BIG RAPIDS INSTITUTE. 369 



But when you develop the agriculture of your county you are increasing 

 your permanent wealth. From all that you hear of the lumber and salt of 

 Saginaw county, you would hardly imagine that agriculture is a greater 

 interest in that county in dollars and cents than the salt and lumber com- 

 bined, yet such is the case. 



We had an institute here ten years ago, but you were logging then and 

 farming chiefly with guns and fishing rods — poor farming implements — and 

 so little came of that institute; but I trust that this effort will result differ- 

 ently — that it will induce you to organize yourselves, so that this institute 

 shall but be the first of a regular annual series, to be held under your own 

 auspices and efforts — institutes which will do you more good than any that 

 outsiders can bring to you. 



FORESTRY. 



Following Dr. Beal's article on this subject was the following discussion: 



Prest. Willits : Talking about forestry here seems much like carrying coals 

 to Newcastle, and yet there are points for us to think of — to be on our guard 

 about before it is too late. May there not be lands which are not such as 

 we want for agriculture, which may yet be utilized for tree growing? 

 * * Trees are our protectors against cyclones. They are practicing 

 on this theory in Nebraska and Dakota. 



Prof. Cook : I would like to say a good word for the maple forests now 

 standing. A good maple tree is worth thirty cents a year for sugar, or at 

 twenty trees per acre, §6.00 per acre per year which is twelve per cent of a 

 valuation of $50.00 per acre. 



Mr. Martin: I think every farmer should save his wood lot for use and for 

 his sugar bush. Cut your old trees for your owA wood, but don't slash down 

 your best trees and come to town and stana* around in order to sell your 

 wood for just about what the labor amounts to. "We make a mistake trim- 

 ming out the small growth in our wood lots. If we do that the old trees 

 will soon be dead and there will be nothing to succeed them. The young 

 growth will replace what you cut and maintain a permanent grove. 



Dr. Beal : That is just right. Another point is, if you are setting or plant- 

 ing a timber lot, don't set all black walnuts or all of any one variety of timber, 

 but set as great a variety as you find in the natural forests, with some ever- 

 greens that stand the shade well, in order to shade the surface and hold^the 

 moisture in the ground. 



Prest. Willits : What is the best aspect for a timber lot ? 



Dr. Beal : You must be guided by the lay of your land and that of your 

 neighbors, in each case using judgment. In many portions of Michigan 

 where the farms are in sections a mile square it will usually be best to leave 

 the wood lot at the back end of the farm, thus grouping all the timber on 

 the farms of the entire section, so that the trees on one farm are contiguous 

 to those on other farms, forming mutual protection. 



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