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Show Save V Forest. . Some years ayy the government of Bavaria sent a skilSed forester to stndy the conditions of timber growth in the United States. While here he made the remark, as if speaking of a matter generally gen-erally known and accepted: "In 50 years you will have to import your timber, and as you will probably prefer American kinds we shall begin to grow them, in order to be ready to send them to you at the proper time." What an instance of scientific forethought, fore-thought, and withal what a warning! Perhaps it is not yet too late to grow on our own lands the timber we Bhall need a generation or two hence, but if we are to do so it is time to take rigorous rigor-ous steps to stop reckless forest destruction destruc-tion and to encourage scientific cultiva tion. While our government Bells outright its forest lands for $3.50 an acre, France obtains almost exactly the same sum yearly from each acre of its forest land by salf? of timber. We spend our capital; cap-ital; France makes an income, and safeguards its capital. Palissy, the famous French potter, who was wise in other things as well as in porcelain, declared that the neglect neg-lect of forests in his day was "not a mistake, but a calamity and a curse for France." That country has since learned the lesson. When will ours follow its example? Youth's Companion. |
