172 j^WiscoNSiN State Horticultural Society. 



many instances towns that supported a busy population are 

 at a stand- still, and show signs of decay. 



Our own government does not seem to understand yet 

 the necessity of protecting or preserving our forests, and 

 only within a few years past has public opinion been in any 

 way appraised of the fact that a time may come when we 

 shall be obliged to protect our own timber resources. 



In the year 1875. a few prominent men interested in for- 

 estry, issued a call to consider the matter of an organiza- 

 tion, and they met in Chicago, September 10th of the same 

 year, and organized the American Foresty Association, with 

 John A. Warder, of Ohio, as president. This association a 

 few years later took the name of the American Foresty 

 Congress. 



Through the efforts of this society mainly, congress 

 passed an act to encourage the growth of timber on our 

 western prairies, approved May 14th, 1878. Previous to 

 this, or in the year 1876, congress passed an act authorizing 

 certain inquiry and examinations to be made relating to the 

 extent of our timber resources; or more properly, the manu- 

 facture and value of our exports to foreign countries. And 

 under the direction of the commissioner of agriculture, 

 Franklin B. Hough, of Lowville, New York, was appointed 

 to this task; and from his reports to congress at different 

 times, and also his reports upon the condition and resources 

 of the timber supply in the old world, are we indebted more 

 than to any other man in the United States for a proper 

 knowledge of matters relating to foresty. 



The timber act making provision for tree planting on our 

 western prairies is nearly inoperative; though at the time 

 was thought to be just the proper thing for our government 

 to do. But any one who has ever been out west knows, that 

 a tree claim has been a great boon to land speculators, and 

 what was intended as "a national gift has been the greatest 

 fraud; for not one quarter section on an average, in a town- 

 ship under this act will be planted to timber. And if our 

 government will withdraw this from market and lease for a 

 long term of years, twenty or forty acres to each settler who 

 will improve it by planting timber; or what would be better, 



