial results have ensued. ^^ J. B. Forest Fires in 1909 in the National Forests. FIRE played less havoc in the woodlands of the National Forests last year than it did in 1908, although the number of fires was 410 greater. The Department of Agriculture has just completed the statistics. The protective value of the work of the department is shown in that : ( I ) almost eighty per cent, of the fires were ex- tinguished before as much as five acres had been damaged; (2) less than one and one- half acres to the square mile of National Forest land was burned over; (3) and the amount of damage done to the burned-over area averaged but $1.26 per acre. For the year 1909, there were 3,138 fires on the forests, 1,186 caused by locomotives, 431 by campers, 294 by lightning, 181 by brush burn- ing, 97 by incendiaries, 38 by sawmills and donkey engines, 153 by miscellaneous and 758 by unknown agencies. The area burned over was, in round figures, 360,000 acres, of which about 62,000 were private lands in National Forests, as against some 400,000 acres in 1908. About 170,000,000 board feet of timber was consumed, of which 33,000,000 feet was privately owned, as against 230,000,000 in the previous year. The loss in value of timber destroyed was less than $300,000, of which close to $50,000 was privately owned. The loss of the year before was about $450,000. Damage done to reproduction and forage shows a remarkable decrease, less than $160,000 being the record for 1909 and over $700,000 that for 1908. The largest number of fires occurred in Idaho, 991; but the great increase over 1908 in that State — namely, 573 — is entirely attributable to fires in the Coeur d'Alene, which were extin- guished without material damage. Locomotive sparks were accountable for 611 of the blazes in this forest last year. The explanation of the in- crease in the total for all forests is to be found in this Coeur d'Alene increase. The report of the Forester for 1909 said of the fire record of 1908 : *' That year was one of pro- longed drought during the summer and fall, and of disastrous forest fires throughout the country. The National Forests suffered relatively little. .... About 232,191,000 board feet of timber, or 0.06 per cent, of the stand, was destroyed. .... A total of 2,728 fires »vas reported, of which 2,089 were small fires confined as a rule to an area of five acres or less. The cost of fire fighting, exclusive of the salaries of forest officers, was $73,283.33. This sum, added to the propor- tion of the total salaries of rangers and guards properly chargeable to patrol and fire fighting, was less than one-twentieth of one per cent, of the value of the timber protected, estimated at an average stumpage value of $2 per thousand." The Importance of a Geological and Soil Study of a Reserve Previous to the Preparation of a Forest Working Plan. (Read at the Foresters' Convention at Harrisburg, Pa.) THAT a geological study or survey of any reserve is necessary in order to be well acquainted with the region with which one is dealing, and to be able to apply properly, under different situations, knowledge of the fifteen ecological factors which influence and make pos- sible all plant growth, cannot be disputed ; but the manner in which such studies can best be taken up is most perplexing. A geological survey of any region, to be of greatest value, must include a large number of subjects, namely, geological formations, topogra- phic features, minerals, soils, and stream flow. Separate studies of any of these will be of little value, nor can any one be complete in itself; but when all are taken together they constitute a more complete story of the relation and influence of the factors of tree growth to each other and to that growth. All such studies are apt to be delayed in fores- try work for sometime owing to the fact, that geological data concerning most of the reserves is not available and not likely to be for sometime. Facilities for Study, — For any such reliable in- formation we must look to the few available re- ports of the First and Second Geological Surveys of Pennsylvania, and to the publications of the United States Geological Survey for Pennsylvania, all of which are useful on account of the large amount of data therein collected. The results of the work of these surveys are published in three forms, folios, bulletins, and monographs. The folios are especially desirable FOREST LEAVES. 147 from the fact that they contain topographic and geologic maps, together with a text which de- scribes in detail all matters pertaining to the geo- logical characteristics of the region covered. Bulletins are more general and deal with stream flow, drainage-basins, peculiarities of formations, and soils. When completed all folios will constitute a Geo- logic Atlas of Pennsylvania of great and lasting value in the forestry work, and which will serve as an index or foundation from which future studies can be carried on. Such studies as these must vary widely with the reserves and call for much original work. They should take up first a consideration of the one or more formations existing on a reserve, as to extent and character, and include the underground structure as well, knowledge of which is necessary in order to understand thoroughly the movement of under- ground waters, drainage, and stream flow. A study of the topography of the region will determine the possibilities of a proposed road system and supply knowledge as to the eff'ect of winds. Soil studies no doubt would be the most com- plex of all but in return they should also prove most beneficial. These apparently will be neces- sary to determine the relation of the growth on any soil to that soil and whether or not such growth is best adapted to it. All such studies will cover a broad field of work and find applica- tion in many operations in the forest, but they • seem essential for the preparation of the Working Plan and for the solution of the silvical problems presented. For the convenience of this paper all the above mentioned are placed under two broad headings. 1. Geological Study. 2. Soil Study. I. Geological Study. For expediency in dealing with geologic study it is divided into the following, though all may be regarded closely related or dependent upon each other : 1. Study of geological formations of a reserve. 2. Study of topography and altitude. 3. Study of stream flow and drainage. I . Geological Formations. — In dealing with any given formation on a reserve it is important to know of its thickness, extent, and boundaries of the distinct types of rock present as well as the character and location of soils which have resulted from the weathering of such rocks, and of the underground structure as to the stratification of rock. The disintegration of various rocks produces soils differing in structure and chemical constitu- ents, as for example, siliceous or sandy soils poor in lime in the humid regions, from the weather- ing of quartzose rocks, or deep fertile limestone soil from weathering of limestone rocks. These two soils usually vary most widely of all, and between them are distinguished many soils difl*er- ing in structure and quality, most of which will have to be dealt with in forestry work in this State. In all there are about fifteen formations recog- nized in Pennsylvania, most of which belong to the great palaeozoic series, but it is doubtful if all these appear on the reserves, as they are not widely scattered, but found rather in the central portion on the Appalachian mountains, which, in Pennsylvania, are made up largely of shales, slates, sandstones and limestone. According to Schenck, the most important rock formations for forest growth are granite, gneiss, limestone, sandstone, slate and trap. It may be expected that most of these appear in Pennsylva- nia reserves. As to the boundary of formations, where they end on a reserve, or are capped at certain points by another, it can be well supposed that their irregularity increases with the roughness of topo- graphy, but in certain cases it may be wise to make such points the boundary of forest divisions, considering that a different management for each is necessary. As for the underground structure, it may be said that it governs both the rate and direction of the movement of the underground waters chiefly by the amount of water absorbed by the rock and by the inclination of the strata. Under certain conditions sandstones may contain as much as thirty-eight per cent, of their volume of water. Vertical stratification of rocks causes decomposi- tion to go on more rapidly. 2. Topography and Altitude. — The topographi- cal features of a reserve should receive careful study, for it may be considered that they have much to do with distribution of growth, depth of soils, direction of winds, temperature, erosion, and the possibility of early spring fires. Topographic maps which show the elevation of all points, the direction and gradient of slopes, are necessary in order to become familiar with a region. With respect to the influence of topography or altitude upon the distribution of tree growth, such a study must determine if the range of elevation on a reserve is sufficient to produce distinct forest belts, or if certain species on high elevations are simply affected to a small extent by the unfavor- able conditions created by altitude. 3. Stream Flow and Drainage. — From such a 148 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 149 I Study will come knowledge of the movement of underground waters, of the water-table, and of the rate of stream flow. Rate of stream flow and run- off" are controlled by forest cover, rainfall, topog- raphy, and the geological character of the country. Little is yet known of the capacity of forest soils for water, therefore that will be one of the objects of such study. Valuable papers by F. H. King and C. S. Slichter on this subject are contained in Part II. of the 19th Annual Report of the U. S. Geological Survey. II. Soil Study. All soil studies will have in view a knowledge of the origin, structure, chemical constituents, and distribution of the existing soils on a given area, for the purpose of determining to what ex- tent each aff'ects the quality and rate of plant growth. In such studies it is important to note in the origin of a soil whether the underlying geological formation has been the source, or if it has come from higher elevations through the action of wind or water. The depth of a soil depends mostly upon rainfall, climate, slope of the locality, and the hardness of the rocks from which it was formed. '• For a knowledge of the distribution of soils over a reserve, geologic or soil maps are necessary. The chemical elements contained in a soil vary widely with the species of soil, and according to Liebig's law, the rate of growth actually taking place is governed almost entirelv by the number and abundance of the necessary elements. The following are a few of the operations in the forest for which a thorough knowledge of soils is desirable. . I. The making of plantations. 2. Road building. 3. Improvement work, as thinnings, etc. 1. Plantations. — Considering that soil is one of the most important factors of the locality, it is necessary to have complete knowledge of it for the preparation of the planting plan, for the out- come of a plantation placed on a site unsuited to the species planted is well known. By silvicul- ture one has pointed out the soils best adapted to the diff'erent species, but to place the proper species on such soils is not always possible unless the tree planter is familiar with the characteristics of each soil or has at hand accurate soil maps. 2. Road Builtiinx. — Road building on any re- serve must depend much upon the soils over which the roads pass, as to a certain extent the cost and kind of roads necessary can be judged from these. On either swampy or sandy soils a large amount of the entire cost may be sf-ent for drainage, while on others an equal amount would have to be spent for clearing away rocks or grading. 3. Improvement Work, — In making '* improve- ment cuttings or thinnings " it would be unwise to remove species which are adapted to the soil and let others remain on the ground which are not, even if such work is generally done more for the improvement of the condition of the stand, rather than to have it composed of certain species. j In this work it is well to remember that in many I districts the original character of the forest may have been changed by fire, grazing, or lumbering, in which case species occupying the ground may not be best suited to the locality. The choice of species where such conditions exist must be diffi- cult in comparison to the same work where no such changes have occurred, or where a small area of virgin forest remains in the locality as a guide. To judge the quality of such localities a complete knowledge of the soil is necessary. All such studies as have been mentioned are important from the fact that they deal with factors which may exert a favorable or unfavorable in- fluence upon the growth of a region. They should be taken up previous to the preparation of a Forest Working Plan for otherwise all calcula- tions obtained in such a plan may be upset and useless. John L. Witherow. The Chestnut Blight. AT the Mt. Pocono Meeting of the Penn- sylvania Forestry Association, in July, 1909, the attention of those present was called to a specimen of a fine young chestnut tree (^Castanea dentata^ which had been killed by an attack of the chestnut blight, a fungus known as Diaporthe parasitica. This disease attacks the bark of the tree, going completely round the tree, killing the bark, and therefore the tree by girdling. It, however, does not damage the heartwood. In the case to which reference was made, the tree, which was quite vigorous, was attacked by the blight the previous year, the upper portion being gradually killed. The tree in its eff*ort for life had thrown out the next year some small shoots below the part aff'ected, and near to the ground, but the blight had appeared below these shoots, and if the tree had not been cut would soon have obliterated this last attempt for life. This fungus was first reported in 1904 by Mr. H. W. Markel of the New York Zoological Park, and by some is stated to have come from Long Island, N. Y., from some imported stock. Much / labor and money have been expended in the en- deavor to find some way of exterminating or mitigating this disease, which threatens to destroy one of our most valuable forest trees, but thus far without success, and the chestnut trees over jcon- siderable areas adjacent to New York City have been exterminated, and it is particularly malig- nant in that section. Dr. Mickleborough states that in the winter of 1908 over 100 chestnut trees were felled in Prospect Park, Brooklyn ; many of these were dead, and the others so infected that removal was thought to be the best course. Forest Park in the same city contains 536 acres, of which about 350 acres are woodland, contain- ing 15,000 or more chestnut trees, and the dis- ease is so prevalent that it is proposed to cut every chestnut tree in the Park. The disease is spread- ing to adjacent States, and has appeared through- out the southeastern portion of Pennsylvania, being now as far west as Huntingdon. Dr. Mickleborough, who made a report on **The Chestnut Tree Blight" for the Department of Forestry, inspected the eastern section of this State early in 1909, and stated he had not found the chestnut tree blight to the north and west of South Mountain. Trips from Lancaster to Ephrata, Quarryville, and Gap all showed the blight, and it was found at Martic Forge and Marietta, Haverford, Milford, Matamoros, Em- breeville, and Morrisville. The disease is said to have spread as far south as Bedford County, Va., and north to Massachusetts. Whenever it is seen prompt measures should be taken to at once burn all the aff'ected portion of trees, care being taken that the spores are not knocked off, as these would float through the air and thus aid in spreading the disease. Dr. Herman von Schrenk, in Diseases of Decid- uous Trees., describes the appearance and action of the chestnut blight as follows : ** It causes patches of the bark to die by attacking the cambium and other soft tissues of the bark, and extends in all directions until the branch or trunk is girdled. This leads to the death of the parts above the girdling, and in this way, if the main trunk is at- tacked, the entire tree may be killed. The dis- ease attacks the bark on the twigs, branches, and trunk without respect to thickness. How the fungus obtains entrance is uncertain, but inocula- tion experiments seem to show that it is able to enter only through injuries to the bark. The aff'ected bark has a blackened appearance, is some- what shrunken, and after a time is apt to be thickly covered with projecting brown or orange or greenish -yellow covered bodies, which are about one-sixteenth inch in diameter at the base, often long and twisted or curled, and taper to a slender tip. These are the fruiting bodies of the fungus, and are very characteristic of this disease when the weather is moist enough for their forma- tion. ' ' No adequate preventive measures are known by the United States Bureau of Plant Industry, although they report that the Japanese chestnut is in general resistant to the disease, although single trees have taken the blight. The Bureau of Plant Industry also states that a similar disease has been noted upon the Spanish oak in the Appalachians, especially in Virginia and western North Carolina. This disease is manifested by the drooping of the leaves and their ultimate drying up, caused by a stoppage of the water supply in branches by an apparently undescribed species of Cenangium. Mr. J. Franklin Meehan is inclined to think that the black oak is attacked by the same fungus, as he has found many of these trees dying under pre- cisely the same conditions where they were closely associated with the chestnut tree. The chestnut blight is the most serious enemy that has come to the forest trees of Pennsylvania, and as yet no remedy has been found ; it is there- fore well to advise our readers of the danger which not only threatens but is destroying this valuable tree, cautioning them to burn all those found aff'ected, and guard against the bringing in of in- fected material. This disease is not known to attack other trees than the chestnut, with the single exception of somewhat similar diseases of the Spanish and black oak, mentioned above. Prof. H. A. Surface, Economic Zoologist of Penn- sylvania, in writing of the chestnut blight, says : ** I cannot possibly see where encouragement can at present be given for checking or controlling this disease, and it would appear that warning is of but little use where there is no avenue of escape." Mr. J. Franklin Meehan, president of Thomas Meehan & Sons, Inc., states that they have been fighting this disease for the last two or three years, having spent over $10,000. When first the dis- ease was discovered investigations and experi- ments began. On the roots of the chestnut trees were found what appeared to be the same fungus as found on the trees. When this fungus ripened the spores were disseminated by winds, birds, and other causes, and appreciating the fact that these could be killed by spraying, and thus prevent the spread of the fungus near the trees, this was done. At the same time the roots were treated, and after two seasons' treatment it was felt sure that the spread of the disease might not only be checked,, but infected trees saved if treatment is accorded before the vitality is much weakened. He men- tioned the following experiments : On a certain 160 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 151 I! property there was a number of fine chestnut trees as well as large forests of this species. Owing to the great expense which would be incurred in treating the forests, his client suggested that the individual trees be treated, and the forests left alone for the time. The specimen trees were at once and continually treated with Bordeaux mix- ture for two years, and while hundreds of trees died in the forests, not one of these specimen trees have been lost, although close to the forest lines. About six months later the forests were treated, but at that time the disease had taken such a strong hold that very many trees were lost and others in- fested. Notwithstanding this loss, he feels sure that many of the other trees were saved. If the spores are killed this must in a great measure pre- vent the spread of the fungus. Mr. Meehan stated that his investigations of many trees this year leads him to believe that the disease is weakening. Dr. Mickleborough advises removing and burn- ing the branches and loose bark of large trees which are attacked, and the burning of all small trees. If only a limited area is attacked the dead portion may be cut out for about an inch beyond the sec- tion infected and any limbs infected removed, the wounds being covered with tar. He also says that trees have been treated by using raw cotton saturated with Bordeaux mixture, but to be effective it is necessary to treat every fork of the limbs and twigs in this manner, also abraded bark on any part of the tree. Dr. Mickleborough estimates the damage already done by the chestnut blight in the States of New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey as not less than $12,000,000. ' ' F. L. B. The Collection of Growth- and Yield-Data as a Working-Base for Plans of Man- agement and the Value of Per- manent Sample Plots. (Read at the Foresters' Convention at Harrisburg, Pa.) FORESTRY is a business that in general will be judged a success or failure on the basis of financial results While here and there indirect benefits, such as watershed protection and recreation purposes, may justify government for- estry, yet even here the principal justification is the need of forest products and the forester's abil- ity to make the forest earn a net income in filling ; this need. The private forest owner must be ' guided by the income idea entirely. To try to run any business without hwiving the relation het7aeen expenditure and return is to imnte speedy failure. This requires the foreknowledge that certain measures will produce certain results, and is obtained only by experiments and the keep- ing of accurate record-^ of them. The most suc- cessful farmer is the one who knows what increase in crop value i ton of manure will bring ; how I ton of chemical fertilizer compares in cost and results obtained ; he must know for the greatest success whether it pays best to raise wheat or potatoes, and if wheat, then what variety yields best on his land. To secure this data the farmer (or some agricultural experiment station for him) must lay off sample areas, plant them in different crops, give them different treatment, and record the results. In farming, however, the profitable- ness of a certain crop or a certain method of treat- ment is quickly determined, and the farmer can and must often do his own experimenting, though the Agricultural Experiment Stations usually lead ! in the work. In forestry, however, the period is too long for the average private owner to be expected to carry on comparative tests of the yield of different spe- cies, and the effect of different methods of treat- ment, and the State owes it to its forest owners to provide this experimental data in forestry even more than the agricultural data for the farmer. To get the private forest owner to invest money in im- proving his forest he must be able to sell, when necessary, even if the forest is immature, for ap- proximately its true potential value. This he can never do until its protection is reasonably certain and accurate yield data are at hand to show just what that forest will yield at a given time, and hence what its present worth is by discounting the interval. No business can thrive when it is based on pure guess-work. Nor will it do to quote Ger- man yield-tables as a guide to investors here. They have value as a comparison, but that is all that should be expected of them. This State now owns a large enough forest area and possesses a large enough body of trained for- esters (not forest rangers) to initiate a compre- hensive system for securing accurate data on the comparative yield of different species now in her forests as well as the effect of different methods of forest treatment. She needs this data herself, but the private owners of eight times as large a forest area need it still more. Why So Little Has Been Done Thus Far. — The greater part of the study of the growth of our forest trees has been done in connection with the so-called working- plans made for private forest owners. These were mainly plans for conservative lumbering in more or less mature forests. The problem in them was not what will one acre of proper y stocked forest yield, for the owners did not expect to go to any particular expense to secure proper stocking. The problem was rather if 6 inch, 7 inch, or 8 inch trees are left uncut now, when will they be large enough for a second cut? To ascertain this the diameter and height growth of individual trees was studied without reference to the number per acre if properly stocked. As a result, the measurement file's of the Forest Service contain thousands of rates of growth for individual trees (many mature and grown under shade or unfavorable conditions), but very few sample plots to show what may be expected of the normal acre under favorable con- ditions. For this reason the writer, in laying before a Congressional Committee on paper pulp data on the growth of red spruce, had to state that many of the trees measured were mature trees which had probably grown under the shade of a previous generation of trees and were, therefore, not strictly applicable to present closely-cut for- ests restocking in pure second growth. No data were available to show what could be expected of I acre of a young pure spruce stand growing under the proper light and soil conditions. Thus even if the rate of diameter and height growth of single trees were representative of sec- ond growth forests, the fact that the normal num- ber of trees to the acre at different ages had to be estimated would still make a calculation of acre yield largely a guess and its value dependent on the skill of the guesser. As an example, in mak- ing a planting plan for a private owner in Arkan- sas, a forester recommended cottonwood for pulp purposes. The growth of single trees in that local- ity showed a diameter of 18 inches at an age of 25 years, but no sample plots had been measured. The forester, therefore, assumed 300 of these 18- inch trees per acre and predicted a yield of 160 cords per acre in 25 years, or 6 cords per acre per year. As a matter of fact, 300 18 -inch trees per acre is a silvicultural impossibility even in the most tolerant conifers (300 18 in. trees = B. A. of over 500 s(|. ft., when beech in normal forest shows only 160-190 sq. ft. at 80-120 years). Thus it is evident that satisfactory yield-data cannot be gotten from single tree measurements without re- gard to the acre stands, condition of the forest, etc. The Forest Service has tardily recognized this, and has begun the establishment of permanent sample plots. Unfortu lately, these