KEPOKTH OF LOCAT. SOCIETIES. 359 



T. T. Lyon ai)i)rchciKlctl that tho village cluivtcr provided for the controlling 

 of the streets by the authorities; living in a new country induced the habit of 

 allowing stock to run at large ; as settlement increases sentiment changes ; did 

 not know whethei' this village was ready for tlio change or not; before bring- 

 ing the matter to a test we siiould eonsider well the chances of success, for a 

 failure would put us back several years; thought an educating process needed. 



W. II. liurlbut thouglit the policy of tlie State in permitting jjioneers to 

 pasture their stock at large, and giving powers to supervisors to curtail the 

 privilege at the proper time a wise one; tlie country is yet two-thirds 

 or three-fi>urths wild, but this town has come nearly to the changing 

 point; the matter could be decided by village election or council; the number 

 of cows now running in the street cannot live legitimately; might be allowed 

 to run from May to September, but was tired of setting trees to feed cattle on 

 when hay was ^10 per ton ; owners of stock are liable to a heavy penalty for dam- 

 age done ; the law permits one-fourth of the road tax to be expended in setting 

 trees; would recommend demanding and taking that right; would set large, 

 liigh, fast growing trees for atmospherical influence, as they arrest and change 

 the upper currents; wanted no low evergreens, but Lombardy poplar, ash, elm, 

 and white pine; maple good, but short lived and subject to borer ; iiad best 

 success in transj)lanting pines in June; preferred to do away with fences as 

 they made drifts, and drifts were a source of vexation. 



T. T. Lyon said that in transplanting whitewood, wdaite ash, basswood, 

 etc., from the forest, he had trenches cut around them and filled with leaves a 

 year previous to taking up ; fibrous roots were formed, and trees )10 feet high 

 which he cut back to 8 feet were moved without a single loss. 



N. Phillips thought the European larch unrivalled for street planting; in 

 Council Bluffs deeds required the setting of trees on each lot ; Avas tired of 

 shutting and shoveling gates from under snow drifts on account of cattle. 



L. H. Bailey would set the beech for shade and fruit. 



C. J. Monroe said that setting shade trees was his hobby for pecuniary rea- 

 sons as well as aesthetic. A California law gave a dollar to the planter of every 

 tree after four years ; setting trees there is next in importance to irrigation ; 

 roads lined w'ith trees in Iowa and Illinois add almost one-third to appearance 

 and value of surroundings; we who are brought up in the woods do not appre- 

 ciate tliem ; we made a good beginning last spring in setting trees, but ought 

 to do two or three times as much this year ; it is a matter that will affect us a 

 lifetime; if people would see the importance of it nothing need be said about 

 cows; the quicker we act tlie better; our lake will take care of itself, but our 

 forest will not. 



Mr. Ilurlbut mentioned a Department of France which, becoming sterile, 

 Napoleon I. ordered the planting of a large pine forest, and now the region is 

 fruitful and the people are returning. Spain was also cited as showing the 

 blighting effects caused by denuding a country of its forests. Americans are 

 destroying the best portions of this country in the same way. 



J. G. llamsdell considered fencing against cattle an expensive business ; said 

 that a row of maple trees was the turning scale in buying the place he owns, 

 and would not take $500 for them ; original cost about $1 ; had heard strangers 

 speak of the street near Mr. Bailey's as being very handsome; we wanted a 

 dozen or more such streets, and then we need not be ashamed to have strangers 

 visit our i^lace. 



