268 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



demand for it, but a vast quantity was wantonly destroyed and is being 

 needlessly wasted now. The actual amount of timber area in Indiana 

 today can not be estimated at more than one and a half million acres to 

 supply the demand of timber to a greatly augmented manufacturing in- 

 dustry. It is a plain, open question. Can we have the industries without 

 the material to supply them? The problem may not concern us in our 

 time, but is the world going to cease when we leave it? We owe to future 

 generations a duty for having lived before them. 



Every law of labor and trade is of the deepest concern in considering 

 this proposition of forestry. A scarcity of timber means higher prices for 

 raw material. This means higher prices for the finished product or labor 

 must be reduced. Either will be to the detriment of the farmer. When 

 things so arrange themselves that the industry can not be sustained, the 

 industry must cease and will cease. Any state or condition of things that 

 will disturb the present prosperous triple relation of agriculture, manu- 

 facture and commerce should not be allowed encroachment. 



I do not care to prolong the argument. It seems clear to me that 

 forestry is a more serious question than is generally given credence. I 

 appeal to you as citizens to co-operate with the members and board of 

 forestry in matters of timber promotion. 



There are many ways in which this may be done, but I call attention 

 to the three following plans as most beneficial and necessary: 



1. Insist on the sensible systematic harvesting of the forest crop so as 

 to secure the young timber and the retention of the tract in forest for 

 successive harvests. I am satisfied forest areas systematically harvested 

 and continued will pay better year for year at less labor than if put into 

 agriculture. It will operate as a savings bank. 



2. Plant the waste tracts of land in trees of the best economic and 

 commercial values. Waste lands planted in railroad tie and post trees 

 will be found to be a paying industry. The growing of aspens and cotton- 

 woods for paper pulp manufacture, which is now one of the coming large 

 industries in the State and which is paying good sums per cubic cord for 

 such material in bolt form delivered at their mills. 



3. Discourage all tendencies which have in them elements of extrava- 

 gance, waste and destruction of timber. Encourage intelligent legislation 

 to induce tendencies of forest planting and conservation. 



President Hobbs: I am very glad, indeed, to have this excellent paper 

 by Professor Freeman. We promised Mr. Garfield an opportunity to dis- 

 cuss a subject presented by Professor Latta. 



Professor Latta: "What Nature Herself Will Do Toward Restoring 

 Forests if She Has a Chance." 



Mr. Garfield: I don't want to intrude a moment on the time Mrs. 

 Meredith should be given, so I will take two or three minutes only. I 