first plots in the east had to be located on private forest land, and their permanence was not sufficiently insured, so that already a considerable portion has been lost by fire and axe. A few yield tables have been prepared by a single series of measurements on sample plots of different ages. They pretend only to give yields of dense untended forests and still do not sati«5fy the demand. The Value of Permanent Sample Plots. — The idea of permanent sample plots is not a new or untried experiment either in forestry or agriculture, and hardly needs a description in addressing a body of foresters. Essentially it consists of ac- curately laying off a plot of forest, usually of nor- mal stocking, with an area of an acre or more — best in the form of a square — the corners and boundaries being permanently marked. The plot is then measured accurately and the data recorded, number of trees, diameter of each and height of a part, and the total volume calculated. The meas- urement is repeated, say, each 5 years, and the resulting yields calculated ; also the effect noted of any particular treatment applied. If a sufficient number of plots of various ages are obtainable, a temporary yield-table may be constructed from the first series of measurements. This must be revised from time to time as the new data may require. If the results of certain methods of treatment are desired a second plot must be laid off under the same conditions, and treated as a control. Ac- curate account must be kept of thinnings. The data derived from the plots in the form of yield- tables would show : — (^) Future returns, and would be a guide in calculating what expense could be borne safely in establishing the forest. (/^) A comparison between different species. This is especially necessary before extensive plant- ing or seedling distribution is attempted. (r) The actual money loss in case of destruction by fire, and would facilitate recovery of potential value rather than present market value in damage suits. (r/) The gain caused by thinning or other treatment, and would be a guide to the expendi- ture allowable in the operation. (^) The proper valuation in buying and selling immature forests, without which private capital cannot be expected to undertake forestry. Guess- work must be eliminated. A Proposal for Sam'yle Plots in Pennsylvania. — Pennsylvania has about 30 specially-trained for- esters on the State forests at present, which will rise to over 50 in the next three ye^irs. Now, if each forester should lay out, on the average, 10 permanent plots in 5 years (2 each year), there would shortly be in operation 500 sample plots, which would furnish data of incalculable value not only to the State Department, but to the Pennsyl- vania forest owners in general. The detailed plan showing what species, what mixtures, and what methods of treatment should be covered, must be left to the forester charged with the supervision of the work. The success of the work would depend largely on this man, and his knowledge of State conditions and his 'ft 152 FOREST LEAVES. ability to keep the work uniform and related throughout. The first great chapter in the progress of forestry in this State has been written by the members of the Commission, backed by the enthusiastic sup- port of citizens and organizations, in securing ap- propriations for and the purchase of the first million acres of land and organizing the work. The next great chapter must be written largely by you foresters in the field in putting the develop- ment of this forest area on a firm basis. One of the first steps in this, after adequate forest protec- tion, is the securing of reliable yield-data so as to make this development most effective and intelli- gent. E. A. ZlEGLER. Our Illustrations. O much has been said of Mexico as a treeless country that a view taken in the pine woods in the Sierra Madre Mountains in Chihuahua, Mexico, may prove of interest. The railroad trunk lines of Mexico, over which most foreigners travel, are mainly on the desert plateau or through sections which have long been closely inhabited. Depending upon wood as fuel until within two decades when the coal-fields in northern Mexico were exploited, the denudation of available forests are severe, especially when these have been within convenient reach of com- mercial centres. But in the more remote mountains there is considerable timber of desirable quality and quantity, while in the ** terra caliente " the supply of ornamental hardwood is fairly abundant. As railroads penetrate the mountain fastnesses, the wooded areas will be attacked, and the illustration we give is on the Kansas City, Mexico & Orient Railroad, now being constructed, the prospectus of which sets forth the lumber possibilities as fea- tures of advantage to the road. The pine woods shown are in the State of Chihuahua, 200 miles southwest of the city of Chihuahua,' and 30 miles east of the continental divide, which in this vicinity makes a decided double bend. The ele- vation of the timbered area is 5,000 to 6,000 feet above sea-level. The Mexican government is taking an interest in forest preservation, and is having, the problem of reforestation studied ; this will be necessary as most of the available timber is an object for railroad extension. As the Republic covers 18 degrees of latitude, and as much of the topography is elevated 5,000 to 10,000 feet and more above sea-level, the climatic conditions are excellent for propagat- ing timber, if this is selected with discretion and if the species grown are adapted to the soil con- ditions, the prevalence of wet and dry seasons, and the marketable character of the product. Another Mexican view shows a radically differ- ent growth, the candelabra cactus, whose habitat is the desert portions of southern Mexico. The trees shown are not of phenomenal proportions, many others of equal size being seen in the section covering southern Puebla and northern Oaxaca. As will be seen, its prickly stems grow sufficiently close to form a welcome shade from the tropical sun ; the trunk is soft and pulpy. This same apparently useless growth is also indigenous in other portions of Mexico. As an illustration of the effort to preserve a tree, the view taken in the business section of Ha- vana, Cuba, is of interest. The wall which had surrounded a considerable area was removed, until the portion in which the tree had become intertwined was reached, and with the object of saving the tree, this section of the wall was pre- served. Practical Forestry. ft MUCH has been said and more has been written relative to practical forestry. By lumbermen, and others who are familiar with the question, it has been stated that practical forestry is neither practicable or possible without an entire change of conditions under which operations are now carried on. This state- ment, is subject to exceptions, one of the most notable of which is the work now being carried on by the West Virginia Spruce Lumber Company on its Cheat mountain timber lands, near Cass, W. Va. The company owns practically the en- tire Cheat mountain valley, the holdings starting at the sources of the river and continuing down the main stream a distance of probably thirty-five miles, an aggregate of about 100,000 acres of virgin spruce forest. The spruce of that section is of exceptionally fine quality and the stand is very heavy. This tract was examined by experts of the government several years ago and a plan was sug- gested for replanting with small trees to be shipped in from a distance. Instead of following this plan, those in charge of the work devised one of their own. In certain valleys conditions are ideal for the propagation of an overabundant growth. The surplus i)lants are taken out of the ground in the afternoon and are replanted the next morning. The company set out 25,000 spruce trees during 1909, of which 80 percent, are said to be thriving, and this year the company has planted 90,000 trees and expects to put in f ' i Forest Leaves, Vol. xn., No. lo. o X X > < oi C .1f»:.Wif- i^^ »««MWnfci^'V— •^^1*;%^ *«/■' ., '. ' ■*:,'' iiL>..':» ■^^»**f^^^-^^-f^^^^ H,;is^;^, ^^^'-^^.^im • 4 .■•■■■„ w- .^^ »;Vm- - '■ ■»; «M * . i ■^' '•'-siil, *,••-> f .••>Vt|||^ *'«.^lf»»'«i- :fr-'v."v.' '-■ :»r.:"^r«' :*r- •*. • ••* r». r'^- 4kX '• . -^ftj -^.^v.H- ^ -TVSvn " •>■ ^4-~-il , ^.V t!«k« -•■ •». Jv^ ^ -r^:'..- — -,- -•« «u.:iL --^aHWf «4)v --. . ^,i^.« ^- ■^».> ....^ *, ■V-— Tfc^'tfc- i^Jr« '■_^fc ^f^'^^' - r-!« .N.«. ■••*^' o o X UJ I < I o Li. o UJ < I- LU I H I- co UJ cc O u. UJ VS-. ♦ . •* ,.^v --»^i^* - -ji CANDELABRA CACTUS, STATE OF PUEBLA, MEXICO. A PRESERVED TREE IN HAVANA, CUBA. FOREST LEAVES. 153 about 60,000 additional, and hereafter at the rate of about 100,000 trees a year. Another practical feature of the operation at that point is the precaution taken to prevent the inception and spread of fire. A space of 50 to 100 feet is cleared along every logging road and spur. During the dry seasons every locomotive is followed by a ranger, who stamps out the small leaf fires which originate in its wake. During the ten years in which this company has operated only a little more than 1,000 acres have been burned over and this was cutover land. The officers of the company deem it just as important to keep the fire out of cutover land as out of timber, and are guarding the preserves in such a manner as to insure practically a continuous supply of saw logs and pulp wood. That the work is successful is shown by the thriving condition of the young trees. Above all else, the results secured emphasize the necessity of keeping out fire, which is the gravest and greatest enemy of the forest. — American Lumber- man. The Forests of Alaska. WE have before us Bulletin No. 81 of the U. S. Forest Service, *^ The Forests of Alaska," by R. S. Kellogg, Asst. For- ester, pp. 24, with map and eight full-page half- tone illustrations. This document is already so well condensed that it is hard to make a satisfactory review of it. However, one may say, in the start, that it is an authoritative, timely and illuminating paper. ^* Alaska was purchased in 1867 for $7,200,000. The value of all its products since that date has been nearly $350,000,000." We may therefore consider it a valuable acces- sion and one well worth properly caring for. * * It is ten times as large as the State of Illinois. ' * In 1908 the output of gold was more than $19,000,000. In the same year the value of the salmon packed was in excess of $10,000,000. ** Alaska does not have even a territorial form of government." As low as 80° F. below zero has been registered in winter, and as high as 93° in the summer. ** The summers are short and comparatively hot, the winters long and intensely cold." The woodland and forest area of Alaska is esti- mated at 100,000,000 acres, which is '^ about 27 per cent, of the land surface of the territory. Of these about 20 million acres may possibly bear timber of sufficient size and density to be consid- ered forest in the sense that much of it can be used for saw timber, while the balance, or 80 million acres, is woodland which bears some saw timber, but in which the forest is of a smaller and more scattered character and valuable chiefly for fuel." Even on the southern coast portion of Alaska the timber line does not extend to an altitude greater than 1500 feet above tide. Sitka spruce occasionally attains a diameter of six feet and a height of one hundred and fifty, though sometimes its growth is extremely slow. A forty inch stump showed 230 rings; another log, fifty-four inches in diameter, had 600 annual rings. *' The annual lumber cut in the coast forests of Alaska is about 27,000,000 board feet." One of our largest Pennsylvania mills could cut this in less than four months. ^* Most of the Alaska lumber product goes into manufacture of salmon cases. It requires five or six board feet to make a case, which, at the sawmills, usually sells for ten cents. Alaska forests should supply the home demand for a considerable period, though the timber for heavy frames, and the like, must come from elsewhere. Pulp industry should be encouraged in Alaska. ** The interior forests are practically all included within the drainage basins of the Yukon and Kus- kokwin rivers." The white spruce furnishes the only saw timber. ^^The interior of Alaska depends entirely upon wood for heat, light and power." ** Agriculture in the interior of Alaska should eventually be sufficient to supply at least the local needs for vegetables and for horse and cattle feed. ** Alaskan forests are overmature. Carefully- planned cutting should take place as soon as possible." It is quite impossible to do justice to this admi- rable paper in any brief notice. All who wish to form an intelligent opinion as to the value of Alaska and of the conditions there, should obtain and read it. J. T. Rothrock. The President has signed a proclamation elimi- nating 16,012 acres from the Deerlodge National Forest, Montana, and transferring approximately 33,358 acres from the Deerlodge to the Beaver- head. The eliminations are the result of a careful examination, which showed that the lands are primarily grazing or agricultural in character. Another proclamation eliminates 383,809 acres from the Coronado National Forest in Arizona, and adding 15,120 acres. The additions to the Coronado consist of small tracts along the western edge of the Santa Catalina Division, and the southern part of the Santa Rita Division. The forest cover is composed of pinon, juniper, and oak, which cut five cords to the acre. 154 FOREST LEAVES. Some Notes on Wood Preservation. (Read at the Foresters' Convention at Harrisburg, Pa.) L/OR a number of years the problem of con- jp* serving our forests has attracted much at- tention. The knowledge that with our present consumption and the present system of forest management, the lumber supply will be exhausted in a comparatively short time, has again and again been forced upon the attention of the great wood consumers of this country. Attempts, by both the Government and private corporations, have been and are being made to prevent waste from improper management of forest land ; but, ^o far, much less emphasis has been placed on the equally important question of reducing the con- sumption of forest products. It is very well to make any area produce two sticks of timber where before there was but one ; still, it is just as good lumber economy to double the life of the first stick, and there is the added advantage of an im- mense saving to the consumer. Although, generally speaking, the subject of wood preservation has only recently attracted at- tention, yet, that it was possible to treat wood so that its life would be greatly increased, has been understood for a long time. The Greeks, though believing that their famous statue of Diana at Ephesus was a divine gift, did not trust the gods to preserve it for them. This statue and the plat- form on which stood the statue of Zeus, by Phi- dias, were smeared over with pitch to preserve them from the action of the elements. In Eng- land experimental work in timber preservation I commenced over one hundred years' ago. Prior ! to 1875 one hundred and seventy different pro- j cesses were tried. These covered a wide range ! of preservative materials, many of which were I either useless or too expensive for commercial purposes. Gradually, by a system of ''the survival of the fittest," we have come to be- lieve only a few methods worthy of considera- tion. The rising prominence of this subject is largely due to the development of the great railway sys- tems, with their enormous demands for timber as crossties and the evident economy in giving these a preservative treatment. In 1900 there were but 14 timber-treating plants in this country ; now there are over 70. During the year 1907, 14 plants were finished or in the course of construc- tion. Several were built during the year of the panic, or last year, and not less than 10 plants are now either in process of erection or plans and -contracts are being made for their construction. If the plants in this country worked with ties only, they could treat nearly 40,000,000, or one third of the annual demand. In a discussion on this subject it becomes neces- sary to cover only certain lines of the work ; so I will confine myself to preservative treatment with creosote, speaking of the production and character of the oil, methods of treatment, and the results that will follow. Creosote Oil. — The heavy or dead oil of tar, known commercially as creosote, is used much more extensively and with better results than any other preservative. This material is a byproduct of the manufacture of either coal gas or coke. A creosote is also distilled from wood ; but, though a vigorous antiseptic, as a preservative, wood creosote is not to be compared with coal-tar oil. This heavy oil of tar has no chemical symbol, being made up of many compounds, including a large number of hydrocarbons, phenols, naphtha- lene, anthracene, etc. The thick, sticky, black substance called tar, which is a necessary product in the manufacture of coal gas, or which may be a by-product of the coke oven, is separated by distillation into three parts: (i) light oils ; (2) heavy oils; (3) residue, or pitch. The second part, distilled between the temperatures of 480° and 760° F., is our commercial creosote. It has an odor resembling that of smoked fish or meat, which, in fact, owe their odor to the wood creo- sote of the smoke with which they are permeated. Naturally, there is considerable variation in the composition of a material obtained under the radically different conditions which we find in the production of this oil. Many criticisms of wood preserved with creo- sote have been made unjustly, since the cause of fault or failure was due to the quality of the oil used; consequently, no little attention has been given to the grading of creosote, with the result that its quality has been greatly im- proved. Some large consumers of creosote have held that a large percentage of naphthalene was essen- tial, claiming that it acts both as an antiseptic and a seal ; but it has also been shown by the analysis of the oil in wood preserved for a considerable length of time that all, or nearly all, the naph- thalene disappears in a comparatively short time. A general conclusion has been reached that the bulk of any satisfactory creosote will consist of the fractions which distill over at high tempera- tures. Not over 5 per cent, should come up to 2 10 degrees C; up to 235 degrees C., not over 25 per cent., all told. These low fractions contain most of the acids and naphthalene. The higher frac- tions are the non-soluble and non-volatile constitu- ents. The residue above the highest possible FOREST LEAVES. 155 distillation temperature should not exceed 5 per cent. This standard was adopted in 1909 by the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association, and is meeting with such general favor among the users of creosote that already American manufacturers have materially improved the character of their product, until now American oil can be procured which will compare not unfavorably with much of the im- ported product. Commercial creosote in general may be said to have a flashing-point of 250 degrees F. and a burning-point of 300 degrees F. The specific gravity of this oil is from 1.03 to 1.09 at 60 degrees F. It costs about eight cents per gallon in this country. In preserving wood, creosote acts in two ways, and for this reason stands alone as a preservative. It is an antiseptic ; thus it destroys the food of the wood-destroying fungi. Some parts of it are very viscid at ordinary temperatures ; these, after being injected into the wood in sufficient quantities, fill and solidify within the cell structure, destroying the porosity of the wood and keeping the wood fibre dry, thereby preventing fungi from getting the mois- ture necessary to their growth. There is probably no difference of opinion with regard to the value of creosote as a preservative, the difference in practice being due wholly to the cost of treatment. In Europe, creosote is cheap ; consequently, it is used almost exclusively. In America, as yet, the supply does not meet the demand, and much must be imported ; hence, other materials of less preservative value, but also of less cost, are used. Methods. — The methods used in applying pre- servatives may be divided into two classes : Those not using pressure and those using pressure. There are two ]:)rocesses of treatment without pressure : The dipping or brush treatment, and the so-called open-tank process. A number of woods, for some purposes, may have a considerably increased length of usefulness when simply dipped into, or coated with, a pre- servative. Timber for this treatment must first be well-seasoned, then given several applications of hot oil. Telephone and telegraph poles will have their average life increased one-half by this very simple process. Shingles and other exposed woods subject to little or no mechanical wear may be profitably treated in this way. The field for this process is necessarily limited, and judgment as well as experience will tell where it can be employed advantageously. ^ The open-tank process, as its name indicates, was originally used with an open tank, but is now more generally used with a cylinder similar to, though lighter and shorter than, the one to be described under the pressure process. The closed tank or cylinder is used to prevent waste by evaporation, and also because the application is thereby made easier. In this process, the timbers to receive treatment are submerged in oil heated to about 200 degrees F. and held in this from two to four hours. During this part of the treatment, some oil will penetrate the outside layers of wood fibre, and the air within the cells will be greatly expanded and considerable driven off. At the end of the time given to this part of the operation, this hot oil is replaced by oil at about 135 degrees F. The air within the wood structure, on cooling, condenses, causing a vacuum, to fill which the oil from the outside is drawn in. This step requires much less time than the first. Though the pene- tration is very light at the end of the first step, after the second a considerable penetration is obtained. In the third part of the operation, hot oil replaces the cold, and the oil already in the wood, acting as a conductor, will cause the timber to be heated throughout. The air again expands and is driven off, as before. After the wood has been sufficiently heated the oil is withdrawn, leaving the timbers to cool to the atmospheric temperature. Again the vacuum caused by the air contraction draws the oil from the outside into the inner cells. Loblolly and short-leaf pines can be given a very complete penetration by this method, while red oak and many other hardwoods can also be treated successfully. This method of creosoting may be used with tanks of such simple construction that it is avail- able for any user of wood material. At the Penn- sylvania Railroad forest nursery, near Morrisville, Pa., posts, stakes, shade frames, etc., are treated in this manner. The whole equipment consists of two upright cylindrical tanks, each of about 100 gallons capacity, set upon rocks so that fires can be built under them. One tank is for hot oil and the other for cold. At the end of a step in the treatment, the material is simply transferred from one tank to the other. In a neighborhood where several men wish to treat wood material, it will be found economical to use a partnership plant, and elaborate on this very simple construction by adding equipment for aiding in the transfer of material, providing to catch the drip, regulating temperatures, etc. For telephone poles, an open horizontal tank in which the butts can be sub- merged will be seen to be economical ; but for other timbers, a closed tank is undoubtedly pre- ferable. This process is to be recommended where a cheap treatment is required and such a limited amount of timber is to be treated that an expensive plant would necessitate too great an outlay of money for economy. y 156 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 157 \\'ith all methods of pressure treatment, the advisability of giving a preliminary treatment with live steam is a pertinent question. Some men, with a wide experience in this work, advo- cate the use of steam in all cases, holding that the steam and accompanying heat will act on the juices and gums in the wood, so that when a vacuum is afterward applied these will be readily drawn from the wood cells. It is also claimed that the heat applied will coagulate the albumen of the wood, endering this decay-proof. Again the steam is expected to expand the cells and soften the wood fibre, thus giving an easier and deeper penetration. On the other hand, in ap- plying steam under pressure sufficient to insure these results, there is danger of doing serious injury to the wood fibre, weakening or making brittle Its structure. Recent experiments made by Dr. VV. K. Hatt prove that timber is weakened by being subjected to steam under pressure. The loss in strength varies with the pressure and the duration of such treatment. The following table gives the results obtained with loblolly pine • « Strength of unsteamed wood, " wood steamed 4 hours at 10 lbs. *' '' '' 4 " *' 20 " (( (( (( (t it it 4 4 4 4 4 if <( 30 40 <* ** 100 ♦* 100 89 84 75 76 68 41 These figures have been corrected so that the tests represent the strength of wood at the same degree of moisture. Even when steam is applied for a number of hours, an examination will show that at the center of a tie the wood will not be heated sufficiently to accomplish the desired ob- ject, for wood is a very poor conductor of heat Even though coagulated, the albumen is not pro- tected from decay, as is shown in the instance of a hard-boiled egg when exposed. The juices of the timber can be satisfactorily eliminated by tnorough air seasoning. This alone will add con- siderably to the life of the wood, besides giving It greatly increased strength ; the increase in life being more than sufficient to pay the cost in- volved in storage. In the treatment of unseasoned wood, a preliminary steaming is undoubtedly essential ; but better results can be obtained with the use of wood thoroughly air-seasoned. The subject of seasoning is entirely too broad to be dealt with here, but in passing I will make a tew observations on this matter, so vitally con- nected with preservative treatment. Ties should be piled at the treating plant in such a manner as to expose the greatest surface to the free circulation of the air. Ties piled in open cribs season much more rapidly than when piled close. The 7 x i system of piling will give the best results, though 7 x 7 will be quite satis- factory. Woods vary considerably in their sea- soning properties. The coniferous woods check and split slightly as compared to most of the broadleaf woods. Such woods as beech, ash, elm, etc., have a tendency to check in rapid seasoning' but this tendency can be prevented by the use of ''S" irons. To insure the most satisfactory ab- sorption of creosote and to get the best results; from treatment, ties and other timbers should be allowed to season at least ten months, or prefer- ably a year. Wood-preserving plants equipped for