Fairhaven High School - Huttlestonian Yearbook (Fairhaven, MA)

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30 THE HUTTLESTONIAN Science D O YOU know that the United States has 143 national forests, cov¬ ering 136,000,000 acres, set aside and maintained by Uncle Sam for the pleasure and profit of his citizens,—for you and for ' me? Do you know that our national wood pile is getting low? Every year we use 24,000,000 cubic feet, we lose through fire, insects, blights and other natural causes 1,700,000 cubic feet, and we grow in new timber only 6,000,000 cubic feet? You would find out these and ever so many other interesting things if you studied botany this year. HOW WE STUDIED ABOUT FORESTRY Every day one member of the class gave a special topic on fores¬ try. These topics required personal investigation on the part of each pupil. The subjects covered the work of forestry from the very be¬ ginning until the present time. First, the history of the forest was studied, not only in connection with the United States, but also with many European countries, and the present extent of our timber lands was compared with that of different nations. Next came the tree it¬ self, on which many topics were given, including its requirements for growth, its structure and utilization. The point especially empha¬ sized was the protection of the forest against the ravages of animals, insects, fires, and floods. KATHERINE GOGGIN, ’25. LONG AGO AND NOW When did this work of forestry originate? One might think it very old, because surely the forests are the oldest living things on earth. But not until the twelfth or thirteenth century did the work of forestry begin, and then only on a very small scale. Forestry was not begun in America till 1880. As the European nations grew in population and covered more territory, they cut down the forests wherever they settled. It was not long before they felt the need of lumber, so after a while they learned to set aside forests, and when a tree was cut down another one was planted in its place. This ' method of forestry was carried out throughout Europe, and especially in Germany. It is said that

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THE HUTTLESTONIAN 29 FOREWORD: The following account was suggested to the author, after a visit recently made by the members of the Senior Sewing Class to the Textile School in New Bedford.—The Editor. The Journey of Some Balls of Cotton O H! HOW good it felt to be unpacked after traveling such a long way from our home in the sunny South! As soon as we reached the Textile School, we were put in huge machines which, at first, frightened us. We were then torn apart, pressed into sheets, and beaten so that all the dirt and waste material would come out. How soft and silky we looked afterwards. Before we could be made into yarns and threads, we went through so many processes our heads fairly whirled. Finally it was time to say farewell, for we were to be separated. Some of us were made into underwear, some were dyed and made into stockings. The rest of us were dyed and woven into cloth of various patterns which, I heard one of the men say, were designed by the boys who study at the school. “No one would recognize me now,” said a prettily designed piece of cloth, as she flounced her skirts. “I wish for no better fate than to be fashioned into a charming frock to be worn by some lovely, little girl.” ELIZABETH SHERMAN, ’24. Revere honor, To truth hold tight, Follow these principles, And you’ll live right. Let conscience be your armour, And truth be your crest, And in the crucial hour, You’ll stand the hardest test. ELEANOR C. WALSH, ’25.

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THE HUTTLESTONIAN 31 in some of the towns of Switzerland, the taxes are almost unbeliev¬ ably low, because the town secures all its revenue from its forests. Roosevelt introduced this plan into America, and with the help of Pinchot, then the National Forester, established it as the policy of our national forestry service. The early settlers in America did not think of using such a plan, because they thought that the vast tract of forest land which they found here could not be exhausted, in¬ stead they not only used but wasted the forest lands. The time is rapidly approaching when the extravagant people of America must realize the need of improved forestry methods. CALVIN FRED PERKINS, ’25. FOREST FIRES The report on forest fires was interesting to me. The damage done to the trees is enormous. Homes and families are wiped out and towns destroyed by the ravaging flames. The hearts of the American people are more ready to heal the wounds by lavish outlay than to prevent for the future. As a summary I would say of forest fires—they reduce the extent of the forest area by destroying grow¬ ing timber, they prevent reproduction by deteriorating soil, killing seedlings, and consuming seeds, and they hinder vigorous and healthy development of trees. MARJORIE TUPPER, ’24. THINGS NOT FOUND IN TEXTBOOKS Each one in the class sent for a booklet entitled “Forest Trees of Massachusetts and How You May Know Them” from the state de¬ partment of forestry. This illustrates and describes every species of tree in Massachusetts. Through the influence of “The Improvement Association”, a moving picture and lecture on the forests of our state were given in the Town Hall. We actually saw what a forest fire will do, and what can be done to prevent or check it. We saw how a tree is cut, noticing that they were careful not to let it fall on young trees. We saw the log drive, the tree nurseries, and the vast lands now covered with forests. To us they seemed enormous, but they are vanishing rapidly. LOUISE LOPES, ’26, (Concluded on Page 34)