Forests and Forestry in Wisconsin. 147 



supplies, if simple protection from cattle depredations and fire 

 destruction can be provided ; and with such, protection, the new 

 growth will be better than the old, of such kinds as are natural 

 to the land, but even here, plantations of the more valuable ever- 

 greens should be made, particularly of the native pines, the res- 

 inosa and the strobus, with a goodly share of those valuable foreign 

 conifers, the Scotch Pine, the Norway Spruce and the Alpine 

 Larch. Nor should you neglect the very promising conifers of 

 Colorado, and at once put some of them on trial pretty extensive- 

 ly: Young plants are already offered at your very door for 

 moderate prices. 



Again let us turn to the great northern extent of your state, 

 your Canadian belt, and consider what is needed in the way of an 

 enlightened Forestry to continue, to perpetuate, and also to im- 

 prove this invaluable timber reserve, instead of allowing it to be 

 destroyed. We need have no mawkish sentimentalism respecting 

 the destruction of a single tree in the forest, qua tree. That may 

 be well enough in the park or beside the old homestead, in regard 

 to some familiar object that has especial associations with our child- 

 hood or youth, our trysting tree, or to some venerable oak or elm 

 that has grown hoary with centuries and has become historical as 

 thesilent witness of great events; but not so in the forest; there 

 the idea of utility alone must be our guide, and we should not 

 disdain the consideration of mercenary calculations. The forest 

 vegetables are a crop, they are grown for profit, just as a field of 

 corn or wheat ; nor should we hesitate to reap the harvest when it 

 is ripe in one case more than in the other. But just here we may 

 well admit our ignorance and acknowledge that we have much to 

 learn. 



For certain purposes and with certain species, the tree may be 

 most advantageously felled at twenty or thirty years, while an- 

 other species will require from one to two, or even three centuries 

 to reach the condition of its greatest usefulness and value. So in 

 your noble timber reserves, cut your mature trees without any 

 hesitation, but at the same time carefully look after the succes- 

 sion. Take care that the new growth be of valuable species, re- 

 move all others, and where necessary, plant the desirable kinds; 