a pressure process have cylinders of sheet steel from f^ to I inch thick, usually about 6 feet in diameter (sometimes larger), and from 60 to 150 feet long, fitted with heavy, air-tight doors, every part capable of withstanding a pressure of 200 or more pounds per inch. In connection with these, there are heating coils, pumps, storage and working tanks. When a large quantity of timber is to be treated^ it is also neces'^ary to have a large storage yard where the wood can season. The timber to be treated is loaded on tram cars built to fit the cylinder; these tram cars are col- lected until enough are ready for a charge ; the train is then run into the cylinder, the door closed, and the treatment applied. Either following the preliminary steam treat- ment, or as the first step, a vacuum of about 25 inches is drawn for from i to 2 hours. Creosote oil is then admitted until the impregnation cylin- der is full. As quickly as possible thereafter, a pressure of from 90 to 180 pounds is obtained and held until the desired absorption has taken place. The length of time depends upon the character and species of the wood being treated. Eight to twelve pounds of oil to the cubic foot is generally considered sufficient for ties, while tim- ber for piling requires upwards of twelve pounds. At the end of the pressure the oil is pumped or blown back into the working tanks, which com- pletes this process. There are many variations from, and additions to, this general description. With some woods a greater penetration is ob- tained by changes in the temperature of the 01} while under pressure, thus using the same princi- ples which operate in the open-tank process. In some cases a final air-pressure is applied to over- come the tendency of the oil to lodge near the surface of the wood. This pressure drives the oil in from the surface and deposits it more evenly throughout the mass. Sometimes a greater amount of oil than is required is driven into the wood, and a final vacuum withdraws a small part of this until only the desired amount of oil re- mains in the timber. All of these variations have the single purpose of getting the maximum pene- tration with a minimum amount of oil, work- ing on the well-established principle that if the cell walls are thoroughly covered with creosote, there is merely a waste of oil in filling the cell cavity. The treatment will cost approximately thirty-five cents per tie. Timber thus treated will be proof against decay for from fifteen to twenty years, sometimes more, and can be used under all conditions. Results, — The economic results of giving a pre- servative treatment to wood may be noted in two ways : That arising from the use of a much larger number of species, and that of still greater economy to the consumer, from a longer usefulness of the species used. In noting these results, I will speak principally of ties, since, in railroad work, ties form the bulk of the material treated, and, conse- quently, figures on these are more easily procured. However, it must be remembered that what is true of ties is also true of other kinds of wood material. Formerly, eastern railroads used white oaks almost exclusively for ties. The consequent drain upon this supply has resulted in its comparative exhaustion, so that the less valuable red oaks have been replacing this very high grade of wood. Already, however, it can be seen that the supply of even these latter species is limited, and another substitution must be made. While for some pur- poses it may be difficult to use anything in place of oak lumber, yet in foreign countries it has been found that for ties many of the other hardwoods, when given a good preservative treatment, will give a more economic service than even the best white oak. This brings into use such woods as beech, birch and maple, which have hitherto been comparatively valueless. It also makes it profit- able to use for tie timber the enormous supplies of southern pine and gum. I can illustrate this from the species used on the Pennsylvania Railroad. In July, 1909, we began the operation of our treating plant at Mt. Union, Pa. Foreseeing the possibilities in treating inferior woods, specifica- tions and prices were sent out covering beech, maple, birch and gum. During the few months of 1909 in which these specifications were in force, the Pennsylvania Railroad purchased 54,298 cross- ties and nearly three-quarters of a million board feet of switch ties of these species, or a consider- able proportion of its local deliveries. During the present year, as it becomes more generally known that there is a market for these woods, a very much greater supply will become available for the railroad's use. This substitution is tiot limited to ties alone, but it may extend into almost every detail of construction where wood is used ; and in the interest of forest economy the substitution of these inferior woods for the I higher grade species has almost limitless possi- 1 bilities. In answering the question, ** How long will a I treated tie last ? ' ' there are many factors which must be taken into consideration, such as the kina of wood treated, the process used, the condition of the road-bed where it is placed,^ the locality where used, the amount of traffic which the track must bear, etc. To estimate the economy in preservative treatment, we must know how long an untreated tie will last under similar conditions and draw our conclusions from comparative re- sults. In foreign countries, where creosoting has been practiced for many y :ars, it is not at all unusual to find ties which have been in service for 20 years, and occasionally some for thirty years. In this country, no railroad has a record of creosoted ties which will determine absolutely what length of life can be given by a creosote treatment, but an average of 15 years is a reason- able expectation. If we are to expect the full value of our pre- servative treatment, we must protect the ties in track from mechanical wear. There is no economy in preventing decay for 15 years and then allow- ing a tie to be rail-cut or spike-split until useless in five or six ; consequently, larger tie-plates and screw spikes are the inevitable demand where treated ties are used. In the following tables are shown, first, the cost of untreated and treated ties in track ; second, the length of service of each, and the annual charge which must beset aside in order to main- tain each, interest compounded at 5 per cent : Cost of Untreated Ties in Track. 1 1 bo M B Species. lial Cos rdinary ie- Plate of Putt Track • 'c Cr- 0 1 'J White oak, .... % .70 % .50 ^ -35 51.55 Mixed oak, .... .55 .50 .35 1.40 Misc. hardwoods, . . ."^o •50 .35 1-35 Lol)lolly pine, . . . .60 .50 35 1-45 Cost of Treated Ties in Track, Species. Mixed Ovik, . . . Misc. hardwoods, . Loblolly pine, . . o 'J is 'c e I/) o •55 .50 .60 35 35 35 0) Zm C S a u^n: *** w^ ^^ o u O H 60 _ .60 ! .60 .50 $2.00 .^o 1.95 .50 j 2.05 158 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 159- ■ Annual Saving on Treated Ties. UNTREATED. Species. Life. Cost in Track. Annual Charge. White oak, Mixed oak, Mi.scellaneous hardwoods, . Loblolly pine, Years. 7 4 4 4 ^1.55 1.40 1.35 1.45 % .267 .395 .389 .409 TREATED. Species. • Yrs. 14 12 12 Cost in Track. Annual Charge. Annual Saving. Annual Saving Over Untreated While Oak. White oak, .... Mixed oak, .... Misc. hardwoods, . Loblolly pine, . . . Does ;j52.oo 1.95 2.05 not $ .202 .218 .229 1 pay to $ .193 .162 .18 treat. $ .065 .049 .038 Even if it were possible to obtain unlimited supplies of white oak at present prices, it would be profitable to use the creosoted inferior woods in railroad construction and maintenance. In addition to the economy in cost, the lengthened life of ties gives permanency, smoothness and safety to the road-bed. Even at the same cost, a single tie is preferable to two ties whose combined life is but equal to this single tie. In the estimated economy in using treated crossties, one factor has not been mentioned, namely, the almost constant increase in their initial cost. This, in the 10 years previous to 1908, was about 3 cents per tie annually. . If this inevitable increase were figured against the annual charge to maintain the ties in track, the annual saving in favor of the treated ties would be very much greater than that shown in the tables. It may occur to some to inquire concerning the strength of wood after treatment. Extensive tests made by the Forest Service show that air-seasoned wood when creosoted without the use of the steam bath, is slightly stronger than untreated wood. This result is doubtless due to the absence of moisture in the wood, the presence of the creosote having no weakening effect. Since the Pennsylvania Railroad has been the first of the eastern railroads to begin extensive work in the preservation of its ties and other wood material, I may be permitted, in closing, to summarize the work which this road is doing in this line. Our first plant was located at Mt. Union, Pa., a situation in about the centre of the road's local supply of hardwoods. This plant was put into operation in July, 1909, and has run continuously since that time. It has one impregnation cylin- der, 142 feet long, and equipment such that treatment can be made by any established method. During the time the plant was running in 1909, we treated 185,790 crossties and 264,000 board feet of other wood material. The total output in board feet was 7,918,200. A non-pressure plant was located at Greenwich. Point, Philadelphia, with an impregnation cylin- der 39 feet long. This plant was also put into- operation in July, 1909, and in the operations of that year treated 432,000 board feet, about 70 per cent, of which were ties. At present the Pennsylvania Railroad is erect- ing another pressure plant at Greenwich Point.* This site was chosen because at this point lumber schooners discharge large quantities of oak, pine and gum which they have brought from the south. With these three plants in full operation, the Pennsylvania Railroad will be abld^ tx) creosote annually one and one-half million ties, or an equivalent of 70 million board feet. The fact that our railroads and other large wood consumers have become convinced that there is great economy in giving a preservative treatment to the wood which they use, should call the atten- tion of all interested in either the growth or manu- facture of lumber to the possibilities in this field. In the interest of forest conservation, there is no- factor productive of greater or more practical results than the preservative treatment of wood products. C. W. Tiffany. The Biltmore Forest School has just issued a neat booklet of its school year for 1910-1911, giving a list of its lectures, suggestions for pros- pective students, etc. During the winter the school will have its headquarters at Darmstadt, Germany, where the Rhine forests, the German lumber market, and the import and export of lumber into Europe will be studied. Returning to the United States in the spring, four weeks will be spent in the Adi- rondacks, where the system of State forestry, and logging operations in the vicinity will be in- spected. During the late spring and summer the school will be encamped in the Southern Appa- lachian Region, near Biltmore, N. C., where the varied forest problems will be solved. The fall months will be spent in the Lake States, where there are excellent opportunities for the investiga- tion of logging and milling operations on a large scale. * Now completed and in operation. J. T. ROTHROCK, Consulting Forester, WEST CHESTER, PA. Terms upon Application. FOREST LEAVER. o<|>o THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE L.S3ACIS* TREE CHKRTS. Part I.— THE OAKS. Forty-two species. No. 1. Biennial Fruited Oaks. Black Oak and Allies. No. 2. Annual Fruited Oaks. White Oak and Allies. No. 3. Southern, Pacific, Hardy, Foreign, and examples qf Extinct Oaks. Part II.— THE NUT BEARERS. Numerous species. No. 4. The Chestnuts and Beeches. American, Japanese and European Chestnuts. No. 5. The Walnuts. American, Japanese and European species and varieties. No. 6. The Hickories. American species and varieties. Part III.— No. 7. The Willows and Poplars. Numerous species. No. 8. The Birches, Elms and allies. No. 9. 77ie Lindens, and allied families of numerous species. Part IV.— ♦No. 10. The Magnolia and related trees. ♦No. 11. The Horse Chestnuts and allies. No. 12. Tfie Maples, (Printed in advance.) (Those with an * as yet unprinted.) Price for the ten Charts published, |4.00. For further information address the author, publisher and proprietor, GRACEANNA LEWIS, Media, .... Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Forestry Association^ ^2^^P^ The attention of the advertising public: is called to the advantages we offer as a medium. Address, 1012 Walnut Street,. Philadelphia, Pa. *5^^^ RATES ■ • 1 insertion. i • nsertions. ta insertions.. I inch, . . $1.00 $4.00 $8.oa 'A page, . . 4.00 17.00 34.0O" 73 • • 7.00 30.00 60.00- a • • 12.00 50.00 loo.oa aal— a^ I I IIPIJI I ' ■! "I"'-^"- ■ "■ ■ 160 FOREST LEAVES. Qi^S^*^^^, The Pennsylvania State College FOUR YEAR COURSE IN FORESTRY. A thorough and practical undergraduate course in technical forestry — preparing men for all lines of professional and applied forestry. Special attention is paid to practical field work in surveying, mapping and forest measurements. One of the largest of the State Forest Reserves is within a short walk of the College. For information regarding entrance requirements, expenses, etc., address DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, STATE COLLEGE, PA. CONSULTING AND OPERATING Tlie beauty and value of forest growth depends materially on the proper care and training of the trees. Nature is in many things a rough mother. Her method of pruning leads to decay ; she over- burdens the trees with superabundant growth ; the feeding matter is washed off the hillsides and in exposed situations the dropping leaves, the main source of food supply, are blown away. Proper and scientific pruning will prevent decay and relieve the tree of superfluous growth, while well advised planting will conserve the food supply. "With our professional foresters and trained corps of scientific {iruners we are prepared to give the best possible attention to forestry problems and to properly treat ornamental trees and shrubs of all kinds. Biltmore Forest School, BILTMORE, N. C. 0 0 0 0 The Biltmore Forest School is the oldest school of forestry and lumbering in America. Its working fields comprise the Southern Appalachians, the Lake States, and Central Germany. It never leaves the woods. The complete course covers twelve consecutive months at the school, fol- lowed by six consecutive months of practical prenticeship. Write for particulars, addressing C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D., Director, BILTMORE, N. C. Thomas Meehan & Sons, Inc. LANDSCAPE GARDENERS AND ENGINEERS Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Pa. CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, CHESTNUT HILL, FHILA. go minutes from Broad St. Station. BOARDINO SCHOOL FOR BOYS. niustrated Catalogue upon application* JAMES L. PATTERSON, Head Master. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rt. Rev. Ozi W. Whitaker, D.D., President. Samuel F. Houston, Vice-President. GEORGE Woodward, Secretary and Treasurer. JAMES M. BECK, WALTON CLARK. J.VCOB 8. DI3ST0N. EDOAR DUDLEY PARIES. FRANCIS I. GOWEN. J. LEVERING JONES. DR. HOWARD A. KELLY. FRANCIS D. LEWIS. RANDAL MORGAN. H. GORDON MCCOUCH. GIFFORD PINCHOT. JAMES R.SHEFFIELD. Vol. XII. Philadelphia, October, igio. No. II. Published Bi- Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, loia Walnut St„ Philadelphia, Pa. Entered at the Philadelphia Po,t-(Jffice as secon* -,iass matter. CONTENTS. Editorial i6i Autumn Arbor Day 162 Treating liarked Maple Trees 162 Seed for Restocking National Forests 163 Influence of Forests Upon the Climate of the Surrounding Coun- try. 164 Reforesting Our Denuded White Pine and Hemlock Lands 166 Prostrate Juniper i63 The Forest Nursery 168 Special Instruction in Saving Timbers, etc 169 The Important Timber Trees of Pennsylvania, and Where They Should be Planted 170 New Publications 174 Subscription, $1.00 per Year. The attention of Nurserymen and others is called to the advantages ^Forest Leaves as an advertising ntediunt. Rates will be fur nished on amplication. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Founded in June, 1886, Labors to disseminate information in regard to the necessity and methods of forest culture and preservation, and to secure the enact- ment and enforcement of proper forest protective laws, both State and National. Annual membership fee ^ Two dollars. Life membership, Twenty-five dollars. Neither the membership nor the work of this Association is intended to be limited to the State of Pennsylvania. Persons desiring to become members should send their names to the Chairman of the Membership Committee, 1012 Walnut Street, Phila. President, John Birkinbine. Vice-Presidents, Wm. S. Harvey, James C. Haydon, Albert Lewis. Richard Wood. General Secretary, Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. Recording Secretary, F. L. Bitler. Treasurer, Charles E. Pancoast. Councilat- Large, Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Hon. Robert S. Conklin, Samuel L. Smedley. Finance, W. S. Harvey, Chairman ; Dr. Henry M. Fisher, W. W. Frazier, Charles E. Pancoast, and J. Rodman Paul. Membership, Albert B. Weimer, Chairman : Mrs. George F. Baer, Edwin Swift Balch, Robert S. Conklin, Hon, Lucien W. Doty, Dr. J. T. Rothrock, W.W. Scranton, Dr. Samuel Wolfe, and Hon. S. P. Wol verton . Law, Hon. W. N. Ashman, Chairman; Henry Budd, and John A. Siner. Publication, Tohn Birkinbine, Chairman ; F. L. Bitler, S. B. Elliott, Alfred Paschalf, and Harrison Souder. Work, Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Chairman ; Miss Mary Blakiston, Mrs. George T. Heston, Miss Florence Keen, William 8. Kirk, J. Franklin Meehan, and Abraham S. Schropp, County Organization ^zmvL^X Marshall, Chairman; Eugene Ellicott, James C. Haydon, Dr. J. Newton Hunsberger, and Richard Wood. Officb of thb Association, loia Walnut St.. Philadblphia. EDITORIAL. THE late Conservation Congress attracted wide attention because of the distinguished " and able men who participated, and also be- cause of the efforts to control the organization and dictate its action. It is far from satisfactory to those who have, year after year, used their best efforts to awaken the public interest in features of conservation to find the good cause endangered by discord amone those who speak its praises and assert their interest. Forest Leaves has con- stantly affirmed its belief that forestry was the cause of the whole people, and has consistently kept aloof from any political affiliations, claiming that conservation should not be allowed to become a partisan cry or a factional shibboleth. Trees may be expected to grow equally well whether a democrat or a republican serves as the head of the nation ; neither populist or socialist can restrain the flow of water, and crops will grow for insurgents or regulars. The conservator is he who accomplishes most to advance the cause, and not he who shouts its praises loudest. The injection of methods of the politician to control the organization and Committees of the late Convention was as a discordant note in a tune- ful melody — out of place, out of time, out of har- mony. We recognize the importance of discussing the best ways and means to advance conservation, the proper method of control for our resources, the surest course to follow to obtain present and prospective value from them, independent of the individuals who exploit various ideas. The man must be subservient to the cause and the policy of the individual must be indorsed only as the prosperity of the nation is advanced thereby. Whether the nation or the States control the natural resources is of moment only so far as either can show the best results, and comparison must be i • 162 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 168 Hi II made in equity and not according to the views of bureaucratic enthusiasts. The question is an im- portant one, to be decided after mature delibera- tion when conditions, facts, and results are fairly presented without bias ; strong forcible arguments have been made and others will be advanced on both sides of what is being made a controversy, and our readers need not hasten to champion either side, for after the hysteria of opposition has sub- sided calm judgment will determine the best course for the country. The nation and the States have been refniss in the past, but in late years the general and some State governments have attempted remedial meas- ures ; some of these were successful and some are far from accomplishing what was attempted. While we have no desire at the present time to discuss the merits of National or State control of natural resources, we challenge comparison with results accomplished in Pennsylvania, believing that neither National nor State governments can show more advantageous use of money expended, especially if our State is credited with the direct purchase of forest reserves as against those with- drawn from entry by the National Government or donated or granted to States. A story told by the late Ian Maclaren seems to illustrate the present controversial tendency among those who claim enthusiasm Yor conservation. Approaching a small village in Scotland, the dominie expressed surprise that it could support two imposing churches, and remarked that **the people must be very religious;" to which his guide replied, ''It is not so much religion as bad temper. ' ' The country is large, conservation is a big ques- tion, but we must not permit our favor for National or State control, our belief in individuals, to build up two or more factions claiming loyalty to the samq creed Pennsylvania was represented by sixteen dele- gates at the Convention, among whpm were Vice- President W. S. Harvey, Miss Myra L. Dock, and A. B. Farquhar, of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association ; and we understand that this delega- tion was influential in keeping the Convention from becoming a political echo. In making a report for Pennsylvania, Mr. W. S. Harvey emphasized the work of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, and told what the Pennsyl- vania Forestry Reservation Commission, by eco- nomical business administration, was accomplish- ing in the way of practical forestry. J. B. Autumn Arbor Day. '* He who plants a tree, He plants love ; Tents of coolness spreading out above Wayfarers he may not live to see. Gifts that grow^ are best ; Hands that bless are blest. Plant-Life does the rest ! Heaven and earth help him who plants a tree, And his work his own reward shall be." Lucy Larcc)M. THE observance of Arbor Day has created a patriotic interest in the planting and pres- ervation of trees. It has convinced the public of the importance of preventing and stop- ping forest fires, of the need of reforesting the vast mountain areas from which the timber has been cut, and of the necessity of conserving the forests at the sources of our streams, thereby to regulate the flosv of water and to lessen the floods and freshets which rob the land of its soil and fertility. Moreover, it is now generally admitted that Arbor Day should be observed when all the coun- try schools are in session. For this purpose Friday, October 28, 19 10, is designated as Autumn Arbor Day, and all the schools, both public and private, are hereby urged to observe the day by suitable exercises, especially by the planting of trees. Let us all plant trees and ask others to plant trees. Let us plant trees for fruit, for shade, for beauty and for the sake of the many industries in w^hich wood is used. Let us plant trees for the sake of ourselves and our posterity, for the sake of the nation and of humanity everywhere. Let us put our prayers for future blessings into visible shape by starting trees that will answer our prayers by making pos- sible the conservation of our national resources and the perpetuation of our national greatness. Nathan C. Schaeffer, State Supt. of Public Instruction, Prof. Farrier of McGill University, Montreal, Canada, stated that one ton of sawdust will pro- duce 20 gallons of wood alcohol. Treating Barked Maple Trees. 