Michigan Forests

Prof. V. M. Spalding, of Michigan University, addresstd the CoDgress o) Forestry at Cincincati, in britf, as follows : Michigan, of all states, shoulcl bave a practical interest in forestry. The forest product of the state already marketed amount to over $800,000,000, and in the single year 1879 the i timber product was sold for $60,000,I 000. Michigan produces a ore aalt than any otber state in the union, and the brine is evaporated by means of the refuse from the great saw-mills íb the vicinity of Saginaw and other lumbering towns. Ours ia the second state in the production of iron, and the blast furnaces of Elk Kapids, Ironton and a number ol others are drawing their supply of charcoal for its reduction from the great hardwood foreats in their vicinity. In these and a multitude of ways our mateiial prcoperity is dependent , on the foresta of the state. But these are rapidly disappearing. The bulletins of the last census show , that the estimated amount of merchantable pine standing in Michigan May 31, 1880, was 35,000,000,000 feet. At our present rate of consumption, 5,000,000,000 feet annually, it will take seven years to use up our pice forests. Suppoae the estimates or the amount remaining be too low; suppose, for safety, that the pine will last twioe as long as has been estimated, still the fact thrusts itself upon ub that in a few years this great source of wealth will be gone. It is esidest, then, that if we are to have forests in Michigan, we must raise them. As soon as the neccssuv for this is appreciated, and government and people unit3 in a settled purpose to restore our forests, we ghall be met by a number of practical, and perhaps difficuit, problems. What parts of the state and what proporlion of área should be covered with foreeU? Economista estímate about twenty-five per cent, but from the aalure of the soil, the physical characteristics and the commercial interest of Michigan, it is probable that a larger proportion may profitably be kept permanently wooded. Thtre are large areas of tbe atate that are oí far lesa valué for agricultural purposes than they are for raisiug timber. What weight ought we to assign to the principie of rotation or succession offorest trees? Can we raise the white pine in the same regious where it has just been removed? The weigtii of evidenoe seems to be in favor of the cpinion that we need not wait to pre pare the ground by raising suceessive generations of comparatively worth Ie39 shrube and trees, but that tht white pine and other valuabie trees may be planted at once with everj prospect of a good return. What shall we do with the sand dunes along the shore of Lake Michigan? See that they are kept covered with vegetation. Study the way in which nature has controlled them, and btcareful not to interfere with it Grow the Ailanthus glandulosa upon the sauds. Admitting that it is desirable tha' the planting of trees in Michigan ehould be ucdertaken at once and in earnest, what are the means of securing this and of securing the best resulta? (a.) Suitable legislation will help. The state of Iowa has been emiuently succestful in securing the plantticg of íree3 by a law that exempts $100 from taxation for ten years for every acre of forest trees planted. (b.) The state ought to be establishing f acts upon which to base the future management of the great work of rehabilitating its waste Tanda with foresta. There is need of experimental stations, where trees can be planted and their adaptability to climate and goil noted. (c.) The railroads, too, can ak greatly by taking a right position iu the matter. Those of the state o Michigan own lines aggregating over 4,000 miles iu lengtb, aud with large graots of valuablo land, they contro in a very great measure, the agricultural and commercial interesta o large areaa of the state. An abun dant supply of wood for ties anc manufacturing purposes ia a prime necessity of all these roads, and may be secured by the adoption of a lib eral and enlightened policy in main taining or restoririg a suitable amount of forcst on their lands. (d.) A few at lesst of the educa tionalinstitutions of the state can do an important work by giving foxestry an honorable place among their respective courses of stu y. Whether there is a soience oí forestry yet or not in the United States, there will be before long; an intelligent and interested aotiou on the part of these ingtitutions will further üs interests. (e.) The general government still owns eomething over a million of acres in Michigan, and large tracts of land are yet under the control of the state. Ifeven a portiou of this could be reserved as permanent forest, and placed under the direction of practical forester?, a thing would be accomplUhed ihat, unlikely and unreasonable as it may appear at present, future geaera iona would tbank us for.