FOREST TREE PLANTING. 141 



the ailanthus to the localities mentioned may be justl}^ re- 

 <z:arded as an evidence of design in the oriojin of varieties. 

 In view of the foregoing facts, which we admit have been im- 

 perfectly presented, it is not easy to account for the general 

 apathy which is found to exist on this important subject. 

 Capitalists are eagerly seeking permanent investments which 

 promise three or four per cent, per annum, while the indus- 

 try we encourage pays a better dividend and in every 

 instance has proved a financial success. One of the motives 

 which prompted Mr. Pratt to plant his grove, he says, was 

 that he might be remembered pleasantly by those coming 

 after him. To this must be added the genuine satisfaction of 

 having contributed to increase the country's wealth, and at 

 the same time clothe the sterile hillside with verdure and 

 •cause the barren plain to bloom and blossom as the rose ; 

 this of itself is indeed a dividend which, thouffh not sfoino: 

 directly to swell the bank account, possesses a value, never- 

 theless, not easily overrated. 



The ChxURMAN. The subject presented is a very interest- 

 ing one, and from what I have heard I am inclined to think 

 that Col. Wilson of Boston can give us some further ideas 

 on this subject. We shall be very glad to hear from him. 



C/ol. Henry W. Wilson. Mr. Chairman, — The subject 

 of forest planting is one that cannot be too much encouraged 

 among the agriculturists in this part of the country. My 

 business, as might be inferred from my talk yesterday, hal; 

 been largely to deal with dirty water ; but I started out with 

 the study of pure water, and for a number of years that was 

 my business exclusivelj^ — pure water and how to get it. I 

 soon found that that subject ran into forestry naturally, as 

 the purest, sweetest and most natural source and storage for 

 pure water is the forest ; and ultimately, and I think within 

 my lifetime, the source to which our metropolitan district 

 will have to look for pure water will be this subject of for- 

 estry. But you cannot make twenty-five men in Boston 

 believe it, or see it, or under.stand it to-day. 



In one of the richest counties of this State I will drive 

 you, in one afternoon, by eight or nine abandoned farms, and 

 we will not go out of our way to find them, either. That is 



