SECRETAEY'S POETFOLIO. 411 



fruit and forest trees have been planted, and $200,000 have been remitted in 

 taxes. 



FORESTS AND WATER SUPPLY. 



The following item is picked up without credit: As regards the influence of 

 trees on moisture, careful observation has confirmed the theory that more rain 

 falls on forests than on open plains, and, comparing different kinds of trees, it 

 is found that the pine tribe get and retain more water than leafy trees. Hence, 

 it is said, pines are the best defense against sudden inundations, and the best 

 means of giving freshness and humidity to a hot and dry climate such as that 

 of Virginia, where attempts at amelioration have been made by planting and 

 by digging artesian wells. 



A GOOD WORD FOR THE CATALPA. 



The hardy catalpa tree is well adapted for post timber, being easily trans- 

 planted, a fast grower, and in ten or twenty years will be large enough to cut 

 for posts. We have proof in northern Indiana and Illinois, where this tree is 

 a native, that it will last for posts fifty years or more. The hardy catalpa is 

 being planted extensively in some parts of the west. Robert Douglass & Sons, 

 of Waukegan, 111., planted, for other parties, by contract, two years ago, 

 100,000 small trees, and last year 220,000. This year they have a contract to 

 plant, in the fall or next spring, 1,500,000. We at the west are progressive 

 farmers and horticulturists. We are sometimes rather fast to adopt new things, 

 but we hold fast to that which is good. I have read of ten virgins, five were 

 wise and five were foolish ; the wise took oil with them to trim their lamps, 

 but the foolish did not, and their lamps went out when they were in great need 

 of light. We have two sets of farmers. The wise will plant catalpa trees for 

 fence posts, but the foolish will not, and when their oak posts are rotted off 

 they will say to the wise, "Give us of your catalpa, for our oak posts have rot- 

 ted off." But the wise will say to the foolish, "We can sell all the catalpa 

 we have to spare to the railroads for ties for more money than you can afford 

 to pay for fence posts." Sewel Foster. 



Muscatine, Iowa. 



CHESTNUTS IN MICHIGAN 



Would it not be the proper thing for this society to encourage the planting 

 and culture of the chestnut tree in Michigan? It is a favorite as a shade tree, 

 would be a splendid tree to grow in the school-house yard. Its timber is valu- 

 able, and the nuts have a good degree of food value, and for amusing the 

 "small boy" in gathering and eating, its usefulness cannot be overestimated. 



The home which yearly has a barrel of chestnuts put in the cellar to be 

 enjoyed during the winter evenings will have an attraction for the boys that 

 will go far towards keeping them away from the street. 



Will some of our older members give us a few hints on the proper soil, loca- 

 tion, and culture to make the effort a success? 



St. Joseph. S. H. 0. 



