Discussion, Resolutions and Reports on Forestry. 177 



I consider that this will do an inestimable damage to the country. 

 It will affect the climate and the water sup^jly. The snows will not 

 be preserved in summer, but will go off in early spring. Already 

 I have been told the effect of forest cutting and destruction is sadly 

 felt at the head of the Sacramento, and in the Sacramento and Santa 

 Clara valleys. 



Mr. Munson, of Texas — There is no tree that withstands the 

 droughts and suddenly varying temperature of Western Texas bet- 

 ter than the yellow cedar. It is a good grower, and valuable for 

 fuel and other purposes. 



3Ir. Gutter, of California — We of Southern California realize 

 how valuable to us are the mountain reservoirs of snow and water. 

 Take these from us, and our fine valleys go back to a desert condi- 

 tion again. The native mountain timber is the preserver of these 

 water supplies. We look with alarm upon the present tendency to 

 strip off the mountain forests. If the present duty on foreign lum- 

 ber was taken off, it would tend to cheapen this staple commodity, 

 and thus take away the temptation to destroy our native forests. 



Mr. Kinney, of California — I am glad Mr. Cutter has again 

 brought up this tariff question, for it affords me an opportunity to 

 offer the following resolution : 



Resolved, That it is the sense of the American Horticultural Society that uo 

 question of a political character should be considered at its meetings, and that, 

 therefore, the political resolution on the tariff, introduced at San Jos^ by Mr. 

 Estee, be stricken from the records of the Society. 



On motion of Mr. Ragan, of Indiana, the resolution was laid 

 on the table. 



Secretary Ragan — Reverting again to the question of forestry, 

 I would say that I am glad the subject has been so ably presented 

 by these two papers. I am especially pleased with the paper by Mr. 

 Douglas. Twenty years ago I had occasion to refer to its author 

 as the veneraljle Robert Douglas. This paper gives abundant evi- 

 dence that time has not yet blunted his incisive wit and keen intel- 

 lect. We are pleased to renew our former acquaintance with this 

 leading light in the work of forestry reform. 



Hon. Abbott Kinney, chairman of the State Board of Forestry 



