62 BOARD OF AGRICULTUEE. 



devoted to this crop in the subterranean passages of the cata- 

 combs beneath the city. It is evident, tlierefore, that a large 

 amount of excellent food is annually wasted in our fields and 

 forests from the ignorance of our people, who are unable to 

 distinguish the edible from the poisonous species, and conse- 

 quently avoid them all. Many of these might be gathered and 

 eaten, or sold in the city markets, and many more might be 

 profitably raised by our gardeners. Even the microscopic 

 fungi are sometimes useful. The mould, which epicures often 

 plant in their cheeses to impart a desired flavor, the yeast- 

 plant, which is inseparably associated with the important pro- 

 cess of fermentation, and the vinegar plant, are examples of 

 fungi which are beneficial in consequence of their power of 

 producing chemical changes. Without their aid we should 

 have only soda or unleavened bread, and neither alcohol nor 

 acetic acid, except at great expense. 



Turning now from the least among plants to the greatest, 

 and gratifying thus our natural fondness for antithesis, let us 

 for a moment consider the importance of botanical studies in 

 their relations to forestry, or the care, cultivation and utiliza- 

 tion of trees for shade, shelter, ornament or timber. Much 

 discussion upon this subject has occurred of late with special 

 reference to the preservation of forests on our public domain, 

 and the planting of useful species on the treeless prairies and 

 plains of the West. Many millions of valuable forest trees 

 have been planted during the past few years, and enthusiasm 

 on this subject has attained such force in Nebraska that the 

 legislature has set apart a special day to be annually devoted 

 to this business. While, from the nature of our government, 

 it seems impossible to accomplish much toward the permanent 

 preservation, or the renewal, of our forests by legislation, great 

 good will result from the agitation of these topics by the en- 

 lightenment of the people. Very few are fully aware of the 

 beneficial influence of growing woods upon the soil, the streams, 

 the climate, the crops and the salubrity of the atmosphere. 

 The planting, pruning and proper harvesting of a wood crop are 

 not deemed matters of sufficient utility to be considered by 

 our land-owners. Large areas of stony, bleak and barren soil 

 exist in our own Commonwealth, which to-dav would be 

 covered with a luxuriant growth of wood, except for the per- 