7\ BUSINESS man of Mauch Chunk, Pa,,. /^ whose maple shade trees were badly '^ barked to the sapwood, sent a letter to Prof. H. A. Surface, State Zoologist, for informa- tion as to what to do to help the trees outgrow their injury, to whom the Professor wrote : ** Replying to your letter asking what to do to help your maple shade trees, which have been skinned to the sapwood, I beg to say that I can recommend nothing better than to treat imme- , diately any tree that has been skinned by painting. it with warm or melted grafting wax, and then cov- ering it with a thick plaster made of equal parts of fresh cow manure and clay, bound in place with cloths such as old gunny sacks. Part of the virtue of treatment, for a skinned or peeled tree, consists in giving an immediate application to keep it from becoming dry. If I had no other way to do tliis at once, I should simply apply a coating of mud, and when I could get the grafting wax readily I should wash off the mud, and then give the graft- ing-wax application, because this would be more permanent than anything else. '* It would also be well to cut back the tops of the trees to some extent, because the area through which sap has been flowing has now been reduced, and it will give a reduction in the vitality of the tree if not cut back some. ** Where the tree has decayed spots, such as you describe, it is advisable to cut out the decayed wood and fill the cavity with cement made by mixing sand and Portland cement together — three parts of sand to one of cement. If borers are present, you can destroy them by injecting carbon bisulfide into their holes. Do this by using the liquid in a spring bottom oil can, and then close the holes with clay." Seed for Restocking National Forests. THE U. S. Forest Service is using this year on the National Forests over 10 tons of tree seed. It takes a great many tree seeds to make 10 tons. Jack pine, the most important tree for planting in the Nebraska sand hills by the Forest Service, will average something like 125,000 to the pound. Of Western yellow pine, the tree most extensively planted throughout the National Forests as a whole, 10,000 seed will make a pound. Altogether the 10 tons of seed to be used this year represent perhaps 300,000,000 single seeds. If every seed could be depended on to produce a young tree suitable for planting, the result would be a supply of nursery stock sufficient to plant 300,000 acres of land, but no such result can be looked for because many seeds do not germinate. Most of the seed was sown, either broadcast or in seed spots, or planted with a corn-planter, directly in the place where the trees are to stand. Even when nursery stock is raised a liberal allow- ance must be made for loss. In the first place, a considerable percentage of the s^eds will be found to be infertile. Of those which germinate, many will die before they leave the nursery beds, and many more will be lost in transplanting. If from a pound of Western yellow pine seed that contains 10,000 '■ individual seeds, 4,000 three-year-old transplants are available for field planting, the Department of Agriculture has obtained satisfac- tory results. There are now 24 National Forest nurseries with an annual productive capacity of over 8,000,000 seedlings. But there are many millions of old burns on the National Forests which are waiting to be restocked, and some quicker and cheaper method than the actual planting of nursery-grown trees is urgently needed. Therefore the foresters are making experiments on a large scale with dif- ferent methods of direct sowing and planting, and most of the seed gathered last year was obtained for this use. ^ Broadcasting has already been found to give good results in some regions. It was first tried in the Black Hills of South Dakota, with an encourag- ing outcome. To broadcast an acre of land with yellow pine seed, about 8 pounds of seed is used. One of the most formidable drawbacks to this method is the extent to which the seed may be consumed by birds and rodents. If the season happens to be one in which food for these animals is scarce, the loss is verv heavy. The problem of control of animal pests, such as field mice, ground squirrels, and gophers, which eat the tree seeds, and also the further problem of preventing the depredations of rabbits, which are altogether too fond of the little trees themselves, whether nur- sery transplants or field grown seedlings, is receiv- ing the attention of the Biological Survey experts o( the Department of Agriculture. In some localities the Department has had to purchase seed, but most of that uhed is gathered by Forest Service men themselves. The cost of gathering has varied for the different regions from 35 cents to $1 a pound. As a rule, the seed is collected in the fall months, when most conifers ripen their seed. Parties of three or four men ordinarily work together. Where lumbering is in progress the collectors follow the sawyers and take the cones directly from the felled trees. In standing timber, the task is much rfiore arduous. The men must often climb tall pines and pull the cones from the branches as best they can. Where these are on the extremities and beyond the reach of the hand, pruning shears are used. The cones are dropped to the ground and then gathered into buckets and transferred to sacks, in which they are carried to a central point for further treatment. The extraction of the seeds is tedious rather than difficult. In some cases the cones are spread out upon sheets in the sun, when, after a time, they open and the seed drop out ; in other cases it is necessary to resort to artificial heat. This is ap- plied by placing the cones upon trays with screen Iti4 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 165 1 I I bottoms and raising the temperature of the room to the proper degree. The cones open, the winged seeds fall out, and the seed is separated finally from Wings and dirt by a fanning mill. A good many seeds have been removed from the cone by hand, but this is a sore trial to the fingers of the pickers and an exceedingly slow process. Influence of Forests Upon the Climate of the Surrounding Country. ^ (Read at the Foresters' Convention, Harrisburg, Pa.) THE covering of the earth's surface at any point exerts a certain influence on the local climate. A large forest acts as much more than simply a wind break, because in passing over areas of woodland, low winds are retarded, and their power to take up moisture from agricultural land which may be to the leeward, is lessened. The force of the wind is lessened on the wind- ward side also, but over a much smaller area. There has been much discussion as to just how far this windbreak effect may be noticeable. For a forest many square miles in extent, the exact distance can hardly be calculated. However, the ordinary windbreak, as a fence or a single ro\V of trees, is expected to create at least a partial calm over a distance of from ten to fifteen times as wide as the windbreak is high. The air in this area has but little motion, and under the direct rays of the sun, the temperature is somewhat higher than where the winds blow without any obstruction whatever. Because of this lack of motion, the evaporation of the mois- ture from the surface of the soil is not so great, and the danger from storms accompanied by high winds, especially those originating in the imme- diate neighborhood, is to a certain extent removed. Instances have been noted where the large build- ings of towns or cities reduced greatly the velocity of winds passing over them. The temperature of the soil in the forest as com- pared to that in the field is the method usually employed in European countries for determining the effects of the forest on temperature. This appears to be the correct method since the air does not receive the greater part of its heat from the rays of the sun directly, but receives it second hand, after it has first been absorbed by the soil and by the objects which are scattered about on the forest floor. The soil is of greater density than the air and is, therefore, harder to heat ; but, after it has once become heated, the energy which it has stored up is given off" slowly to the air im- mediately above it, so that rapid changes of tem- perature which might aff'ect the air through the dust particles contained in it, will have little or no marked effect on the temperature of the forest soil. It is for this reason that the soil has been selected to show the larger changes of tempera- ture, and from which the effects are far reaching. From observations made in central Europe by experiment stations and extending over long periods of time, we find the temperature of the forest soil is from two to three degrees cooler than that of the open country. This cooling effect is caused in part by the leaves absorbing or reflect- ing the sun's rays, while some is lost in evaporat- ing moisture present on the foliage or on the trunks and limbs of the trees. Although the canopy of the forest greatly re- duces the amount of heat which reaches the soil, it also acts as a covering to retain the heat, so that the cooling effect which the forest has been found to exert on the soil, is the difference between its action to keep out heat and its heat retaining power, which amounts to a few degrees in almost every case. The leaves and limbs of the trees have as a helper in keeping the soil cool, any cover of dead leaves, moss, or forest litter which may be present. Any circulation of the air which may take place in the forest, does not have the same drying effect which it would have in the open, because of this second covering of the soil. The water which is thus retained, assists in the cooling process. Heat which reaches the soil is largely taken up in the evaporation of water, so that its heating action is lessened. This coolness of the forest soil, caused by its covers of green foliage and the dead material forming the forest floor, is slowly communicated to the strata of air lying immediately above it. As the air clQse to the ground becomes cooler it also acquires greater weight. It then spreads slowly and begins to flow out of the forest on all sides, so that people living near a large forest may oftentimes receive some benefit from this effect of the woodland, though not actually living within the boundaries of the woods. Warm air from the open field flows in above the tree tops to take its place, and thus a slow form of circulation is set up, similar to that which exists over ponds and lakes. This happens during the warm summer months. On cold nights, the air in the forest may be warmer than that of the surrounding coun- try, which would cause it to rise above the trees and the cooler air to flow in below, causing a circu- lation in the opposite direction. The question as to whether the forest or the lack of it had any .marked climatic effect was first raised in France. At the time of the French Revolution in 1789, most of the laws governing 1^ forests belonging to private owners were abro- gated. There was no longer a law defining a cer- tain diameter limit to which the owners might cut, nor were they compelled to lumber conserva- tively ; so that dangerous slashings were left which nearly always burned over, injuring soil which should be left in good condition for the production of whatever forest crop is to follow. In three or four years, this wholesale destruction of woods was thought by many persons to have a detrimental effect on the climate of France. Many arguments were urged on both sides, but it was realized that the question could be settled satisfactorily only by a long series of observa- tions taken carefully at stated times. The obser- vations were taken by experiment stations, and a system of double stations made. One station was i)laced within the forest to record the chan^jes of temperature there, and a similar station outside the forest in the open country, so that definite conclusions might be arrived at from comparing the temperature within the forest with the tem- f erature outside. The double system of experi- ment stations has been set up both in France and in Germany, so we may expect to have the ques- tion settled as to just how much the presence or absence of a covering of forest trees adds to or detracts from the pleasures and profits afforded us by an even climate. Certainly the extremes of heat and cold are moderated -by a good covering of timber. A growing tree absorbs a certain amount of heat from the air. For instance, the carbon faken from the air helps to make up the com posi- tion of the wood. Heat was required to break this carbon loose from the bulk of the atmosphere and to store it up as part of the makeup of oak, maple or beechwood. When wood is burned this heat is released so that the tree during its growing life has absorbed as much heat from its surround- ings as is given off when the -wood is burned. Mr, Pinchot found, from observations in Bava- ria, that the lowest temperature for each day of a certain year was, in the open, an average of 1 1^ to 2 degrees lower than in the forest, and the highest temperature was 3^^ to 4 degrees higher than that in the forest. Prussian observations and experiments made in Germany show that for ten years the greatest heat of the day in July and August was from 6 to 71^ degrees lower in the forest, and the greatest cold of the night in Janu- ary nearly 3 degrees less than outside. These differences of temperature within and without the forest hold true only for central Europe. It is believed that the difference is greater in our own country, because of the differ- ence in climate. Our extremes of heat and cold , and danger of sudden storms and cold waves are : greater. We have longer dry spells and larger areas devoid of any kind of forest cover. Many j writers think that the double stations of France ; and Germany were too near each other to give best results, the station in the open country usu- ally being hardly a mile from the forest and liable to be affected by the coolness of the forest air. A new system of stations is being employed in j Austria. It is made up of a number of stations, I the first one in the center of a large forest, and ; the others placed at intervals, so that the last one is free from all possible influence from the circu- lation of air set up by the forest. As is well known, especially under the action of strong winds, snow will often eva|X)rate and pass off into the air without melting. Thus, a large amount of water which has actually fallen from the clouds is taken away from us without doing the dry soil any good, and the evaporation proceeds usually four or five times as fast as from water under the same conditions. This great and rapid loss of water is largely prevented by a good growth of trees. Snow usually lies a couple of weeks longer in the woods than in the open. It has long been known that the actual tem- perature of the atmosphere depends not so much upon the direct rays of the sun as upon radiation from the heated surface of the earth. The differ- ence in the character of that surface helps to pro- duce great effects in modifying climate. A large desert, a great stretch of land covered with a thick growth of trees, or a big sheet of water absorb and radiate heat at very different rates. A field which has been newly plowed absorbs and radi- ates heat much more rapidly than a field covered with grass. A barren desert heats the atmosphere above it more than either a lake or a forest ; but, on the other hand, the desert cools sooner by ra- diation, while the heat absorbed by the woodland is diffused through a larger mass and is given off more slowly, tending to stop sudden changes of temperature so dangerous to fruit growing and agricultural crops. Small forests cannot affect the general storm.s which sweep over our country in the direction of the prevailing winds, as do the ocean currents and the mountain ranges, but the forests affect the rainfall in two ways. The first of these is the cold, moist air which is to be found over the forest, and which tends to cause showers, especially in the summer time, and the second is the resist- ance which they offer to the motion of the air currents. There have been many efforts mad*^ to discover just how much a forest may affect the amount of rainfall, but the results do not always agree. The reason for this is that accurate obser- in I 'wpwy/i I 166 FOREST LEAVES. vations are difficult to secure, because rain gauges are not very reliable, and because the height at which they are placed is an important item. A variation of a few feet in height changes greatly the amount of rain caught. Prussian observations show an increase of rainfall over the forest, but the Bavarian observations show no increase what- ever. There is no record of a decrease of rainfall in the United States because of the removing of the timber, but it is argued that most of the land has grown up again, so that a large portion of the land lumbered or burned over supports a certain amount of vegetation. Experiments made in India show an increase in the rainfall over the forests. It is no doubt true that more rain, especially in the form of summer showers, falls over the forest than over open country under like conditions, but just how much more has not been fully worked out. Carl L. Kirk. Reforesting Our Denuded White Pine and Hemlock Lands. (Read at the Foresters' Convention at Harrisburg, Pa.) THE white pine and hemlock forests that originally covered these lands were proba- bly more beautiful, greater in extent, more* easily lumbered and accessible, and more regular in the high quality of timber than any other forest in the State. The process of deforestation sup- ported thousands of people, enriched many, built many of the towns and cities of the central part of the State, and brought about many changes in the landscape and the surrounding country. Where once stood magnificent white pines and hemlocks 2 to 4 feet in diameter, having a clear bole of from 80 to 120 feet, and so dense that noon-day sun could hardly penetrate their foliage, now is found as the only remains of these mag- nificent forests the ugly black stumps and stubs, burned and decayed, and numerous logs left by the lumbermen, lying so thickly at places that one can travel all over the tracts by stepping from log to log. Where once the soil was covered with a thick blanket of moss and other loose litter, fires have consumed the humus and leaf mold, leaving the rocks bare and the roots of the stumps ex- posed. At one time the snows melted gradually during the spring months and kept the springs and streams constant ; now the snows disappear rapidly and there are usually freshets. Springs and streams become strong in the early part of the year, but as summer advances many springs dry up and the streams become stagnant pools. The numerous ruins of railways, tramways, skid- ways, corduroy roads, splash dams, and saw mills indicate the immensity of the operations that once took place here. The people who were engaged in these operations have gone elsewhere to invest their labor and capital, usually in like operations, . leaving here and there a settler who, because of the free and easy life, preferred to remain upon a small plot of land and live upon what the surrounding country afforded. The once busy towns have un- dergone a business stagnation, being in many cases almost deserted and in ruins. The lumberman began by removing the choicest white pine from the most accessible places, and gradually moved back into the interior. He re- lumbered the remaining merchantable white pine, then the hemlock, and finally all the remaining merchantable material, including dead and down timber left in previous operations. This continu- ous lumbering exposed the land to constant fires. The young growth which followed the removal of the white pine and hemlock was killed, leaving nothing of 'value. Immediately after the fires, bracken and briers sprang up, and in some places, in addition to these, sumac, bird cherry, and here and there a maple, oak, chestnut, or cucumber tree, or a clump of them. The deforesting of these lands required time, but a longer period and more labor will be required to reforest and transform them into a country like the original. These lands can never be reforested by natural regeneration. It must be done arti- ficially, by sowing or by planting ; but before any reforesting can be done, it will be necessary to remove some of the material left upon the soil. The reforesting of denuded lands covered with logs, blackberry briers, sumac, and bird cherry is a different matter from what is experienced by many States in reforesting abandoned farms or other bare lands. Here no plantation should be begun until the lands to be planted can be pro- tected. Many times the mere burning of the green material (the bracken, briers, and sumac) by a surface fire, puts the soil in excellent shape for planting ; but unless the stubs upon, and in the vicinity of, the plantation be cut down and a strip of land around it be cleared of combustible material and so maintained, money spent upon a plantation would be thrown away, for it could not be protected from fire. Planting once begun should be conducted on a large scale. From 500 to 1,000 acres should be planted at one time. With a large area the cost per acre for preparing the soil, planting, and pro- tection will be a good deal less than with a small area. The first thing to be done is to clear a strip FOREST LEAVES. 167 around the tract to be planted. Then it can be burned over. This strip must always be kept clear of all combustible material. In many places it should be plowed each year, and where too rocky for plowing, the grass and briers should be mown and burned. In some instances, as on rocky soil, this might be sufficient prepara- tion for planting without utilizing any of the ma- terial on the ground, the cost of preparation would be increased with but slight decrease in the cost of planting and protecting. By utilizing all good material the removal and disposal of logs can be accomplished with little or no extra cost, as there is much that could be used for lumber, shingles, lath, mine caps, props, extract wood," box boards, loose cooperage and charcoal. As similar material on smaller tracts has been profit- ably utilized by individuals paying a stumpage price and bound by contract as to time and man- ner of operation, the State with all its advantages should surely be able to do as well. The State could use its mills continuously and move from one reserve to another along the line of planting operations. It could also hold its sawed materials for higher prices, good roads, or snow, while the private operator usually must sell at once on ac- count of lack of capital. The matter of roads, which are often a big expense to the lumberman, to the State would be merely a matter of perma- nent improvement and a reserve necessity. The burning of all other refuse material while lumber- ing the good material, though at .a slight addi- tional cost, would be an advantage in lumbering the material to be utilized. In every respect the State would possess many advantages over individuals who utilize like products. After these old white pine and hemlock lands have been burned over and cleared of their refuse material, the soil will need no further preparation for the planting. The soil usually becomes loose after a fire, and planting upon the greater part of these lands will be a simple matter. The refor- esting of the smaller and rocky portions w^ll be more difficult and costly. It may be necessary to resort both to planting and sowing. The species that should be planted here is white pine, using 3- or 4-year old transplants. The soil and climate are very favorable for its growth. An increase in diameter of an inch in a single year is known to have been attained in the past. The cost of the plantation per acre will largely depend upon its size and the manner of disposing of refuse material. With, a small plantation, say of about 25 acres, it would be impossible to utilize the logs, and to clear the land of this material would cost from $S to J12 per acre. If the tract were not cleared it would be necessary to make and maintain a fire line around it of about eight- tenths of a mile in length. This would be about eight times the length per acre required for a plan- tation of 640 acres. The entire cost of forming a plantation of from 500 to 1,000 acres would be from $10 to $14 per acre, counting cost of the land at $2, preparation for planting ^i to J3, planting $3 to $4, and white pine transplants at $4 per thousand. Better results may be expected from planted than from natural forests. If the yield table of natural growth of white pine, prepared under the direction of F. W. Rane, State Forester of Mas- sachusetts, and constructed after examining and measuring 177 plats in Massachusetts of various ages, be applicable to these lands, after deducting taxes and cost of production, with interest at 4 per cent, accrued to the end of the rotation period, we may expect at the end of fifty years the following results : From a plantation costing $11 per acre a net profit per acre of J393.65 for first quality soil and $307.15 for second quality soil ; from a plantation costing $14 per acre a net profit of $372.36 for first quality soil and $285.84 for second quality soil. Besides adding wealth to the State directly, it will be benefited indirectly by an increase of wealth in the region where re- forestation has taken place. No better proof can be given than that by Sir John Lubbock in speaking of a region of France. He says, '* The region of the Landes, which fifty years ago was one of the poorest and most misera- ble in France, has now been made one of the most prosperous, owing to the planting of pines. The increased value is estimated at no less than 1,000,000,000 francs. Where there were fifty years ago only a few thousand poor and unhealthy shepherds whose flocks pastured on the scanty her- bage, there are now saw mills, charcoal kilns, and turpentine works, interspersed with thriving vil- lages and fertile agricultural lands." How like at times have these two regions been, anr* now how unlike, the region of the Landes and our white pine and hemlock region. The region of the Landes, the poorest and most miserable in France fifty years ago, was like our denuded white pine and hemlock region is now. Now this region, the richest and healthiest in France, is like our white pine and hemlock region was fifty years ago. Reforestation brought to the one wealth, deforestation to the other poverty. When the lands are clothed again with dark pines, then will they bring forth their quota of the world's comforts and pleasures. Great industries will spring up and be maintained. They will again become fit habitations for birds and beasts ; rest- 168 FOREST LEAVES. ing and restoring places for the tired and the sick ; natural reservoirs for holding water ; their beauty and utility will again be restored, and they will be as they once were and as nature intended they should remain. Wm. F. Dague. Prostrate Juniper. 1 r I ^HE Prostrate Juniper, Jimiperus Alpina of Linnaeus, or Juniperus Nana of Willde- now, differs from the common Juniper by the prostrate manner of its growth and short and less tapering, and mostly ascending or incurved leaves. The first plate represents a specimen on land of Christian M. Shenk, seven miles north of Eliza- bethtown. Pa., in Conewago Township, Dauphin County, on the west slope of what is known as ' Hhe sand hills. ' ' The tree is about 40 feet in diam - eter ; the shape is not round, but nearly square, covering 1,600 square feet of space; 24 inches high, spreading over the ground like a green car- pet, except about 5 feet in diameter in the centre of tree, as seen in the second plate, which shows the interwoven branches as they spread out from the root or main stem in different directions over the ground to the extreme edge in same interwoven manner, but lying loose on the surface, the limbs not rooting as you would suppose by looking at the illustration. The present Mr. Shenk tells me his father knew the tree 60 years ago when it was only as large as a buggy wheel. Judging by its size then, it would in all probai3ility make the tree about 80 years old now. The owner, being a lover of na- ture, had it enclosed 20 years ago with a post and rail fence to protect and preserve it. One thing peculiar is the extreme southern location, it being in about 40 degrees north latitude, and 500 feet above sea-level. I have only heard of one other specimen, and that is near Rock House, Hocking County, Ohio, in the same latitude. The latter tree is smaller, although there may be others unknown to the writer. Botanists say it Is found sparingly on the shores of the great lakes, Maine, and farther north. A. C. Treichler. The Forest Nursery. (Read at the Foresters' Convention at Harrisburg, Pa,) THE time has come when it would seem evi- dent to all interested in the conservation of the forests, that the future timber sup- ply in many localities is dependent on reforesta- tion. But natural reforestation falls short of the maximum in quantity and quality of merchanta- ble timber which a given area can be made to yield through proper methods of silviculture. The satisfactory results attained from planted forests in Europe, where this practice has been followed for two hundred years or more, would justify the adoption of this system in the United States. The planted forest, like the virgin forest, is grown from seed, only in the former the dis- semination is under intelligent control. This may be done by sowing seed broadcast, by the spot method, by raising small seedlings in nursery beds, or by wind sown seeds skillfully directed and managed. Broadcast sowing is unsatisfactory except under conditions where a supply of seed- lings cannot be obtained, or w^here rocky, uneven ground is covered with a scrubby growth and compels its use. The disadvantage is the uncer- tainty of germination, the irregularity of stand and expense of filling in blanks. By planting the seedlings at regular intervals the forester has better control of his future work ; this means the establishing of nurseries for the propagation of young seedlings. The situation of these nurseries will depend greatly on the character of available soil, the spe- cies to be propagated, the facilities for distribu- tion, and the available labor to be had. For the raising of coniferous species, I would prefer a northern slope of light soil. Should the soil be too thin, this may be remedied by mixing soil taken from the forest with well rotted barn- yard manure and left for at least one year to become decomposed before using. It is advisable to have a portion of this on hand at all times to renew fertility of nursery beds. In many of the forests and commercial nurseries of Europe, Thomas slag, kainit, and bone meal are used as fertilizer. Where the nitrogen of the soil has been lost through washing and leaching, lu])ine is sown in the spring and left grow until fall, when it is spaded under. This, I think, would be advisable on slopes every few years, as there is more or less leaching of the seed beds there. For the broadleaf species, I would prefer a lower land with a heavier soil made to a mucky char- acter with humus. The clayey soils as a rule are hard to cultivate by hand, and are more liable to heave from frost and freeze out the seedlings. A sandy loam has been used with more or less suc- cess, but as a rule broadleaf species prefer a heavy soil. The nursery beds are made of any convenient size ; they are usually four feet wide, of any desirable length, with paths between, ranging in width from one to three feet, with cross paths, usually three or four feet wide. The question of ' f i T'*A:^ iS V -'V Vv^ •■•^''f^: •*•• /'M: A.