280 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



which, within thirty years from planting, restored it from a rainless coun- 

 try to one of frequent showers. 



Other States and Territories, under like patronage, have planted in 

 like proportion. 



Congress heard you call and loudly responded to it, and gives to 

 every man a title, in fee simple, to one hundred and sixty acres of land, 

 who will plant and care for forty acres of timber, which is knovvn as the 

 "Timber Act," and hundreds of millions of trees have already been 

 planted by these frontiersmen. It has sent a delegate, Dr. John A. War- 

 der, to the International Exhibition at Vienna, clothing him with abund- 

 ant powers to survey, examine and report all that could be known of the 

 woods of the old world, and the conditions and extent of their forests in 

 their respective kingdoms, empires, principalities and provinces, and has 

 submitted a report of great value to forest interests, which is now within 

 the reach of all. 



Congress has also had a special act passed, the 15th of August, 1876, 

 under which a report on forestry was ordered to be prepared, under the 

 direction of the Commissioner of Agriculture, and submitted to Congress. 

 This act requires that a person be appointed "to prosecute investigations 

 and inquiries with the vicAv of ascertaining the annual amount of consump- 

 tion, importation and exportation of timber and other forest products, the 

 probable supply for future wants, the means best adapted for their pres- 

 ervation and renewal, the influence of forests upon climate, and the means 

 that have been successfully applied in foreign countries, or that may be 

 deemed applicable in this country, for the preservation and restoration or 

 planting of forests." This work is now being prosecuted by Hon. Frank- 

 lin B. Hough, of Lowville, N. Y. This is a gigantic measure, worthy the 

 government that adopted it. 



A forestry organization was formed in the city of Philadelphia 

 about thie year 1872, under the name of American Forestry Council, and 

 is vigorously prosecuting this great enterprise. A part of the members of 

 this body, with others, have formed a company, purchased several thou- 

 sand acres of old Virginia land, and have commenced planting forests on 

 a large scale. 



The American Forestry Association was formed in the city of Chi- 

 cago in the fall of 1875, ^^^^ '^^ the 15th of September, 1876, (centennial 

 year,) held its first annual meeting, in Judges Hall, Centennial grounds, 

 Philadelphia. 



New England has awakened, and last year (1876) we find that the 

 " Trustees of the Massachusetts Society t'or Promoting Agriculture," and 

 Avith a view of stimulating this important branch of agriculture, offered 

 the following prizes, open to all landowners : 



Ftrst,'Yor the best plantation of not less than five acres, one thousand 

 dollars; for the next best, six hundred; and, for the third best, four 

 hundred. These are to be planted in the spring of 1877. 



Thus, from the plains of the West and the rock-bound coast of the 

 East, from legislative halls, and the highest councils of the nation, comes 

 back the echo, "The morning cometh." 



