558 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



salvation of Indiana and its industries. But I do present these thoughts 

 to you with the firm conviction that active forestry along the lines 

 advocated will prove one of the greatest factors of industrial security 

 and a wise course of procedure in order to meet the future problem 

 when it comes, as come it has to other nations, and come It surely will 

 to our nation and to Indiana as a part of it. It may not happen within 

 our time, but it will come to our posterity, and to them we owe the 

 obligation of an honest effort in this matter. 



In connection tlien with this major idea of forestry which I have 

 presented, and before I talce the minor features, I want to give a few 

 ideas of legislation which I am of the opinion will do good. I don't 

 mean that we can legislate away the confronting embaiTassments. If 

 legislation could solve the timber question then it would be fairly easy of 

 solution because the people are in sympathy with the movement, but 

 that can't be done. It is action and not law which will solve these 

 problems, but legislation may aid action, and that is what I want to 

 consider. If a law were enacated whicii would encourage the devotion 

 of the cheap and broken lands to forestry, would it not be a good law? 

 1 am convinced that nearly all such lands are quite as good for forest 

 growing as the rich lands. After careful investigation I am sure that 

 the larger part of tlie wood-worliing institutions now located within the 

 state use as the raw material second-growth hardwoods of from eight 

 to twenty-five years growth, and that it possesses the prime attributes 

 at such ages for the uses. I am also convinced tliat under right cultiva- 

 tion a good quantity of material can be produced upon an acre in that 

 time. We are not sufficiently informed to state facts in this, but alreadj' 

 we have begun the movement to get these facts and only need more 

 time. A gi'eat many evidences are available which convince mo that 

 This major plan is a good one if backed by suitable legislation and 

 administration. I have in mind that if a law were enacted exempting 

 from taxation any such or all lands for that matter which the owner will 

 contract to devote entirely to forestry for a period of years under the 

 direction and instructions of the State Board and that after such period 

 the product value only be taxed that it will prove a veiy beneficial law. 

 My opinion is that such a law will cause investments in these lands and 

 forest estates will be established which will not only be more profitable 

 than endowment insurance to investors, but will enhance the value of 

 such lands, solve to a good degree the timber question and generally 

 promote the Avelfare of all. 



Another need which it seems to me should be more looked after by 

 the farmers is the devotion of a practical part of the farm to permanent 

 forest. If every land owner, it matters not how productive his soil may 

 be, will set aside a certain portion of his acres and devote the same 

 exclusively to forestry that it will prove a wise course for him financially 

 and generally, and will go far in the solution of the hampered condi- 