^*..'f>.:; H^y ^ v^ . . • r'^^'"- r.4, y . ^;^t^ UJ '< CO UJ ^ z Jl ^ I- I < I- z ^ — CO Q. < I N ui CO a: D < cr ^ UJ UJ UJ CO X s c Vju' t-T UJ UJ CO O CO I- UJ X I t- \J CD z < < y 03 UJ UJ UJ UJ UJ r X 12 LlJ CO UJ ^ ^ < I- z ^ — CD N UJ CO cr LU UJ UJ CO (T. u UJ UJ CO CO I- UJ I I 1- yj CD z < < y CD ^ z < UJ UJ UJ UJ INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE FOREST LEAVES. 169 raised or level seed beds in a nursery, will depend on the contour of the land and dryness of the soil, which are the principal factors. Both styles of seed beds have been used with more or less suc- cess. Where the nursery is situated on a slope, raised beds are an advantage when run cross-wise of the slope, as they greatly lessen the danger of washing and leaching away of the soil. Sowing the seeds in beds is usually done in two ways, broadcast and in drills. While broadcast sowing has the advantage in economy of space, the general method used by most nurseries in Europe and this country at the present time is sowing in drills, the distance between drills varying somewhat ; but as a rule, it is four or six inches apart. Sowing in drills has the advantage in weeding and cultivating the seedlings with inexperienced labor. The seeds may be sown so thick in drills that they will touch each other. I find the seedlings are more uniform in growth than in the broadcast method, and besides are much easier to remove from the seedbed. In removing the seedlings from the beds for the plantation, the question of pruning the roots will lay with the forester in charge. Personally, I prefer to prune broadleaf to some extent where a large tap root has developed, but with the coni- fers let all lateral roots possible remain on the seedlings. The cost of planting is perhaps greater on account of larger holes to be dug, but final results will be better in growth of seedlings. Nature's methods, as a rule, are wasteful in the sowing of seeds, yet practical ideas have been taken from her methods in the propagation of seedlings. The value of mulch in fall seed sow- ing is a lesson learned from nature. Most trees mature their seed before shedding their leaves, or at least a part of the seed, so that the falling seeds are thus wholly or partly covered with leaves or needles. Wind, rain, and snow work and wash seeds under cover, and those finding a sufficient covering are kept stored during winter to start germination in the spring. Fall sowing of seed in the nursery, as in nature, has enemies quite as great as the elements to be overcome. These are mice, squirrels and birds, which are great destroyers of seed in a nursery during the winter. This no doubt is from scar- city of other available food. Mulches of various kinds may be used, but should not be put on if possible before severe weather or just before a snowfall. The mulch causes more or less heat and retains moisture in the bed, which may rot the seed or kill germina- tion if put on too early in the fall. Pine needles, other leaves, hay, straw, chaff, or excelsior may be used as a mulch. These are all easily removed in the spring without any injurious effects to soil. Sawdust may be used, but has a tendency to sour the soil. The careful manipulation of mulches on heavy fiat and bottom land soils, especially on mucky soil, will usually prove successful in fall planting. The lighter and shaly soils on slopes are not so apt to heave from frost, but mulching during germination or a dry spring is beneficial, as it holds moisture. Success from mulching depends upon judicious handling, an excess moisture may induce seed to rot or fungus to develop, causing damping off of young seedlings. Germination test should be made in a labora- tory, as better facilities can be had there. Tests may be made by the forester at the nursery, and he should have some facilities for doing so, for by this method alone can the degree of thickness to which seed should be sown be de- termined. Should seed* be tested at a central laboratory, the percentage of germination, unless made late in winter, may be lowered in storage after test is made. However, under ordinary circumstances this is not likely to happen. W. H. Kraft. Special Instruction in Saving Timbers, etc. THE first courses of instruction in wood tech- nology and the mechanical engineering of wood: working plants at the University of Wisconsin are announced for the coming year, as a result of the co-operation of the college of engi- neering with the new U. S. Forest Products Laboratory at the university. The three phases of the problem of saving tim- bers and using all the present waste from the lumbering and wood manufacturing industries will be considered in the new lectures and laboratory practice by the students, including special study of the physical and chemical properties of wood ; of preserving and utilizing not only the timbers but the stumps, small branches, bark, sawdust, and all the waste bits ; and of the mechanical means of transforming standing timbers into com- mercial products. Four courses in wood distillation, wood preser- vation, the chemical constituents, and the physical properties of wood will be given by the staff of government experts in charge of the laboratory. A fifth course in wood manufacturing machinery will be given by Prof. Robert M. Keown. In the course on the properties of wood, the study will be mainly of the elementary structure of different species and its effect on the value of woods for use in various arts and industries. 170 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 171 Methods of testing woods and conditioning them will also be shown in the laboratory demonstra- tions. The chemical constituents and fibers of wood, with reference to the uses made of the material in art and industry will also be taken up. Hardwood and softwood will be studied and compared as to their use in distilling alcohol and producing turpentine and other materials. All of the basic principles, as well as the processes and products of such distillation will be taught, and the students will have an opportunity to make a personal study of the government's investigations in ways and means of using all the waste products of logging, lumbering and wood manufacturing, amounting altogether to two- thirds of every tree cut down. How to save timbers, especially those in mines and on the water front from animal and fuligus pests, will be the problem on which a course in wood preservatives will work. The resistance of different woods will be compared, their fibers and the conditions of deterioration, also the different preservative processes in the laboratory, including both those in which the timbers are given surface applications and those in which the aseptics are forced into the fibers. All the machinery and methods used in logging and in wood manufacture with the designing of wood working plants will be taught by Prof. Keown. In addition, advanced research work may be done by students, who are prepared for it, in the government laboratory under the supervision of the experts in charge. The Important Timber Trees of Penn- sylvania, and Where They Should be Planted. (Read at the Foresters' Convention at Harrisburg, Pa.) I HAVE been requested to prepare an article on ** The Important Timber Trees of Penn- sylvania, and Where They Should be Planted." The following is presented in fulfill- ment thereof. At present we may well be guided by nature. Where certain species once grew they should grow again. Several foreign trees have been in- troduced which have been given little real test. These ought to succeed, and in some cases excel, many species in the native forests in rapidity of growth, in hardiness, as a soil enricher, and in the value of a final output. In all plantings a tree, if given its preference with regard to soils, will do its best. In most cases trees will do well on other soils, if the mois- ture content and altitude are correct. With regard to '-Mixed Forests" the follow- ing extract from Dr. Meyer, of the University of Munich, may well be quoted: **In nature we find a mixed stand of trees of the widest botani- cal characteristics." The following regarding Pennsylvania forests is quoted from Dr. J. T. Rothrock's 1895 report, from which, and from Prof. Geo. H. Wirt's notes, I have had great help in arranging this article : *' Pennsylvania, under original natural condi- tions, was one of the best wooded States, if not the best, in the entire eastern half of the Union. Not only were her forests dense, and her trees large and valuable, but they comprised a variety that were of greater commercial value than could be found, probably, in any other State. To say that for years Pennsylvania stood first as a lumber- producing State, and then second on the list, is but another way of expressing the same truth. ** To illustrate this we have but to call to mind the fabulous quantities of white pine, hemlock, hickory, black and white walnut, chestnut, oak (of various kinds), ash, elm, beech, cherry, black and yellow birch, and latterly pitch pine, that have been consumed within the limits of the State, or exported. ** It is true that a portion of her area was tree- less. Here and there a lake, or an open meadow, occupied the surface, but these formed a very small proportion of her territory. **0n the lower grounds, bordering the large rivers, in the southeastern portion of the State, the most valuable timber was white oak, or white pine in the northeastern portion. With these were associated the ordinary forest trees. Several species of hickory and birch, together with chest- nut, walnut, and cherry were the most abundant. On the higher grounds, toward the central part of the State, the forests became more positively cone-bearing in character ; that is, white pine, hemlock, pitch pine, and occasionally Norway or red pine, were more abundant than the ordinary hardwoods, as sugar maple, black and yellow birch, beech, and cherry, which made up the mass of the remainder of the forest. It is also true that rock or chestnut oak, chestnut, and locust were exceedingly common on the rockier declivi- ties of the mountains, and especially so on the southern border. ** The altitude of the State varies between sea- level, and 3,100 above tidewater on Negro moun- tain, in Somerset County. This range of altitude is equivalent to a gain of one degree in latitude northward for about every 300 feet of elevation. In other words, on the extreme altitudes of the State, say, all higher than 1,800 feet above the tidewater, we might expect to encounter the trees that are common in the British provinces. Thus, we find the black and red spruces, the balsam, and the larch or hackmatack represented in the pri- meval forest of Pike, Sullivan, Wyoming, and Clinton Counties. ** West of the Allegheny River the cone-bearing trees never predominated in this State. Chestnut, oak (red and white), may be said to have been the most characteristic species. In the southwest there was a mixture of our common trees with those from the region of Kentucky and West Vir- ginia. As, for example, the honey locust and the Kentucky coffee tree. Everything considered, the sugar maple was, and is to-day, probably the most common tree in the State of Pennsylvania. That is when we remember its general distribution. Reckoning the crop of timber which stood in Penn- sylvania three centuries ago, as the lumbermen of to-day would reckon it, it may be said that a yield of hemlock of 30,000 feet, board measure, to the acre was not uncommon. White pine often greatly exceeded this, and 50,000 feet, board measure, was no unusual yield for an acre of good timber oT this species. Mixed with the hemlock, the various hardwoods, such as beech, maple, and birch, aggregated from 2,000 to 3,000 feet addi- tional lumber to the acre. *' White pine of the first quality was often pro- duced on the poorest soil. The case was widely different with white oak, the latter species re- quiring, to produce its best timber, a rich, lowland soil. rhis is contrary to the general belief, but nevertheless true. Indeed, one must have been imjjressed with the idea when inspecting our pri- meval forests that life was superabundant ; that some species, as, for example, the spruces and the yellow birch, would seize upon and take posses- sion of spots on which no other species could thrive. Thus, every possible foot of ground was used, either by trunk or roots, to nourish or bear the amazing forest growth." White Ash {Fraxinus Americana). — One of our most valuable timber trees. Easily reared and not particular as to soil conditions. Its most rapid growth, and therefore its best, is produced in moist situations along streams, a porous sub-soil and a to- to 12-feet water-table being ideal. This tree does well in mixture, and may be planted with slower-growing species of both conifers and hardwoods. Young seedlings will start in dense shade, but require light for development. Mature trees stand but moderate shade. Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra). — A smaller and less valuable tree than white ash. Grows to bet- ter advantage on swampy and marshy land, although it can be produced on dry- soils, the re- sults being slow and more uncertain. The ashes in Pennsylvania are adapted to the following soils : Clay, gravel, black slate, bottom-lands, and swamps. Bass wood {Tiiia Americana). — One of our common forest trees found in mixture with other hardwoods, more commonly in the north central counties. As with the ash, it grows best on moist alluvial soils, but can be grown on drier situations with not so satisfactory results. The tree is a shade bearer. Beech (Fagus Americana) . — One of our large timber trees. Will grow slowly on good moist soil. It is ideal for underplanting both conifers and hardwoods. Is a shade bearer. Best soils in Pennsylvania for beech are gravel, loam, clay sub- soil, and table-land. Water Beech {Carpinus Caroliniana). — Usually very small, but wood of considerable value for spe- cial uses. Its best growth occurs on moist sandy soil of rich quality. Ohio Buckeye (Aesculiis glabra). — A medium- sized tree, easily propagated. Prefers moist soil along streams, but can be grown on drier soils. Black Birch (Betula lenta). — The most valua- ble member of the family, and prominent in our native forests. Grows best in moist situations, cool mountain slopes, and along stream borders. Yellow Birch (Betula lutea). — Of less value than the black birch, but can be reproduced on soils very inferior to what the black birch de- mands. This tree seemed to be the one that filled up barren places in the original forests of Penn- sylvania, where other trees apparently refused to grow. Canoe Birch {Betiila papyrifera). — This birch prefers rich moist hillsides, borders of streams, lakes, and swamps, and, unlike yellow birch, does not succeed if planted otherwise. The birches are both light demanders and intermediate. Catalpa {Cataipa speciosa). — Easily propa- gated, at present suitable for planting in the southern portion of Pennsylvania, where there is less hard freezing, and does well on both moist and dry soils, although it succeeds better in moist situations. Wild Black Cherry {Prunus serotina), — A very valuable tree, easily grown, and may be planted in mixture with most any of our conifers or hard- woods. Prefers a rich moist soil, but will do well on that of a light sandy nature. Kentucky Coffee Tree ( Gymnocladus dioicus). — One of the rarest of our forest trees ; can be pro- duced on almost any soil and under nearly as many climatic conditions as the chestnut. Grows 172 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 173 well in mixture with hardwoods, and naturally prefers rich moist soils. On other than these the growth is slower. Chestnut {Castanea dentata). — One of our largest, most common, and easily grown trees. It can be grown on almost any soil, river flat to mountain top. Grows on gravel, sand, sandy loam, loam ridges, light mountain soil, black slate, and gneiss, but not well on limestone. It is both intolerant of shade and intermediate. Cucumber Tree {Mai^nolia acuminata). A tree not attaining very large size, but sufficient to en- courage planters, who will find it easily grown when planted in alluvial, gravel, and sandy soils as found in valleys and along rocky streams. Also does well in mixture, and is a semi-light demander. American Elm {Ulniiis A/fiericana). — One of our largest hardwoods, preferring moist, rich, well drained soils, but doing well in almost any loca- tion, even on high hillsides, to which it adapts itself, but under the latter circumstances not grow- ing so successfully. It also seems able to with- stand great extremes of moisture and temper- ature. Slippery Elm (^Ulinus fulva^. — Greatly resem- bles American elm, but preferring more moist situations. It will also succeed on dry hillsides, limestone ridges, and rather sterile upland soils. Both the elms mix well with hardwoods, and are shade bearers. Sweet (ium {Liquidamhar Styraciflua), — A large tree, easily propagated, doing best on moist soils, but also growing on dry hillsides. Should be planted close together on account of branching habit. Mature trees are part light demanders. Sour Gum {Nyssa sylvatica). — A large tree if given the benefit of low, rich, moist soils, but will grow, although much slower, on high dry situations. As with the sweet gum it should be planted closely. Grows well in mixture with hickory, oak, and ash, and is a light demander. I Mocker Nut Hickory {Hicoria alba). — One of ! our large trees capable of growing on soils inferior ; to the other hickory species following. Pig Nut Hickory {Hicoria glabra). — Another important tree of our forest, prefers moist soils, but will succeed on both high and low situations, on dry ridges, hillsides, and valleys. Shell Bark Hickory {Hicoria ovata), — This is a much faster grower than the mocker nut, and attains best growth on deep, rich, rather moist soils. All the hickories are part light demanders, and their best growth in Pennsylvania is on the following soils: Heavy clay, sandy loam, lime- stone, black slate, table-lands, and bottom-lands. Sugar Maple {^Acer saccharum). One of the very largest of our timber trees, having perhaps the widest range of any Pennsylvania tree. Grows on wet or sandy gravel, loam, clay sub-soils, and table-lands, but does best on fresh, well drained soils, although it will succeed on poor, dry soils. Also one of our most tolerant trees, and can be planted pure, or with both hardwoods and coni- fers. Silver Maple (^Acer sac char Inum). — Another large tree, faster growing, but inferior to the sugar maple. Adapted to any soil, but shows a preference for deep rich ground. Burr Oak {^Quercus macrocarpa), — A large tree with branching habit, quite common in western Pennsylvania. Grows best along lower Ohio River on alluvial soils, and also -in Mifflin and Lancaster Counties. Chestnut Oak {Que reus Prinus). — Most valu- able tree of our mountain regions, especially south of latitude 41 deg. 20 min. N. Grows especially on soils too DOor for other species, except pitch pine, chestnut, and locust, with which it does well. Post Oak {Quercus minor). — A small tree growing on thin soils, and at edges or groves of other species. Swamp White Oak {Quercus platanoides). — Large and valuable oak once moderately common in Pennsylvania. Succeeds in moist situations best, but will grow on drier soils. White Oak {Quercus alba). — One of our most important and valuable species. Growing on land not absolutely rocky, but its preference is alluvial soils ; and in Pennsylvania we find it on low soils, deep clay, black slate, hillsides, and up- land woods. • Yellow Oak {Quercus acuminata). — By no means common in Pennsylvania. Its preference is alluvial soils along rivers. Black Oak {Que reus i^elutina). — Common in Pennsylvania on poor soils, and will succeed if planted thereon. Pin Oak ( Que re us palustris). — Not a widely distributed species, and shows a decided prefer- ence for swampy ground, but will grow on drier soils also. Red Oak {Quereus rubra). — Rather common in Pennsylvania. Perhaps the fastest grower of the oak family, and seems to do well on poor soils, mountain sides, and rich river bottoms ; also seeming to prefer the cooler portions of the State. Scarlet Oak ( Quereus coccinea). — Of little value for its timber at present. Will grow on rather thin soils in Pennsylvania. Spanish Oak ( Quereus digitata). — At best little known in Pennsylvania, and said to inhabit rich alluvial soils. (In the south it is tolerant of many soils. It flourishes in dry sandy barrens and wet low lands. ) The oaks, as a family grow on clay, heavy soils, clay sub-soils, gravelly loam, limestone, rich tablelands, lowlands, and swamps, and are all light demanders. In the young stage white, red, and chestnut oak stand shade, but later are as the rest. Ironwood {Ostrya Virgifiiana). — ^"Small tree. Uses similar to blue beech. Will grow on poor soils and rocky situations. Not likely to be of much use to the planter. Black Locust {Robinia Pseuiiaeacia). — One of our fastest growing trees, may be planted on any well drained soil. It attains its best growth on deep fertile loam and limestone formations. Does well in mixture with both hardwoods and conifers, and is a light demander. On Pennsylvania soils we find it at its best on high sandy soil, gravel, blue slate, limestone, sandy loam, or any rich soil. Honey Locust {Gleditsia triaeanthos). — More likely to reach larger size than the black locust, and like it, grows well on lime soils, but prefers deep rich soils of river bottoms. This will also do well on poorer soils, but does not hold up to its reputation for fast growth thereon. Also does well in mixture with other hardwoods. Some advocate plantings with conifers. Red Mulberry {Morus rubra). — Medium sized tree, easily propagated, a fast grower on low rich soils, and can endure partial shade. Carolina Poplar {Populus deltoidea). — One of our easiest reared and fastest growing species. Its most favorable site is alluvial soils along water courses, its success depending on moisture more than soil content. It can be grow^n on somewhat drier situations on account of its extensive root system. Abundant light must be given this species, as shade is detrimental. Tulip {Liriodendron Tulipifera). — One of our grandest forest trees, succeeding best on gravel, sandv, and rich loam soils, always preferring soils deep and well drained, and at all times an even moisture content. It is very intolerant, and does well in mixture with locust and walnuts. Never thrives on heavy clay, or dry ridge soils, and does best in sheltered coves and along cool moun- tain slopes. Button wood {F/atanus oecidentalis). — One Of our largest native trees, a fast growing and easily propagated species with few requirements as to soil, but doing best on rich bottomlands and along banks of streams. Black Walnut {/uglans nigra). — One of our large and most valuable species. Can be success- fully reared if given rich soils, doing well in Pennsylvania on clay, black slate, limestone, rich tableland, and rich loam soils. It requires moist conditions with these soils to excel. Does well in mixture with locust, tulip, and the faster grow- ing hardwoods, but if planted with faster growers should be given about two years start so it will not be overtoppod, as it is intolerant of shade. White Walnut {Juglans einerea). — A smaller and less valuable species than the black walnut, growing on similar soils, but not requiring the moisture content the former exacts ; also thrives on higher ground and is intolerant of shade. Willows {Salix). — Of little value as timber, but successful along banks of streams to prevent inroads of high water, and washing of banks. Conifers : Balsam Fir {Abies balsamea). — Grows best on moist alluvial soils in the higher altitudes of this State. Is a very great shade bearer, excelled only by the hemlock. Of no great value. Red Cedar {Juniperus Virginian a). — A slow^ growing tree of small size at maturity. Does best on rather light loamy soil with lime content, but will grow on almost any location. It is a light demander. Hemlock {Tsuga Canadensis). — One of our grand old forest trees, but hard to perpetuate, be- ing a slow grower at best, especially in its youth. Prefers moist, but will grow on nearly all soils. The soils suitable in Pennsylvania are in lowlands, swamps, sandy and clay bottoms. It is an intense shade bearer. Norway Pine {Finns resinosa). — A large fast growing pine, slightly inferior in product to white pine. Doing well on sandy loam soil which is well drained and of moderate fertility. Does well in mixture with white pine, beech, elm, and sugar maple, also does equally well if planted pure. It is intolerant of shade. Pitch Pine {Finns rigida). — A tree of medium size which may be safely planted in situations too poor for other species. White Pine {Finns Strobus). — This is the pre- mier tree of our native forests, found in nearly all parts of the State, and produces on poor soils its best timber. It prefers light mountain soils, but can be grown on any excepting very moist situa- tions. It is intermediate as to shade. Yellow Pine {Finns echinata). — A valuable species adapted to dry sandy soils and poor moun- tain slopes. It is a light demander. Black Spruce {Pieea Mariana). — A mountain tree preferring cold wet situations, as swamps. Slow growing in its youth. Altitude where best growth thrives, 1,200 to 2,000 feet. Red Spruce {Fieea rubens). — Larger than the black spruce. Prefers soils of high ridges and 174 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 175 cool northern slopes. It should succeed well for planting on rocky slopes, if closely spaced. Tamarack {Larix Americana). — Distinctly a tree for high altitudes in Pennsylvania, preferring cold swampy soils. May be planted with the black ash, balsam fir, and black spruce. It is very intolerant. European Larch (^Larix Europea), — An im- ported species of tamarack, which seems to be far more profitable for planting than the native species. It grows on deep, light, moderately fertile soils in well drained situations, and will do well on lower altitudes than tamarack. It is very intolerant. Norway Spruce {Ficea Abies). — An excellent tree for planting, and is easily grown. It adapts itself to the same ranges as the native spruces, and is in every way superior to them. Can be planted pure or in mixture with white pine, red pine, larch, and chestnut. It is a shade endurer. Scotch Pine (Finns sylvestris). — Another im- ported species of rather rapid growth, but of less commercial value than our native white pine. It is quite indifferent to soil requirements ; but its best development is found on deep sandy loam having lime content and underlaid by a fresh well drained sub-soil. It succeeds on dry soils and shows remarkable hardiness in seasons of drought. It is as intolerant of shade as larch. Paul H. Mulford. New Publications. Apgar's Ornamental Shrubs of t/ie United States, by Austin Craig Apgar. i2mo., 352 pages, illus- trated. Bound in cloth. American Book Com- pany, New York. Price, $1.