214 TEANSACTIONS OF THE HOKTICULTUEAL 



E. R. Brown — I think this explanation will be very satisfac- 

 tory, for I think a good many of us never fully understood this mat- 

 ter. 



A. L. Hay — A very learned man in Jacksonville says he don't 

 think trees have anything to do with the rainfall. I believe that the 

 hedges, fruit and ornamental trees planted around our farms, more 

 than counter-balance the original forests. 



Dr. Humphrey — If Illinois was one-tenth forest, distributed 

 over the State, the rainfall would be larger. A low cloud is attracted 

 to a timber belt. Trees make a difference with local showers. But 

 if we had no trees at all we should still have rain. There is more 

 timber in Illinois than thirty years ago, but it is not worth as much. 

 Can Mr. Minier give us a list of trees to plant for timber? 



Gr. W. Minier — For a list of trees to plant in Illinois, the Black 

 Walnat stands first. The Burr Oak, White Oak, White Ash, Hard 

 Maple, White Walnut and Linden are also good. 



Dr. Lobaugh — The sugar maple grows very slowly, and if it 

 breaks, never recovers entirely. I like the Hackberry very much for 

 a shade or ornamental tree. 



Dr. Hall — I never knew a Hard Maple to break. 



H. M. Dunlap — I don't think anything has been recommended 

 that will do for farmers. Is there anything that we can plant for 

 posts? How will the European Larch do for this purpose? I^have 

 some that have been in the ground four years, and show no signs of 

 decay. How about the Hardy Catalpa? There should be a wind- 

 break around every farm, but I don't think farmers can afford to 

 devote twenty per cent, of their farms to forest trees. 



Mr. Minier — The Hardy Catalpa is highly recommended for 

 posts, but not one in a thousand know anything about it. If we can 

 have the Red Cedar it is the best. European Larch is the only for- 

 eign tree that will do well in this country. I do not know how they 

 will do for posts. I think Mr. Dunlap has probably given them as 

 fair a trial as anyone. 



Mrs. Meade — I think we should plant trees for future genera- 

 tions. 



