STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 103 



DEFERRED PAPERS. 



The following papers were read by title and referred to the 

 Secretary : 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE OX FORESTRY. 



BY G. W. MIN"IER, MINIER. 



I dare not promise myself the pleasure of being at the meeting 

 of the Illinois Horticultural Society, in Alton, on the llth-13th 

 instant, and therefore send you a few crude thoughts on Forestry. 

 You know that my contemplated trip to Atlanta, Georgia, may pre- 

 vent my being with you at Alton. 



I attend many public meetings where men of thought, of phil- 

 anthropy and self-sacrifice meet to take council, but none give me 

 more pleasure than the Illinois State Horticultural Society. May I 

 suggest to such a body of men a thought or two? Would it not be 

 a step in the right direction to include in our work the idea of the 

 conservation of our forests, and urging our people to plant parks and 

 roadside trees? 



Our railways should be invited and urged to plant forest trees 

 along their tracks. These great commercial thoroughfares may thus 

 be made both more useful and beautiful. By judicious planting and 

 proper culture, these companies may materially aid in that indis- 

 pensable article — the ties for their roads. These trees would like- 

 wise be a protection from winter storms and summer suns and a 

 quietus to dust. 



To every land owner a park will be a gem of beauty. Every 

 farmer, however large or small his possessions, should know that a 

 certain percentage of his land in timber will increase the value and 

 usefulness of the rest of his farm. Not the adornment only, but 

 the pleasure of the park, joy to his family, a resort for friends, and, 

 in winter, a protection to domestic animals. His family physician 

 will tell him that the sanitary effects of forest trees and foliage is 

 most wholesome and invigorating. 



I conclude by hoping that the Hlinois State Horticultural 

 Society, which has stood foremost in usefulness, will add another 

 charm to her name by including among her other industries that of 

 Forestry. 