^0. Mr. Apgar has prepared this book to enable the public to know by name the attractive shrubs cultivated in parks and private grounds, using wherever possible the conmion, instead of the botanical, names. It gives a short chapter on the propagation of plants, and then takes up a descrip- tion of the leaves, flowers and fruit, telling the observer how to study them so as to determine which of the different genera the shrub belongs to. Keys for these are given, and when the individual specie is finally reached it is described, and the leaves and flower or fruit of the more im- portant ones illustrated. A glossary of botanical terms is also given to aid the student in the work of determining species. Forest Fires in North Carolina {luring igog. North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey. Economic Paper No. 19. 8mo., 52 pages, paper cover, illustrated. Raleigh, N. C. Price, 3 cents. Mr. J. S. Holmes, forester, makes a report on the forest fires in North Carolina, showing that in 1909 over 60c fires were reported, and 166,00a acres of land burnt over in the mountain counties,, approximating 5 per cent, of the total forest area of that region. The total acreage burned is given as approximately 400,000, and the loss $60,000. The direct loss was 66 cents per acre burned, which does not include damage to liv- ing timber, young growth, soil and streams, which amounts to as much again. Suggestions are given for prevention of forest fires, and strong public sentiment asked for to prevent this forest scourge. Canadian Forestry Association. Eleventh An- nual Report. 8vo., 141 pages. Ottawa, Canada. The annual report of the Canadian Forestry Association has just been issued. In addition to- a description of the business meeting of the Asso- ciation, a full report of the convention held in Fredericton, N. B., last February, is contained in the volume. All papers read there are given in full, together with the ensuing discussions. Valua- ble information is given in regard to the protection of the forest from fire ; the wood pulp industry ; the education of professional foresters or forest engineers, and many other aspects of forestry, especially in eastern Canada. Requests for copies of the report should be addressed to James Law- ler, Secretary Canadian Forestry Association^ Ottawa, Ont. A Study of the Wisconsin Wood- Using Indus- tries, by Franklin H. Smith, U. S. Forester. i2mo., paper cover, 68 pages. State Board of F'orestry, Madison, Wis. This pamphlet, contains a report of the wood- using industries of Wisconsin. The report embraces, in detail, figures that show the consumption of wood by industries and spe- cies, and also the quantities derived from the forests of Wisconsin and from without the State ; the uses of the different kinds of wood ; the relative prices paid by the industries for the various woods consumed, and other data pertaining to the manu- factures. The wood-using industries of Wisconsin repre- sent a large part of the wealth of the State that is dependent upon its natural resources, and it is to the advantage of all to encourage the fullest devel- opment consistent with proper protection of the forests. J. T. ROTHROCK, Consulting Forester, WEST CHESTER, PA. Terms upon Application. L-Ein£IS' TRee CHARTS. Part I.— THE OAKS. Forty-two species. No. 1. Biennial Fruited Oaks. Black Oak and Allies. No. 2. Anntial Fruited Oaks. White Oak and Allies. No. 3. Southern, Pacific, Hardy, Foreign, and examples qf Extinct Oaks. Part II.— THE NUT BEARERS. Numerous species. No. 4. The Chestnuts and Beeches. American, Japanese and European Chestnuts. No. 5. The Walnuts. American, Japanese and European species and varieties. No. 6. The Hickories. American species and varieties. Part III.— No. 7. The Willows and Poplars. Numerous species. No. 8. The Birches, Elms and allies. No. 9. The Lindens, and allied families of numerous species. Part IV.— ♦No. 10. TTie Magnolia and related trees. ♦No. 11. The Horse Chestnuts and allies. No. 12. The Maples. (Printed in advance.) (Those with an * as yet unprinted.) Price for the ten Charts published, $4.00. For ftirther information address the author, publisher and proprietor, FOREST LEAVER. odbo THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE Pennsylvania Forestry Association. a-^^^ The attention of the advertising public is called to the advantages we offer as a medium. Address, 1012 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. ORACEANNA LEWIS, Media, Fennsylvania. f 1 • RATES. I inch, . . X insertion. $1.00 6 insertions. $4.00 insertions. $8.00 X page, . . 4.00 17.00 34.00 yi " . . 7.00 30.00 60.00 1 " . . 12.00 50.00 100.00 176 FOREST LEAVES. The Pennsylvania State College l-^y^ FOUR YEAR COURSE IN FORESTRY. A thorough and practical undergraduate course in technical forestry — preparing men for all lines of professional and applied ,< forestry. Special attention is paid to practical field work in surveying, mapping and forest measurements. One of the largest of the State Forest Reserves is within a short walk of the College. For information regarding entrance requirements, expenses, etc., address DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, STATE COLLEGE, PA. FORESTERS CONSULTING AND OPERATING The beauty aiul value of forest growth depends materially on the proper care and training of the trees. Nature is in many things a rough mother. Her method of pruning leads to decay ; she over- burdens the trees with superabundant growth ; the feeding matter is washed off the hillsides and in exposed situations the dropping leaves, the main source of food supply, are blown away. • Proper and scientific pruning will prevent decay and relieve the tree of superfluous growth, while well advised planting will conserve the food supply. With our professional foresters and trained corps of scientific pruners we are prepared to give the best possible attention to forestry problems and to properly treat ornamental trees and shrubs of all kinds. Thomas Meehan & Sons, Inc. LANDSCAPE GARDENERS AND ENGINEERS Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Pa. Biltmore Forest School, BILTMORE, N. C 0 0 0 0 The Biltmore Forest School is the oldest school of forestry anc;! lumbering in America. Its working fields comprise the Southern Appalachians, the Lake States, and Central Germany. It never leaves the woods. The complete course covers twelve consecutive months at the school, fol- lowed by six consecutive months of practical prenticeship. Write for particulars, addressing C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D., Director, BILTMORE, N. C. CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILA. 30 minutes from Broad St. Station. BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BOTS. fllutttrated Catalogue upon application, JAMES L. PATTERSON, Head Master. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rt. Rey. Ozi W. Whitaker, D.D., Prmdeiit. Samuel F. Houston, Vice-Prendenl. George Woodward, Secretary and Treamrer. JAMES M. beck. WALTON CLARK. JACOB S. DISSTOV. EDGAR DUDLEY PARIES. FRANCIS I. GOWEN. J. LETBRING J0NB8. DR. HOWARD A. KELLY. FRANCIS D. LEWIS. RANDAL MORGAN. H. GORDON MOCOUCH. GIFFORD PINCHOT. JAMES R. SHEFFIELD. tSs^jT^ f^^^'^hfl Vol. XII. Philadelphia, December, 1910. No. 12. Published Bi- Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, loia ^Valnut St„ Philadelphia, Pa. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as second-class matter. ^ CONTENTS. "*'^»mm Editorials 177 Narrative of the Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association 178 Treasurer's Report 179 Address of the President of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association 180 Report of the Gtneral Secretary of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association 181 Report of Council 183 Black Walnut Plantation in Kentucky 185 Roads on the Jack's Mountain Forest Reserve 185 Effect of Moisture on Wood 186 •Conditions of Tree Planting in Northern Pennsylvania 187 President Taft on Forestry 188 The Chestnut Blight 188 Forestry at White Haven 189 Subscription, $1.00 per Year. The attention 0/ Nurserymen and others is called to the advantages 0/ FoRBST Leaves as an advertisings medium. Rates will be fur" Mi shed on application. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Founded in June, 1886, Labors to disseminate information in regard to the necessity and methods of forest culture and preservation, and to secure the enact- ment and enforcement of proper forest protective laws, both State and National. Annual member ship fee ^ Two dollars. Life membership^ Twenty-five dollars. Neither the membership nor the work of this Association is intended to be limited to the State of Pennsylvania. Persons desiring to become members should send their names to the Chairman of the Membership ■Committee, 1012 Walnut Street, Phila. President^ John Birkinbine, Vice-Presidents, Wm. S. Harvey, James C. Haydon, Albert Lewis. General Secretary^ Ur. Joseph T. Rothrock. Recording Secretary, F. L. Bitler. Treasurer, Charles K. Pancoast. Council- at- Larg^e^ Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Hon. Robert S. Conklin, -Samuel L. Smedley. Finance, W. S. Harvey, Chairman ; Dr. Henry M. Fisher, W. W. Frazler, Charles E. Pancoast, and J. Rodman Paul. Membership, Albert B. Weimer, Chairman : Mrs. George F Baer, Edwin Swift Balch, Robert S. Conklin, Hon. Lucien W. Doty, Dr. J. T. Rothrock, W.W. Scranton, Dr. Samuel Wolfe, and Hon. S. P. Wolverton. La7v, Hon. W. N. Ashman, Chairman; Henry Budd, and John A. Siner. Publication, John Birkinbine, Chairman ; F. L. Bitler, S. B. Elliott, Alfred Paschall, and Harrison Souder. Work, Mrs. Brinton Coxe. Chairman ; Miss Mary Blakiston, Mrs. George T. Heston, Miss Florence Keen, William 8. Kirk, J. Franklin Meehan, and Abraham S. Schropp, County Organization, Sa.mue\ Marshall, Chairman; Eugene Ellicott, James C. Haydon, and Dr. J. Newton Hunsberger. Office of the A«%sociation. 1012 Walnttt St.. Philaoblphia. EDITORIALS. IN his Message to Congress, from which we have excerpted the reference to the * * Forest Service," President Taft says: '*The ques- tion of conservation is not a partisan one ' ' and we hope will not become so. The natural resources with which this country is favored are great. Their utilization has developed a wonderful nation whose growth in population and material advance- ment is without parallel, but in making use of these resources there has been waste, part of which is excusable, because the environment at the time made this apparently necessary, but much has been sacrificed without thought of the future. Measures for protecting our reserves so that they may be of greater service to the present genera- tion and those who follow, and of propagating those which can be reproduced, should be ap- proached in a spirit of national patriotism, free from practical bias. The proceedings of the Annual Meeting which appear in other columns of this issue demon- strate that the Pennsylvania Forestry Associa- tion believes with President Taft that ** the ques- tion of conservation is not a partisan one," and, as far as forestry is concerned, its members will use their influence against diverting the strong hold which forestry evidently has upon the in- telligent class of American citizens, to the ad- vancement of any party, faction or clique. J. B. *^0 ^^ ^^ ^M 0^ ^^ ^^ ^^ It is hoped that during the session of the Penn- sylvania Legislature which convenes in January some comprehensive and broad-minded scheme for forest taxation will be approved, one which will encourage individual owners to maintain old or propagate new forests. We believe that forestry will be best advanced by supplementing the State reserves by forests held by individuals or corpora- tions. J. B. 178 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 179 Narrative of the Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. THE Annual Meeting of the Association was held at IOI2 Walnut street, Philadelphia, on Monday afternoon, December 12th. President John Birkinbine in the chair. The reading of the minutes of the last Annual Meeting was dispensed with. The President's annual address, the reports of the Treasurer, General Secretary and Council were presented, the text of which appear in full on other pages of this issue. Mr. C C. Binney asked whether any specific legislation in regard to the taxation of forest lands was contemplated by the Association. The President stated that this would be prepared by the Forestry Department and submitted to the Association, Mr. Joshua L. Baily questioned the desirability of opening lands for grazing, as cattle seemed to show enmity to young pine trees, doing much damage. He also referred to the many pleasure places in the forest reserves, which were readily accessible, especially in Pike and Monroe coun- ties, where beautiful falls and forests abounded, and were convenient not only to our own citizens, but those of other States. As to forest fires, he instanced the difficulty of locating those who were responsible ; if this could be done it would be a great aid in prevention. He also indorsed the sentiment that the Association should be careful not to affiliate in any partisan movement. Mr. Joseph Elkinton asked for information in regard to growing Norway pine, as he had noticed the blight on some white pine tree growth on the Pocono Lake Preserve. He spoke of the difficulty of finding the parties who start forest fires, and stated that persons do not take time to stop incip- ient fires, which later become uncontrollable but could easily have been extinguished at the start. He offered the aid of the Pocono Lake Preserve in any movement to control forest fires. Dr. Henry S. Drinker, President of Lehigh University, stated that a $50 reward for the de- tection of persons causing forest fires on the South Mountain, together with the assistance of the min- isters, particularly the Catholic clergy, had aided materially in preventing forest fires, which were principally started to afford pasture for domestic animals. Mr. Wm. L. DuBois referred to the New Jersey laws, where a certain amount per day was allowed to all who joined in fighting forest fires, and stated that some considered this payment might be an in- centive to lawless people to start forest fires for the sake of securing employment. Mr. C. Oliver Hillard spoke of incendiary fires in the South in the cane fields. The insurance com- panies paid for the losses, and left the cane dry in the fields ; and the negroes, when they found that they obtained no employment, as the cane was not gathered, resulting in a loss to them, the fires be- came less frequent. The President suggested that if the members- would send in statements as to the losses resulting from forest fires started by huckleberry pickers, etc. , together with other information, such as had been presented at the meeting, they could be pub- lished in Forest Leaves for the benefit of the members. Mrs. Brinton Coxe spoke on the encroachment on the breathing places in the small city parks by the erection of large buildings, while a communi- cation from Dr. Edwin J. Houston called atten- tion to the unnecessary mutilation of the trees in the public squares. It was moved and carried that the Pennsylvania Forestry Association appoint a committee to be present at a hearing before the Public Playgrounds Committee of City Council in regard to permitting buildings in the city parks. The President named Messrs. Baily, Binney, Elkinton and Wilson as the committee. Dr. Henry S. Drinker and Mr. C. Oliver Hillard were appointed tellers of the election, and after counting the ballots announced the unanimous election of the officers given below to serve dur- ing the ensuing year. On motion adjourned. President^ John Birkinbine. Vice-Presidents^ Wm. S. Harvey, James C. Haydon, Albert Lewis. General Secretary^ Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. Kecordini^ Secretary ^ F. L. Bitler. Treasurer, Charles E. Pancoast. Council. At Large, Mrs. Brinton Coxe, Robert S. Conklin, Samuel L. Smedley. Adams County, C. E. Stable. Allegheny County, Wm. A. Baldwin, H. M. Brackenridge, Hon. Geo. W. Guthrie, Thomas H. Johnson, George M. Lehman, James P. Orr, Wm. Wade. Beaver County, Charles H. Stone. Berks County, Mrs. George Brooke, J. H. Stembergh. Blair County, Jos. S. Silly man. Bradford County, C. S. Maurice. Bucks County, T. Ogborn Atkinson, Henry T. Moon. Cambria County, Hartley C. Wolle. Cameron County, Hon. Charles F. Barclay. Carbon County, M. S. Kemmerer. Centre County, Prof. Hugh P. Baker. Chester County, Wm. S. Kirk, Samuel Marshall, William M. Potts, Mrs. David Reeves. Clarion County, Jos. M. Fox. Clearfield County, M. L McCreight. Clinton County, Sidney D. Furst. Columbia County, S. C. Creasy. Crawford County, E. O. Emerson, Jr. Cumberland County, Frank C. Bosler. Dauphin County, Miss Mira L. Dock, E. C. Felton. Delaware County, Joseph Elkinton, Dr. Samuel Trimble, Chas. S. Welles. Elk County, C. H. M'Cauley. Fayette County, Hon. Nathaniel Ewing. Forest County, T. D. Collins. Franklin County, Geo. H. Wirt. Greene County, A. H. Sayers. Huntingdon County, Hon. Geo. B. Orlady. Indiana County, S. J. Sides. Jefferson County, S. B, Elliott. Juniata County, S. E. Pannebaker. Lackawanna County,. W^ W. Scran ton, Hon. L. A. Watres. Lancaster County, J. H. Baumgardner, Prof. E. O. Lyte. Lawrence County, David Jamison. Lebanon County, Mrs. Bertham Dawson Coleman. Lehigh County, Dr. J. M. Backenstoe, Luzerne County, Mrs. Eckley B. Coxe, Sidney K. Miner, Gen. Paul A. Oliver, Gen. H. W. Palmer, Col. R. Bruce Ricketts, I. A. Stearns. Lycoming County, Hon. J. Henry Cochran, C. LaRue Munson. McKean County, F. H. Newell. Mercer County, Jonas J. Pierce. Mifflin County, F. W. Culbertson. Monroe County, Joshua L. Baily. Montgomery County, Dr. J. M. Anders, Isaac H. Clothier, Dr. H. M. Fisher, W. W. Frazier, Dr. J. Newton Hunsberger, Dr. Samuel Wolfe. Montour County, H. T. Hecht. Northampton County, John Fritz, Dr. J. S. Hunt, Abraham S. Schropp. Northumberland County, Q. R. Van Alen. Perry County, Mrs. John Wister. Philadelphia County, Henry Budd, Henry Howson, Joseph Johnson, J. Franklin Meehan, J. Rodman Paul, Albert B. Weimer, Dr. W. P. Wilson. Pike County, John E. Avery. Potter County, Arthur B. Mann. Schuylkill County, Wm. L. Sheafer, Heber S. Thompson. Somerset County, H. D. Moore, M.D. Susquehanna County, Edgar A. Turrell. Tioga County, H. I. Fick. Union County, Andrew Albright Leiser. Venango County, James; Denton Hancock. Warren County Hon. H. H. Cumings. Wayne County, Alonzo T. Searle. Westmoreland County, Hon. Lucien W. Doty. Wyoming County, James W. Piatt. York County, Dr. I. C. Gable. Treasurer's Report. vS THE fiscal year of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association ends December i, 19 10, and the statement of finances on that date was as follows : Treasurer's Statement to December i, igio. Dr. To balance on hand December i, 1909, , . | 959 35 Cash, annual dues to November 30, 1910^ , 1948 00 Cash, donations and subscriptions, . . 154 00 Cash, sale of Forest Leaves and advertise- ments, . .' 239 81 Cash, interest on Life Membership bonds and deposits, 351 74 Cash, Life Membership fees, . . . 100 00 Total, ^3752 90 Cr. By cash, sundries, postage, office rent, etc., . % 448 68 Publication of Forest Leaves, . . . 993 8i Assistant Secretary's salary, . . . 600 00 Meetings, 30 97 Life Membership fund, , . . . 100 00 Membership Committee, expenses of, . . 18 44 Finance Committee, Expenses of, , . 417 Taxes on investments, . . . . 14 80 Money invested, 1064 75 Balance on hand December I, 1910, . . 477 28 Total, ^$3752 90 Forest Leaves Fund. Invested I2067 42 Life Membership Fund. Invested, Invested, • • • • General Fund. . I3710 00 I4078 06 Special Fund for Forest Exhibit. In Bank, 375 00 Subscriptions promised, . . . , 105 00 Charles E. Pancoast, Treasurer. The owner of a suburban property in Merchant ville, N. J. , obtained in the Circuit Court an award of J 2, 000 damages for the destruction of five large silver maple trees which, it was claimed, had been killed by a leak in the gas main belonging to a prominent corporation. 180 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. 181 Address of the President of the Pennsyl- vania Forestry Association. SIX years ago it was my privilege as your President to invite attention to possible future danger to the cause of forestry as it won favor with the people, and circumstances indicate that the time is near which may call for the exercise of exalted patriotism to prevent a noble effort being dragged in the mire of politics. In a republic in which the people divide their suffrage in favor of or against specific govern- mental policies, there is the ever-present tendency of parties or factions seeking to create or appro- priate issues with which to appeal to voters. Hence, we may expect that forestry, a late feature of administration in National or State Govern- ment, may need to be guarded against partisan interest, stimulated by increasing numbers of per- sons employed in administering and caring for our forests, or against factional assumption of guardianship. Acknowledged allegiance to the tenets of a political party or adherence to faction cannot be considered indicative of special fitness in one who is to care for or protect our forests. Neither can it be assumed that such person will be the best prepared to plant seedlings, to carry forward im- provement cuttings, or to direct a combat with forest fires. While recognizing the value of technical educa- . tion in all branches of industry, forestry is per se a practical problem to be solved by experience and study, for except in the Ipnger interval between seed-planting and crop maturity, the growth of trees does not differ from that of other soil products. But the time which a tree must stand before it should be harvested, and the intrinsic value of individual plants, suggest that greater care in propagation and protection are warranted. Forestry presents practical as well as scientific problems, and these are best solved by those whose knowledge and experience fit them to in- telligently grasp these ; and to produce the best results in any community, the administration and control of wooded areas, or the creation of forests for the future, must be delegated to those who have proven their capabilities and their devotion. Pennsylvania is in the van in this particular, her Forest Academy educating men for the special duties of Forest Wardens, who, under the direction of the Pennsylvania State Forestry Reservation Commission, are given opportunities for practical work in tree propagation, in improvement cut- ting, and in combatting forest fires, thus securing a combination of technical education and practi- cal experience. The Pennsylvania State College has a large class studying forestry under eiificient leadership, and the Yale summer school is offering young men opportunity to combine technical courses with practical demonstration. Lehigh University, although making no attempt to insert forestry in the curriculum, is enthusing its students to appreciate the true value of fores- try by lecture courses and by an arboretum. With such sources to draw upon, Pennsylvania need not rely upon uneducated or unskilled men to care for its million acres of forest reserves, and those who favor progressive forest policy may well oppose every effort to confuse this with partisan allegiance. Another danger menacing is an apparent effort to divide the friends of forestry and of other feat- ures of conservation, upon the question of Govern- ment or State control, of centralization of power, or the assertion of State rights. There seems little, if any, excuse for injecting this discussion into the conservation movement, nor does any real necessity for such discussion appear. In fact, it is questionable if champions of either side can present well established facts to conclusively de- monstrate the merit of one or demerit of the other. If forestry or other features of conserva- tion become a partisan or factional slogan ; if a controversy is inaugurated which divides the friends of a movement which promises to result in so much good ; the cause must suffer. It is proper to discuss methods of administra- tion and practices followed, with the purpose of adapting those which show the best result from the least expenditure, and neither National or State control of forests have been applied in our country for a sufficient time to demonstrate this conclusively. We also do well to study the methods followed in European countries, but these may not be adapted for our Nation, an aggregation of what has been termed Sovereign States. The accumulation of forest reserves by the General Government has been rapid, and wisdom, discretion and well applied energy will be re- quired to determine the best system of administra- tion for a total of 191,000,000 acres, widely scattered and affected by diverse topographical, geological, climatic and utilitarian conditions. These reserves have been created by setting apart vast areas of Government land, some of which have been found to be better suited for other pur- poses than forest growth, and these must be segregated and otherwise allotted ; and it will take time to solve the many problems connected with the administration of these vast areas. The National reserves have been made possible by the people of the United States being brought to an appreciation of past profligacy and the necessity of caring for the future, and not by the force of party measures. In Pennsylvania the forest reserves have been secured and their admin- istration provided for, free from partisan or fac- tional influence, the minority and the dominant parties aiding in this good work. The result is shown by the record of a million acres of forest reserve secured by direct purchase from owners, by the establishment and maintainance of a Forest Academy, and extensive tree