When our pioneering ancestors arrived in this wilderness in Western Quebec, and turned it into the homesteads for several thousand strong and proud Canadians, they were confronted with virgin forests of giant trees.
After cutting a small clearing and constructing some kind of primitive shelter to survive the unknown winter which was about to bury them in snow, they hastily cut down more forest. They also worked up enough ground to plant the bare necessities of vegetables and grain to supplement whatever fish and wildlife they could get.
After a couple years of trying to work little bits of land between the . . .
stumps of the trees that they cleared, they began to burn or pull out some of those stubborn stumps. The small ones were first to go, but the huge ones left from a tree that had been 100 feet high were a much more formidable task. Remember that trees with branches covering a 50 foot diameter have a root system about the same diameter. That’s why they spent several years working around the big stumps before trying to get rid of them. It took a lot of digging out and cutting off branch roots before even thinking about moving the stump.
Almost a century later, some enterprising soul invented a stump puller which could be moved with a team of horses from stump to stump and farm to farm. It was a huge steel tripod on steel wheels with a huge screw in the middle that could be attached with an enormous chain to the stump directly under. A long, strong pole was placed through the top of the screw and a horse could be used to pull the pole turning the screw, pulling the stump up. A stump puller from our county is proudly displayed at Upper Canada Village.
Recent clear cutting, fires, and heavy rains which caused floods have made us realize that it was the extensive root systems on trees that kept heavy rains from washing steep hillsides down mountainous slopes, causing extensive flooding in B.C.
After only a few years of clear cutting a forest, the roots begin to die and no longer stabilize the slopes after heavy rain. Annual crops like corn, grains, and soybeans only have root systems a few inches deep and in a time of drought cannot access water below their root system. Even a tighter knit root system like grass which has better water holding capacity cannot prevent erosion from flooding and wind erosion caused by severe drought. Some old vineyards in Europe are over 100 years old and were planted in gravelly soil with little topsoil. Older grapevine roots have been known to penetrate the earth to a depth of 40 feet.
If climate change progresses as predicted, much more care will have to be taken to improve the water holding capacity of our soils to prevent water erosion and prevent erosion caused by wind in times of drought. Strategically placed tree windbreaks could also help retain snow and reduce wind erosion. Crop rotations, animal agriculture mixed with grain farming could also mitigate soil erosion.
Roots also reminds me of our ancestors who probably originated in more than one part of our planet. Both farmers and geneticists will tell you that if a genetic pool becomes too small, major health problems can increase.
Today our genetic pool for chickens is so concentrated that a disease could eliminate a huge part of the world’s flock. Some purebred cattle associations have opened their herd book to allow cross breeding with another breed one time to introduce some new blood and improve the health of the breed. Beef farmers have discovered that there is “hy-bred-vigor” in cross breeding two or more breeds of beef. Some countries have noticed an increase in blindness if marrying couples are too closely related.
In recent years, there has been an increase in interest in knowing who one’s ancestors are. During our own Canadian history, our own government and some of our most respected and prominent religious organizations have tried to erase the language, religion and culture of Canada’s First Nations. We have noticed similar attempts in other countries. Not that long ago, slavery was alive and well in North America. I am proud to say that one of my ancestral cousins changed his political affiliation so he could support his friend Abraham Lincoln gain the presidency and lead the charge against slavery.
Finding out where your roots are can be very informative and satisfying and something that your grandchildren can be proud of. Even though our family has lived in this valley since 1800, we can celebrate our French, English, Irish, Scottish, German, and British North American history. It can start as easy as writing down the name of your mom and dad. “Roots.”
