32 THE MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



leaving iintonched many details which lie will supply by his own investi- 

 gation. 



Not ipnly should the survey be made for our citizens and our schools, 

 but its results should be so published that they could be used as scientific 

 data in the study of geographical distribution and similar problems. 



From these educational and scientific advantages of a physiographic 

 and natural history survey of the State, I turn to consider the advantages 

 which are more economic. The survey should be so conducted that the 

 value of the soils would be known for various kinds of crops, If it should 

 be found, as it certainly would be, that certain lands/now yielding but 

 poor returns in wheat, would yield a more valuable forest crop, the 

 knowledge of that fact would be a clear economic gain. The survey 

 would doubtless lead to the ]»lanting of trees over small infertile areas 

 in every county in Southern Michigan. The fertility of soils would have 

 to be related to composition, to temperature, to precipitation, to dainage 

 and to vegetation. A collection into one record of such data could not 

 fail to be of great advantage to agriculture, not only in selecting the best 

 location for certain crops, Itut in the introduction into new regions of 

 fruits, vegetables, and grains. 



At the present time the State needs a careful survey of the northern 

 l»art of the Lower Peninsula in order to separate agricultural from forest 

 lands, that the State sequestration and reforestation of infertile areas 

 may proceed intelligently, and that the State officers and private com- 

 panies may do justice to those now being urged to make homes for them- 

 selves in that region. 



We know that the State is dotted over its Avhole surface with deposits 

 of peat and marl. A survey is needed to locate these and other valuable 

 surface deposits, such as cement clay, brick clay, and glass sand. By 

 cooperation with the geological survey the extent of these dei)Osits could 

 be measured. 



The fish and game have received too little attention. They are a source 

 and can be made a u>uch greater source of wealth to the State. I am 

 told that in one day last spring there left Grand Rapids for the brook 

 tiout streams of Michigan 3,000 men. The report of the Commissioners 

 of Fisheries and Game in Maine estimates the amount spent in that 

 State for the vear 1002 bv those coming from other States to hunt and 

 fish at >.f 6,000,000 to |1 2,000.000. From data furnished by the railroads, 

 the profits to Michigan from this source are probably not less than 

 $6,000,000 annually. Properly regulated, these sources of wealth can be 

 made lasting. But before they can be properly regulated the life his- 

 tories of the forms concerned must be determined by careful field and 

 laboratory study. A natural history survey of the State would deter- 

 mine to some extent the location and the quantity of game and fish, and 

 elucidate relations which they bear to their society of animals and of vege- 

 tation. Thus would be laid a basis for future determination of the effect 

 on these beings of natural and artificial changes in their environment. 



It is believed that the foregoing advantages would result from an 

 ecologically geographical survey. But there are numerous special prob- 

 lems which are not geographical in their nature, and which would neces- 

 sarily form a part of any complete survey. The State should publish a 

 list of the injurious fungi found within her borders, giving their habits, 

 range, and the means of combating them. The same thing should be 