nurseries, by the ap- portionment of land for Sanitarium, and by a busi- ness policy which commends the management. The total expenditure for land, academy, educa- tion, nurseries, seedlings, planted and distributed, forests improved by cutting and for extinguishing of forest fires during a period of 12 years is less than $5,000,000. With such records there would seem no field * for the partisan, no need for a faction leader, as the injection of either may be expected to weaken and not to strengthen the cause of forestry. The National Government requires time to demonstrate the best method to care for 300,000 square miles of forest reserves. Pennsylvania and other States are working out problems which cannot be solved in a day, and there seems to be no warrant for dividing the friends of conservation upon ques- tions which do not appear ripe for action. P'or a quarter of a century the Pennsylvania F'orestry Association has carried forward a cam- paign for the education of public sentiment for forest conservation, and during this interval it has consistently avoided any political entanglements. Public officials of high position have by their acts demonstrated an interest in the movement for im- proving the forested conditions of Pennsylvania, but this has been free from any partisan bias. The progress which has been made is believed to be largely due to those who have been active in advancing the forestry movement having a sin- gleness of purpose, and not because a party or a faction has accepted forestry as a slogan. It is believed that a continuation of this same non- partisan policy will bring the best results to the State, for forest protection and all which it implies, augurs good for the whole people, and the whole people should be its champion. No other forestry organization has been engaged in a continuous effort for conservation for a longer time than the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. It has published literature devoted to forestry covering thousands of pages, it encourages the co-operation of citizens of the State by lectures and addresses, and its members have used their individual influence in securing legislation which places forestry in Pennsylvania in advance of any other State in this particular. If the organization is to continue a leader, such leadership must be based upon mature delibera- tion, and we cannot afford to depart from the safe conservative policy which has heretofore charac- terized the efforts which have resulted in so much good to the State. John Birkinbine, President, Report of the General Secretary of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. I ^^J OUR General Secretary regrets that business of importance elsewhere renders it im- possible for him to be present at this meeting. He believes that it is of the first im- portance that this Society should take a much more aggressive stand than it has ever done in regard to the forest policy of the State. The time, in his judgment, has come for a fuller recog- nition than ever by the public, and through the public, by our Legislature, of the absolute press- ing need of a most vigorous policy of forest restriction and protection. We have allowed this work upon which so much of the prosperity of the Commonwealth depends to be relegated to a secondary place in the government of the State. It is of the first importance, and failure to recog- nize this can only entail disaster in the future. There are two avenues open to us by which this much needed reform may be hastened. The first one is by making the State forest work and reserves bear an immediate, direct rela- tion to as many as possible of our citizens. They must in some way bear directly upon the life of our people, and thus impress them with a sense of ownership. It is not difificult to find such points of contact. In this connection we may allude to the high price of meat during the past year or two. This has primarily depended upon the scarcity of beef cattle, whatever other influences may have been brought to bear. And this in turn has reacted in another direction, and tended to higher price for and a poorer quality of milk, because many milk producing cows have been slaughtered for beef. Do our forest reserves offer any aid in the solution of this problem ? Grazing in State land is at present forbidden ; and this was rendered necessary by an abuse of the privilege. Nevertheless, the prohibition has been disregarded in some quarters, and cattle roamed at will over part of the forest holdings of the State. ! i 182 FOREST LEAVES. I am of the opinion that this policy should be reversed, and that the time has come for opening our reserves to grazing, and that a system of regulations should be adopted which will reduce grazing to a properly regulated industry, where it can be done without injury to the growing forest crop. There are at present hundreds of thousands of acres of State forest land available on which the young timber has passed the point at which it could be hurt by cattle. And on this ground an enormous body of meat could be annually pro- duced. I wish it to be distinctly understood, however, that I realize this business must be under the strictest control of the Forestry Commission, otherwise grave injury would be done and serious abuses would arise. A second point of contact presents itself which should bring about a closer alliance between the public and the forestry work of the State. During the hunting and fishing seasons thous- ands of our citizens seek recreation in the forests of the State. It has been the custom to consider these outers as a negligible element. The fact is, they are one of the most important elements of our community. As a rule, they are law-abiding, productive, influential citizens, and we are guilty of a fatal error if we fail to recognize their im- portance and their helpful influence in the forestry work. Whatever help this Association can give to the (xame and Fish Commissions of the State should be most fully given. It may not be out of place here — though not strictly in the line of State forestry — to add that four deer can be raised, according to the best esti- mates, on forest land which will support but one steer, and that deer-farmino^ is becoming a part of Federal inquiry, and merits the consideration of our State authorities. Its bearing upon the food supply is evident. Another point of contact between the people and the State forest reserves is the opportunity presented by the latter for public health. In this respect the State of New York is distinctly in ad- vance of Pennsylvania. Years ago that State ob- tained large holdings in the great Adirondack region with the avowed purpose of making an out- ing ground for its people. That was the one great, distinctly understood reason for State action. We have in our own forest reserves equally suitable regions, and the importance of action is no less imperative on our part than it was in the case of the sister State. It redounds to her credit that her legislative action was so far in advance of public recognition of its importance. I do not base my appeal here on the fact that there are thousands of persons in this State whose physical condition demands rest in the open air, and whose poverty debars them from obtaining it, though that ought to awaken the sympathy of any prop- erly contituted person, but upon the fact that it would pay the State to set apart and equip outing grounds on its forest reserves for such of our citi- zens as need this rest and restoration to keep them in the condition of wage earners. It would vastly diminish the number of those who now become charges upon the public bounty. The oft-expressed fear that such campers would increase the number of forest fires we have good reason to know is ill-founded. Though I am sure it would add thousands to the number who would have a lively interest in the forestry work, because of a sense of ownership in the forest re- serves. The question of forest fires is one which we have ever with us. We cannot over-estimate its im- portance. Though it must be stated here that those who believe the prevention of forest fires alone is all that is requisite in the way of State forestry, are poorly informed upon this subject. Production of the best forest crop without forestry is no more possible than production of the best farm crop without agriculture. There are useless trees that grow as insistently in forests as weeds do on farms, and the need of their elimination is as great in the one case as in the other. It is folly to suppose that France, Italy or Germany would have persisted for centuries in scientific forestry if they had not discovered that it paid to do so. Year after year I have insisted that our fire policy was wrong. We should, on the score of economy, aim to prevent rather than to suppress forest fires. If we devoted as much money to the former as we do to the latter we would have but few fires, and the value of the timber saved would be enormous. It is time for our people to recog- nize that these annual conflagrations are burning the very life out of the State. Furthermore, it should be recognized that there has not been a time in the last twenty years when the laws were inadequate. Enforcement of ex- isting laws would have been sufficient, and would be now. It is unfortunately true that there are regions in this State where every legal obstacle is thrown in the way of those whose business it is to protect the woodlands. My creed upon this question is short. I would, if possible, bring suit against every person or corporation where there existed a reasonable suspicion that they had negli- gently, or designedly, started a forest fire. Even if the suit were decided against the forestry inter- est, the public would awaken to the fact that we FOREST LEAVES. 183- were looking for the guilty parties. This alone would have a deterrent effect. It is imperative that on suitable ground forest tree planting should be continued with increased vigor. Anything short of 20,000,000 trees as- an annual planting is inadequate. To accomplish this not only should the Forestry Commission be enabled to redouble its efforts, but it should be encouraged to help the private land owner to re- forest his waste land. Tree diseases of recent origin demand investi- gation and application of all known methods of prevention. Blight and ^*pine wevil" are mak- ing serious inroads upon our young white pine, and the chestnut tree fungus is a menace of most grave import. In this connection it may not be amiss to say that I think we should pay more at- tention to growth of the red, or so-called Norway pine, which is indigenous to the colder parts of our State and is of great commercial importance. The second avenue by which we may reach larger results in our forestry work is the recogni- tion that we are an Association of 1,500 members, and that each one of us is entitled to the privilege of calling the attention of our representative in the State Legislature to measures which we think are in the interest of the Commonwealth. They are our Representatives, and if we fail to inform them of our wishes we can have but ourselves to blame, even when they may think better to vote against such measures as we favor. I trust that every member of this Association will give us active aid this winter in the passage of rational methods of forest protection, and especially of a rational system of forest taxation. It has become a problem of great public import- ance whether or not the State should interfere with the private land owner in removal of timber from his land. There is no question that it is a legitimate func- tion of Government to do whatever is requisite to its own prosperous perpetuity, and whatever ob- jection to State supervision of any private owner- ship in forest lands might exist, would be set aside by the constitutional provision of adequate compensation, which I hope may be provired for. The Forestry Commission of this State has given largely of its time and thought to the duties for which it was created. There is not one of the four advisory members who gives less than twenty- four days each year without other compensation than his actual expenses. Some of these gentle- men give the State a hundred days each year of uncompensated labor, and none of us begrudge the service we may be able to render the Com- monwealth. All of its actions have been honestly conceived, and we believe, honestly executed. Whatever criticism the State Forestry Depart- ment has received, I think, can be traced to ignorance, political partisanship, personal interest, or maliciousness. Until the Millennium dawns, no public servant may hope to escape such influ- ences. *' Less could not be said and more need not be." Respectfully submitted, J. T. ROTHROCK, General Secretary, Report of Council. PURING the past year the forestry move- ment in Pennsylvania has shown a marked advance, and this has also been the case in the National Forest Service, although in the latter there has been a deplorable clash between those having authority over the National Forests, while in New York the head of the State reserves has resigned. In other States there has been usually steady improvement, and in some instances nucleii of State reserves have been established. The United States Census has issued the offi- cial figures of lumber production for the year 1909, showing that Pennsylvania ranks thirteenth, with an output of one and a half billion feet B. M., over one hundred million feet less than in the year 1907. If this valuable industry, which has for years shown gradual decreases, is to be con- tinued, the areas suitable for timber must be pre- served and conserved, the waste mountain sides, the starting point of floods, being reforested, bringing back part of the heritage originally spread so lavishly over the State. Unfortunately, however, our present laws give no financial incentive to purchase or retain cut- over lands and reforest them, the principal ob- stacles being taxation and forest fires. Assessors do not tax farms and then triennially raise the rate on account of the crops obtained, and yet this is the practice with timber land. Mountain land worth fifty cents to one dollar per acre may be purchased on which to raise a crop of timber, and a small financial return can probably be secured when thinnings are made, but the owner must await the cutting of the crop (which is always subject to the risk of destruction by forest fires), forty years or more, before any profit is secured. During this period he is obtaining no return, while the State is being benefitted in the raising of the timber, and his tax rate is constantly increasing. In fact this has become so onerous as to force the cutting of timber which would otherwise have 184 FOREST LEAVES. been preserved. One member of our Association, with a tract of virgin timber which he wished to hold, stated that his tax rate was so high that he could not afford to continue to pay it. It would appear better to have a fixed tax rate on the land, and then when the timber crop is gathered levy a reasonable tax on this also. For a number of years the Association has advocated the formation of auxiliary forests taxed on the above plan. At the first of the year the Legislature will convene in its biennial session, and the support of the mem- bers of the Association and their friends is solicited in the endeavor to secure proper legisla- tion covering taxation on forest lands, as well as any other proposed laws which are just and will aid in increasing, preserving, and conserving the forests. In the year 1910 the forest fire warden system had its first full year with results justifying the expense incurred. The total number of acres burned over in Pennsylvania was 402,903, and the estimated loss or damage $850,000 This, of course, does not include the losses due to the killing of young trees and saplings which had not reached salable size, damage to the soil, etc. This potential loss is attracting more attention in this State, and has been allowed in some damage suits. Of the above amount, but 38,350 acres of State forest reserves were burned, the loss being approximately $57,750. The extreme drought conditions which existed, particularly in the early summer, resulted in a considerable area being fire swept, but by the new system of forest fire wardens this was reduced to a minimum, much less than would have been the case under the old law. The State Forest Academy has graduated another class of students who are now actively engaged in administering and conserving some of the State forest reserves, which now aggregate a million of acres. The year 19 10 will be long remembered on account of the large number and great destruction by forest fires throughout the United States and British Columbia, causing not only the loss of timber, but valuable lives — 74 men being reported killed in one of the Forest Service districts. The fires were especially severe in the Pacific Coast and Rocky Mountain Region. In the National Forests in Montana and Idaho, the total amount of timber killed or destroyed is estimated by the Forest Service as over 6,000,000,000 feet B. M., the area burned over being over 1,250,000 acres. One area devastated was nearly 100 miles in length, and at its widest point reached 40 miles across. How much of the timber can be salvaged is hard to predict ; but if it were all a total loss, the stumpage value alone is equivalent to $15,000,000. It is believed that the year's- fires burned or killed between i and 2 per cent, of the total stand of National Forest Timber. The total lumber cut of the United States in 1909 was 44.5 billion feet, and in the National Forests of but tw^o States, practically one seventh of this amount was killed. If to this is added the vast areas burned over in the National Forests in other States, of State reserves, and the forests owned by private parties, it is probably safe to say that the value of the timber killed by fire in the United States in 19 10 equalled, if it did not exceed, the timber cut of last year. This does not take into account the damage to young trees, etc., and conservation will find here a wide field. The area of the National Forests has been con- siderably reduced during the past year due to the elimination of non forest lands, being the result of a careful investigation of the reserves, the total on October i, 1910, being 191,482,807 acres, as compared with 194,430,644 acres at the close of the year 1909. These figures do not include our insular possessions. Arbor Days in the spring, declared by the Gov- ernor, and that in the fall, when the schools are all in session, announced by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, were well observed. The chestnut blight, the most serious menace to one of Pennsylvania's valuable forest trees, has been making ravages, more particularly in the eastern portion of the State. It is now being fought with more knowledge, and we trust may soon be reported on the wane. Railroads are studying the forestry problem, and the principal system is this State has estab- lished a nursery to raise young trees for plantation purposes on lands owned by the company, with the intent of raising part of its tie timber. Plants have also been installed to treat the ties and tim- bers used, so as to prolong their life. The tele- graph and telephone companies are also treating their poles, thus lessening this drain on the forests. One of the largest coal companies in western Pennsylvania has planted a tract of denuded land with trees, while as has been mentioned from time to time, there are many instances of scientific forestry and tree planting by individuals in this State. The Department of Forestry is increasing its for- est reserves when suitable tracts can be purchased, and improving its facilities for properly caring for and protecting those already secured. Nurse- ries have been established at desirable points where seedlings are raised for plantation purposes, so that in course of time some of the large tracts of fire-swept barren land now owned by the Com- \N^ Forest Leaves, Vol. xii., No. 12. o 2 i > i > i, CO en < LU > CM CM > Z o I- o cc < UJ < I- co UJ o u. D Z _l < O < QQ A SECTION OF THE SWIFT RUN VALLEY ROAD READY FOR THE TOP DRESSING OF GRAVEL. A FINISHED SECTION OF THE SWIFT RUN VALLEY ROAD. '*xwji.4» Forest Leavks, Vol. xii., No. 12. N M o 52; o > < i2 O CO < HI > CM CM > z o h- o z Ij < UJ < I- co LU QC o u. H D Z _l < < _i CD A SECTION OF THE SWIFT RUN VALLEY ROAD READY FOR THE TOP DRESSING OF GRAVEL. , . !- '^ - ■ 1" > ■ '• " - / \-' • » ■ ■ > »■ • • . .. * '.'• * ^ I -_ N **'"jT">. ' . it^ "'■' • ^ ^'--^ ^ i.^ ^. - ^kSk..^M ^^i^^'s^X'^ -■ ^':^ -1^5^ 3^^^*- "lis**- •>r ^ ►\,.:,.^ .- ^.. ^x. r ** » - '-'If "^ ■ •, -m^ ' , ■ • ■». - •^mhh^ ^ ■'^^^:,t^. A FINISHED SECTION OF THE SWIFT RUN VALLEY ROAD. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE FOREST LEAVES. 185 monwealth can be planted with valuable species of trees. The press throughout the State, the lumbermen, women's clubs and other organizations have at. all times extended willing and valuable aid. The official publication, Forest Leaves, has been issued regularly, and has nearly completed the twenty-fifth year of its continuous publi- cation. The intention to hold a Forest Exhibit has not been abandoned, and it is hoped that this ex- hibit may be a feature of the coming year. The amounts contributed for this purpose are kept in a separate fund. The Association has been prosperous, and dur- ing the year many new members were secured ; but we regret to announce the loss of Mr. Richard Wood, a Vice-President, of Mrs. William Dorris, Mr. Henry T. Coates, and Mr. Charles Potts, members of Council, and of other members throughout the State. The total membership is now 1,484. F. L. BiTLER, Recording Secretary. Black Walnut Plantation in Kentucky. MR. J. B. ATKINSON, President of the St. Bernard Mining Company, Earling- ton, Ky., has kindly supplied the larger illustration of young black walnut trees. He says that ** twenty years ago the St. Bernard Min- ing Co. began to plant trees on lands that were no longer valuable for the growth of tobacco and corn. My experience as a mining man indicated that the time would come when timber would be far more valuable and difficult to secure for min- ing operations. *' At that time I had given little thought as to the time it takes forest trees to mature, and had little knowledge of tree growth. Considerable timber of the many varieties growing in the Ken- tucky forests had been cut, and the study of tree growth began by counting the annular rings of the stumps, and much time spent, then and since, in determining how long it took the destroyed tree to grow. ** The first tree planting was with the black wal- nut, the nut of which was planted in the autumn, with the hull on, when the nuts became mature. The ground was prepared as for corn, and the nuts planted 4'x4', or 2770 to the acre, being covered with soil from ^" to i" in depth. The land was cultivated for three or four years the same as for corn, and then blue grass sown, the idea being that in ten or twelve years the trees would be large enough to permit pasturage. One of the inducements in planting walnut forests, adding blue grass, and making a pasture was, there would be no danger of fire. The leaves and stems of the walnut trees quickly assimilated with the soil. **All trees thrive as the soil is good or indif- ferent, and maturity depends much on the same condition. **The forest planting of walnuts 22 years ago has been thinned out until an acre contains about 770 trees. Three groups of trees were selected in the above forest, counting the trees in rows as planted. ^* Twenty-nine trees, with average diameter of 5.3", should grow to 12'' in 50 years. Largest tree was 9.3'' and smallest tree 2.3" diameter. ** Twenty -seven trees gave average diameter of 4.89", and should grow to 12" in 57 years. ** Forty trees, average diameter of 4.04'', will take 65 years to reach 12" diameter. ** Out of the 4,000 trees standing in this forest, one tree is 11.7" diameter, and one tree 9.3" diameter. At 9 and 10 years old the trees pro- duced nuts, and this forest has been used as a pasture ever since. ) > Roads on the Jack's Mountain Forest Reserve. THE Jack's Mountain Forest Reserve in- cludes the mountainous sections of the northwestern corner of Snyder and the southwestern corner of Union counties, and con- tains in the neighborhood of 35,000 or 40,000 acres. Within this area, at the time of purchase by the Forestry Reservation Commission, there was, all told, about 15 miles of roads which could be driven. Between 4 and 5 miles of this was township road, and, as is generally the case in mountainous sections, very little money is ex- pended on them for repairs. The remaining 10 miles, formerly used principally by hunters and known as '* Hunter's Road," was in very bad condition. I know of one instance where a man was thrown from the seat of a wagon to the ground by jolting over a rock. At a cost of about $30 per mile this road was ** brushed out '* and repaired, being now in fairly good driving condition. The lack of roads here is due to the fact that lumbering was carried on by means of tram roads, thus making wagon roads unnecessary. It now becomes essential to construct a system which will cover present needs and also the re- quirements of the future. The system as planned 186 FOREST LEAVES. will include a road throughout the length of each valley, which are nearly parallel to each other, with connections through gaps in the mountains. Where gaps are too far apart, either a road, trail, or a fire lane will be made crossing the ridge, connecting with the roads in the valleys. This is working towards the ** checkered" system. Operations for the working out of this plan were begun with the repairing of the '* Hunter's Road" in the fall of 1908. The following spring a new piece of road, over a mile in length, was constructed through a gap which shortened the distance to the Hunter's Valley almost 3 miles, made a much easier grade, and a vastly better road. The cost was about $438. At present, we are building a road through the Swift Run Valley. A section of this valley for several miles in length is very rocky, which necessitates the breaking up of the rocks and '* pikeing ; " a good idea of the conditions to be dealt with is given in the illustrations. The breaking of the rocks for '* pikeing" is done by the use of dynamite and ten pound sledges and *' napped" fine (as shown in illustration No. i), with five pound hammers. The broken stones are about eight inches in depth. The second illustration is of the same section as that of the other, and shows the completed road. The top dressing or surface covering, is a red gravel which is carted on from an outcrop in a gap through which the road extends. This road is costing about $1500 per mile, which includes boarding the crew. A glance at the illustrations will show that the cost of con- struction is low considering the conditions to be dealt with. Frequently the question is asked me, *'Why are you building these roads? " The answer can be given in a few words. It is to make the re- serve accessible. A few of the more important reasons why the reserve should be made access- ible may be outlined as follows : — I. For General Management. In order to at- tend to their many and varied minor duties, the reserve force require the use of roads. II. P'or Specific Management. This includes: 1. Fire protection. (df) As a means of transporting a force of men to fight fires. (<^) The bases from which to fight fires. 