128 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



nothing of the immense waste of timber and other property. The injur- 

 ious effect of fire on young trees and on the fertility of the soil is very 

 great. That most of these fires, with proper care, could have been pre- 

 vented, no one will deny who has investigated the subject. In all, or 

 nearly all, cases the fire had a modest beginning, but no one considered it 

 worth his time to attempt to check its onward march. In case of fires 

 purposely set, who ever attempts to find and punish the guilty? One 

 thing is certain, and it should arouse the interest of every citizen : These 

 flames in many cases were fed in their intensity by large quantities of tops 

 and brush which had been left by people who had taken all they wanted 

 from the forest. This is not the time to enumerate all the ways in which 

 forest fires originate, nor to point out the numerous remedies, but to 

 mention the subject as one of great importance, which should be discussed 

 till remedies are found. Fires are most common and most destructive in 

 the newer portions of the state, especially where cone-bearing trees pre- 

 vail, and where clearing or lumbering is in progress. 



The best modes of managing a reserve wood lot on the farm, and of pre- 

 serving young green timber left standing after larger trees have been 

 removed, is another problem of no ordinary importance. Neither of these 

 parts of the subject seems to have attracted much attention of the owners 

 of the land. It is well nigh the universal practice of Michigan farmers to 

 pasture the wood lot, allowing cattle, horses and sheep to eat every green 

 thing within their reach. This lets in the light and light encourages grass, 

 and the advent of grass helps prevent seedlings from springing up, and also 

 checks the growth of the older trees. The pastured wood lot is short lived 

 at best. Then there is another feature of the subject almost never thought 

 of, viz. : After cutting out the ripened oaks which are dying at the top, 

 and the mature trees of other species, the second growth often consists too 

 largely of scrubby beeches of slow growth. The open places might, with a 

 very little effort, be supplied with seeds or seedlings of the most desirable 

 kinds. As object lessons, we look in vain for models in our state, and a 

 few good models scattered over the state would be worth more than many 

 sermons. It may seem strange to you, but, in my estimation the greatest 

 need of forestry is more persons who have a keener appreciation of nature 

 — a love for trees in particular — ^persons who like to see trees, to study them, 

 to admire their beauty, to read about them, and to discover their defects. 

 "We need to cultivate a healthful sentiment regarding trees, not exclusively 

 as the author who says: "Woodman, spare that tree," but in a broader 

 spirit which appreciates the uses of timber as well. We need more people 

 who know the names and peculiarities of all our trees, the structure and 

 uses of the wood — in a word, a little more botany and plant physiology. 



Every teacher in our public schools should have considerable knowledge 

 of our trees, then the children would learn of the teachers. 



I have recently attended the first meeting of the Michigan Academy of 

 Science, where the subject of forestry was considered among other things. 

 I anticipate the society will be in many respects as useful as a college, and 

 in some ways different in inducing the young to study nature more. 



Now, since our fathers and grandfathers have hewn down most of the 

 trees in the older counties of the state, and the pine has largely been 

 driven back to the northern peninsula, people are beginning to think 

 more about forestry. I have recently received two letters from William 

 G. Mather of the Iron Cliffs Company, Ishpeming: 