2. Silvicultural operations, such as plan- tations, thinnings, improvement cuttings and lumbering. Roads are absolutely necessary for specific management. It is almost an impossibility to have an adequate system of fire protection with- out them, and the necessity for this cannot be too strongly emphasized. Plantations and other silvicultural operations should be carried on in many localities, but cannot be done with any degree of success until there are good roads. Taking into consideration the approximately small cost for which good roads can be con- structed, and the many benefits to be derived, there should be no question regarding the advisa- bility of putting more money and time in this line of work at present than in any other. W. Gardiner Conklin, Forester, Effect of Moisture on ^A^ood. • rXTHE effect of water in softening organic 1 tissue, as in wetting a piece of paper or a ^ sponge, is well known, and so is the stiffening effect of drying. The same law applies to wood. By different methods of seasoning two pieces of the same stick may be given very different degrees of strength. Wood in its green state contains moisture in the pores of the cells, like honey in a comb, and also in the substance of the cell walls. As seasoning begins, the moisture in the pores is first evaporated. This lessens the weight of the wood, but does not affect its strength. It is not until the moisture in the substance of the cell walls is drawn upon that the strength of the wood begins to increase. Scientifically, this point is known as the ^* fiber- saturation point." From this condition to that of absolute dryness the gain in the strength of wood is somewhat remarkable. In the case of spruce the strength is multiplied four times; in- deed, spruce, in small sizes, thoroughly dried in an oven, is as strong, weight for weight, as steel. Even after the reabsorption of moisture, when the wood is again exposed to the air the strength of the sticks is still from 50 to 150 per cent, greater than when it was green. When, in drying, the fiber-saturation point is passed, the strength of wood increases as drying progresses, in accord- ance with a definite law, and this law can be used to calculate from the strength of a stick at one degree of moisture what its strength will be at any other degree. Manufacturers, engineers, and builders need to know not only the strength but the weakness of the materials they use, and for this reason they are quite as much interested in knowing how timbers are affected by moisture as they are in knowing how they are weakened by knots, checks, cross-grain, and other defects. It is obvious that where timbers are certain to be weakened by ex- FOREST LEAVES. 187 cessive moisture they will have to be used in larger •sizes, for safety. So far, engineers of timber tests, while showing that small pieces gained greatly in strength, do not advise counting on the same results in the seasoning of large timbers, owing to the fact that the large timbers usually found in the market have defects which are sure to counterbalance the gain from seasoning. The Forest Service has just issued a publication ■entitled *^The Strength of Wood as Influenced by Moisture," in which are shown the strength of representative woods in all the degrees of moisture from the green state to absolute dryness, and the -effects of resoaking. Conditions for Tree Planting in Northern Pennsylvania. (Read at the Foresters' Convention, Harrisburg, Pa.) THE forest lands of northern Pennsylvania now owned by the State, are those areas which include the most rocky and rugged portions of the region. This section consists principally of a highland carved out by streams, and abounds in narrow uplands, steep slopes, and extremely narrow valleys. 7'he soil as a rule is moderately fertile, well drained, and of a sand- stone character. White pine was the dominant tree, and hemlock was also found in great quanti- ties. Valuable crops of hard woods were removed after the conifers were taken, but with the ex- ception of a few scattering operations, lumbering is about over, and in all probability ten years will «ee the end of the big lumber operations. The headwaters of many of the important streams of the State are here, and, aside from the revenue realized from the production of forest cro})s, the necessity of reforesting these areas for the preven- tion of flood, water famine and disease, is strongly apparent. The repeated fires fed from the slash- ings left by the lumbermen have placed many parts of this region in such condition that the only species growing are aspen, wild cherry, scrub oak, and red maple. Many of the steeper slopes have been so burned and the soil loosened, that the erosion, which naturally follows, has exposed the bare rocks. Hardly any growth is visible, and it is extremely probable that no suitable forest cover can ever be obtained under the conditions just mentioned, and if possible, then only at enormous cost. On the other hand, on many of the slopes where fires h^ve not been too numerous and severe, fairly good stands of hardwoods with scatterings of white pine and hemlock are coming up. If a suitable growth is desired, there is no question whatever that artificial regeneration will have to be resorted to. There are thousands of acres of such lands, and the cost of reforestation will be L greatly in excess of that under normal conditions. I The question is how to reforest these lands suita- bly at the least expense. In the open spaces and where the growth is not thick enough, planting may be done with species meeting the soil and light requirements, but owing to the excessive amount of dead and down timber the work would be difficult as well as expensive. The flat upland region presents about the same conditions. Along the ridges stands of pitch pine of nearly merchantable size are quite com- mon. The heads of many of the hollows still contain some merchantable white pine, hemlocks, and hardwoods left by the lumbermen. Where the fires have been severe in the upland region, bracken comes up in such rank masses that all other plant growth worth mentioning is excluded. Such areas if ever restocked will have to be planted up with some suitable shade endur- ing species or with seedlings old enough to com- bat favorably with the bracken. The extremely dry sandy areas which once contained the red (Norway) pine, are locally designated as ** barrens." For restocking, the same or some species of similar requirements would be necessary. The hollows as a rule have a good regeneration of hardwoods and hemlocks, and if fires are kept out will produce a good crop. Abandoned farm lands can easily be restocked with white pine, as is shown by the amount of it now coming up on lands in reach of nearby seed trees. In all probability conifers are the best adapted for planting. ' The soil is favorable to white pine, as is shown by the enormous crops that were once removed. Conifers produce a vari- ety of material which is in great demand, are far superior to hardwoods for protective planting, and grow on soils where hardwoods would not be profitable. Suitable species for this region are white pine, red pine, Scotch pine, jack pine, Norway spruce, chestnut and red oak. As previously mentioned, white pine is prefer- able, seeming to meet the conditions best. Its finest growth is on deep, light, sandy soil with porous subsoil, and it endures windy and cold exposures. Its ligllt requirements are such that it will grow favorably with species already on the ground. Red pine, though not so valuable as white pine, is also a good tree. Its freedom from insect injury makes it valuable, and its ability to grow 188 FOREST LEAVES. on dry sandy areas is of importance. Scotch pine could be used because of its ability to grow on sandy and exposed situations. Norway spruce will thrive on dry soil, does not require a particu- larly fertile situation, and is shade enduring. These characteristics make it a valuable tree for those areas now occupied by bracken. Of the hardwoods, chestnut, because of its adaptability to different soils (limestone ex- cepted), its quick growth, and value as lumber, would probably be as good as any. Although planting is necessary in many places, the conditions are such that better protection will have to be assured before it can be carried on safely. Most of the land is out of sight of habi- tation, heavy slashings still remain in many places, and the soil and humus, through lack of sufficient leaf canopy, is so dry that fire can be expected at almost any time of the year. An adequate system of roads and fire lanes will have to be perfected, and quick communication to all parts of the reserve must be established. Harry E. Elliott. President Taft on Forestry. *■ IN his Annual Message to Congress, the Presi- dent recommends that the limitation now imposed upon the Executive which forbids reserving more forest lands in Oregon, Washing- ton, Idaho, Montana, Colorado and Wyoming be repealed. In referring to the forest service he says : ** The Secretary of Agriculture gives a very full descrip- tion of the disastrous fires that occurred during the last summer in the national forests. A drought more intense than any recorded in the history of the West has introduced a condition into the forests which made fires almost inevitable, and locomotive sparks, negligent campers, and in some cases incendiaries furnished the needed im- mediate cause. At one time the fires were so extended that they covered a range of loo miles, and the Secretary estimates that standing timber of the value of $25,000,000 was destroyed. Sev- enty-six persons in the employ of the Forest Ser- vice were killed and many more injured, and I regret to say that there is no provision in the law by which the expenses for their hospital treatment or of their interment could be met out of public funds. The Red Cross contributed $1000, and the remainder of the necessary expenses was made up by private contribution, chiefly from the force of the Forest Service and its officials. I recommend that suitable legislation be adopted to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to meet the moral obligations of the Government in this re- spect. The specific fund for fighting fires was only about $135,000, but there existed discretion in the Secretary in case of an emergency to apply other funds in his control to this purpose, and he did so to the extent of nearly $1,000,000, which will involve the presentation of a deficiency esti- mate for the current fiscal year of over $900,000. The damage done was not, therefore, due to the lack of an appropriation by Congress available to meet the emergency, but the difficulty of fighting it lay in the remote points where the fires began and where it was impossible with the roads and trails as they now exist promptly to reach them. Proper protection necessitates, as the Secretary points out, the expenditure of a good deal more money in the development of roads and trails in the forests, the establishment of lookout stations, and telephone connection between them and places where assistance can be secured. The amount of reforestation shown in the report of the Forest Service — only about 15,000 acres as compared with the 150,000,000 of acres of na- tional forests — seems small, and I am glad to note that in this regard the Secretary of Agriculture and the chief of the Forest Service are looking for- ward to far greater activity in the use of available Government land for this purpose. Progress has been made in learning by experi- ment the best method of reforesting. Congress- is appealed to now by the Secretary of Agricul- ture to make the appropriations needed for en- larging the usefulness of the Forest Service in this regard. I hope that Congress will approve and adoi)t the estimate of the Secretary for this pur- pose." The Chestnut Blight. FOR several years it has been known that the chestnut blight i Diaporthe parasitica) has been at work in Pennsylvania, its worst attacks having been made in the southeastern counties. The Department of Forestry has made an investigation as to the extent of the infection, and issued a bulletin describing the Blight, giving its history, and, in fact, a resume of what was known concerning the disease to the date of pub- lication. In some few instances efforts were made to check the damage, but in no case was there any concerted action taken ; consequently, what was done resulted in no general good. During the past summer the matter was taken up by the Main Line Citizens' Association, which is composed of those whose properties are located on either side m. M!m.\ FOREST LEAVES. 189 of the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad be- tween Philadelphia and Pittsburg, for some dis- tance from the former city. The object in view was to interest all or most of the owners of land in the region, and then work together in a sys- tematic way toward the removal of infected trees or parts of trees, so as to stop the spread of the fungus spores, and, if possible, to save the unin- fected chestnut trees. To this end an appeal was made to the Depart- ment of Forestry for assistance, which was promptly granted. Hon. I. C. Williams, Deputy Commis- sioner of Forestry, took charge of the work, and with the assistance of the State Forest Inspector, several foresters, and a number of students from the State Forest Academy, has rendered all the help possible. The Citizens* Association has paid the expenses for transportation and mainten- ance of the men. The method of work was to inspect each chest- nut tree on an estate, mark its location on a draft of the estate, tag it with a numbered tree tag, and make a report concerning the tree under its re- spective number as to any infection found. A tracing was made from the draft, infected and un- infected trees indicated, and blue prints made from the tracing. A blue print, together with a copy of the tree record and a letter of instruc- tion, were sent to the owner of each property ex- amined. In case the owner desired to remove whole trees, the foresters marked the trees to be removed. It can be understood readily that on these estates trees are valuable, not because of all the wood or timber they will make, but because of the other things for which trees stand. Any amount of money would be spent to save a large tree for its shade or its landscape value. A high percent- age of the trees found growing naturally are chest- nut, and many of them are immense — centuries old. When the chestnut blight began to affect such trees, it brought about an irreparable loss. Small trees could be replaced by others ; other trees would produce wood or timber in time ; but these stately monarchs could never be replaced. In recent years there has been a great demand for **tree doctors" to care for trees on estates, parks, etc., and numerous firms have set themselves up to do service. Such firms were at work before the chestnut blight. When the latter came and caused dead or dying branches, they were re- moved in the usual manner. It was customary, with the exception of one firm, to use climbing- irons in doing the work. Old wounds and fresh wounds were often unprotected by paint, creo- sote, or other disinfectant, so altogether a great deal of infection may be laid at the feet of the so- called *' Landscape Foresters" — a misnomer in every way. In not a i^^N instances it was evident that infection was carried by tools from an in- fected branch to what had been an uninfected one. Also many cases were found where infec- tion started in the holes made by climbing-irons. In most instances the trees worst affected were those standing on lawns, where artificial condi- tions exist, or where recent cutting had been done. Trees with numerous spore cases develop- ing just above the surface of the ground did not always show death in the crown. Indeed, many times such trees, and some smaller trees com- pletely girdled as far as outward appearances went, bore the greenest leaves. Infection was often found in bark cracks. No doubt in some cases the blight caused the bark to crack, while in others the seasonal cracks due to growth may have been the openings in which the spores found lodgment. On a branch, girdled at a point where it was about one inch in diameter, and dead from there to the tip, signs of the fungus were found twenty- one inches from the point of girdling toward the tree. This would indicate that in pruning it is necessary to remove a branch at a point quite a distance from where the fruiting bodies are evi- dent. All bark should be burned. As long as there is any food in the neighborhood of the cambium layer, the fungus will continue to develop ; and this may be sufficient to produce millions of spores. Instances of such conditions were found on a number of wood piles. No blight was found on dead wood, but spores were found developing on the top of a growing root from which the bark and a thin layer of wood had been removed. A species of diaporthe was found attacking the beech. It appears very similar to parasitica when examined by naked eye, but under the microscope the spores are seen to be quite different. G. H. W. Forestry at White Haven. THE picturesque Lehigh Valley in the neigh- borhood of White Haven was for many years well known as a lumbering center. Within a distance of half a mile there were six large saw- mills built at the water's edge, a large tannery from which the village ** Lehigh Tan- nery " takes its name, and a kindling-wood fac- tory on the east side of Lehigh river at a place called Bridgeport. The water for handling the logs and furnishing power to the mills was obtained by damming the river at frequent intervals. Most of these dams 190 FOREST LEAVES. FOREST LEAVES. were washed away by the freshets twelve years ago and there is only one remaining in this region, that at White Haven. Of the six mills there remains but one, an im- mense structure in a more or less weather-worn condition, giving mute but convincing evidence of the greatness of a powerful industry that has passed away forever from this section — unless the present generation awakes to the importance of reforesting the barren and waste places. The large tannery and kindling-wood factory were long since abandoned and became a prey to fire so that the ruined foundations alone mark the spots where they once thrived. The land on either side of the river was once the site of an immense forest consisting mainly of white pine, interspersed with giant hemlock. This furnished the main part of the lumbering in this section. There is no virgin timber remaining, and the second growth has been terribly retarded by the frequent forest fires which rage every fall and spring. As I sit on the portico of my cottage, which is at an elevation of i,6oo feet on the west side of the Lehigh river, I can look over at the Pocono mountains — a distance of from 19 to 25 miles. Here and there for miles and miles I can see dark brown areas covering many hundreds of acres where there is no green foliage as a result of the devastating fires of the fall of 1909 and spring of 1910. The contrast with the parts which were not burned is very vivid, and would make a very beautiful scenic effect were it not saddened by the knowledge of the permanent loss effected by the fires. The new growth of timber consists of hemlock, chestnut, walnut or butternut, poplar, bass, red oak, the birches, but practically no pine except where it has been planted. About nine years ago the White Haven Sana- torium Association secured land in this section to the amount of about 230 acres, including a part of what is known as Green Mountain. This land has a cleared area amounting to about 75 acres — the remainder is very thickly covered by second growth timber, much of which is of good size. Very large trees are scarce ; we recently, however, cut down a large curly maple (on account of death of top), which measured 40 inches across the butt and which was estimated to be 275 years old. Recently, through the generosity of the late Miss Rebecca Coxe, the Association came into possession of a large tract containing about seven- teen acres, which is continuous with the Sana- torium tract. This plot has considerable virgin timber on it and a great many young and old white pines. About eight years ago the Association planted a large quantity of white pine seed on the slopes of the mountain, and at present in many places numerous small vigorous growths can be found as a result of this, but on account of the nature of the soil (shaly) much of the seed was probably washed out soon after planting. A fire- line fifty feet wide was established and is yearly re-burned, so that there never has been an uncontrollable fire since. A forestry department has been established and patients, whose disease has been arrested, are given employment in the woods. The plan is to clear the forest of all underbrush, make the necessary improvement cut- tings, and create a series of scenic paths and walks for the convalescent patients. After consulting Dr. J. T. Rothrock, a small saw-mill was installed, and all logs are sawed into lumber to be used on the plant. This has proven to be a very economical way of paying for the cost of the forestry clearing. He also advised the planting of white pine seedlings — two to three years old — for reforesting. This past spring nearly 8,000 of these seedlings were planted, and they are mostly all taking root, and will help materially in replenishing the woodland on our mountain slopes. Alex. Armstrong. *' The influence of forest cover on water-flow is of a three-fold nature; (i) the mechanical ob- struction which the foliage offers reduces the amount of the water which reaches the soil and lengthens the time during which it can do so '; the foliage, together with the loose litter of the forest floor, also reduces the compacting efl'ect of the rain-drops and the drying efl'ect of sun and wind and keeps the soil granular, so that the water can easily percolate ; ( 2 ) then the mechanical ob- struction which the litter, underbrush and trunks, and possibly here and there moss, offer to the rapid surface drainage of waters, lengthens the time during which this percolation may take place ; and (3) the network of deeply penetrating roots, live and decayed, offer additional channels for a change of surface drainage into sub-drainage. In addition, owing to the influence on temperature and moisture conditions of the air, together with reduced evaporation, more water becomes availa- ble to the soil, and certainly the fact that the water, by ready percolation, is withdrawn from the dissipative effects of sun and wind, must tend in this direction. We should consider the pro- tection of our watersheds as much a national problem as the improvement of our waterways, and even more so." — Dr. Fernow. 191 J. T. ROTHROCK, Consulting Forester, WEST CHESTER, PA. FOREST LEilVE^. o4tx> THE OFFICIAL ORGAN Terms upon Application. L.B^a£IS* tr OHKRTS. Part I.— THE OAKS. Forty-two species. No. 1. Biennial Fruited Oaks. Black Oak and Allies. No. 2. Annual Fruited Oaks. White Oak and Allies. No. 3. Southern, Pacific, Hardy, Foreign, and examples qf Extinct Oaks. Part II.— THE NUT BEARERS. Numerous species. No. 4. The Chestnuts and Beeches. American, Japanese and European Chestnuts. No. 5. The Walnuts. American, Japanese and European species and varieties. No. 6. The Hickories. American species and varieties. Part III.— No. 7. The Willows and Poplars. Numerous species. No. 8. The Birches, Elms and allies. No. 9. The Lindens, and allied families of numerous species. Part IV.— ♦No. 10. The Magnolia and related trees. ♦No. 11. The Horse Chestnuts and allies. No. 12. The Maples. (Printed in advance.) (Those with an * as yet unprinted.) Price for the ten Charts published, $4.00. For further information address the author, publisher and f proprietor, GRACEANNA LEWIS, Media, - - - - FennsylvaDia. i OF THE Pennsylvania Forestry Association. ^s^P^ The attention of the advertising public is called to the advantages we offer as a medium. Address, 1012 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. RATES ■ • 1 insertion. i 6 nsertions. It insertions. I inch, . . $1.00 $4.00 $8.00 'A page, . . 4.00 17.00 34-0^ 7^ • • 7.00 30.00 60.00 T << 12.00 50.00 100.00 i 192 FOREST LEAVES. ■,-■■ ' •»*. ■.■•■.•..■' ^^ ■' ' ■■ "" ■■' ■' "'7' 1 ^ • . • ■ -.i-i ^T-^t- .».«'.■:;■ L : ■■ "'^v-....;,,-^s*^'-':.- ,-:V.';^aSkaiiS;"- . The Pennsylvania State College Hi FOUR YEAR COURSE IN FORESTRY. A thorough and practical undergraduate course in technical forestry — preparing men for all lines of professional and applied forestry. Special attention is paid to practical field work in surveying, mapping and forest measurements. One of the largest of the State Forest Reserves is within a short walk of the College. For information regarding entrance requirements, expenses, etc., address DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, STATE COLLEGE, PA. FORESTERS CONSULTING AND OPERATING The beauty and value of forest growth depends materially on the proper care and training of the trees. Nature is in many things a rough mother. Her method of pruning leads to decay ; she over- burdens the trees with superabundant growth ; the feeding matter is washed off the hillsides and in exposed situations the dropping leaves, tlie main source of food supply, are blown away. Proper and scientific pruning will prevent decay and relieve the tree of superfluous growth, while well advised planting will conserve the food supply. With our professional foresters and trained corps of scientific pruners we are prepared to give the best possible attention to forestry problems and to properly treat ornamental trees and shrubs of all kinds. Thomas Meehan & Sons, Inc. LANDSCAPE GARDENERS AND ENGINEERS Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Pa. Biltmore Forest School. BILTMORE. N. C. 0 0 0 0 The Biltmore Forest School is the oldest school of forestry and lumbering in America. Its working fields comprise the Southern Appalachians, the Lake States, and Central Germany. It never leaves the woods. , The complete course covers twelve consecutive months at the school, fol- lowed by six consecutive months of practical prenticeship. Write for particulars, addressing C. A. SCHENCK, Ph.D., Director, BILTMORE, N. C. CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, CHESTNUT HILL, PHILA. 30 minutes from Broad St. Statioo. BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BOTS. Illustrated Catalogue upon, application, JAMES L. PATTERSON, Head Master. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rt. Rev. Ozi W. Whitaker, D.D., President. Samuel F. Houston, Vice-President. George Woodward, Secretary and Treasurer. JAMES M. BECK. WALTON CLARK. JACOB 8. DIS8T0N. EDGAR DUDLEY FARIBS. FRANCIS I. GOWEN. J. LEVERING JONES. DR. HOWARD A. KELLY. FRANCIS D. LEWIS. RANDAL MORGAN. H. GORDON MCCOUCH. GIFFORD PINCHOT. JAMES R. SHEFFIELD. Of twenty-three graduates in 1910, twenty entered college, and of the twenty, seventeen entered without conditions.