72 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



under the care of the government, which ought to have a special department, 

 not only to watch over and ])reserve what we still possess, but to carry out all 

 those improvements which would tend to increase its value. 



A HINT TO RAILROAD COMRAXIES. 



The next in our countrv that have a <2:reat interest in forestrv are the rail- 

 road companies. If it is growing on their own lands they ought to see that it 

 is properly preserved and cultivated, but on a great part of tliese lands that are 

 prairie or without timber they should at once put out extensive young planta- 

 tions of such varieties of trees as arc best adapted to the soil and most suitable 

 for railroad purposes. There is another advantage which these companies 

 would derive from tree planting, and that is, all the lots for sale in the inter- 

 vening sections would be greatly enhanced in value by reason of the shelter and 

 l)rotection which they could not fail to derive from the adjacent plantations. 

 Some of these companies have extensive land grants of alternate sections, and 

 in order to construct and maintain these great national highways a vast amount 

 of timber will constantly be required for ties, bridges, telegraph poles, build- 

 ings, etc. The first thing necessary for these companies to carry out a proper 

 system of forestry, would be to have a special department in that line, and a 

 head with proi)er knowledge and skill to carry the work into effect. 



AND TO FARMERS. 



The third party that has by far the greatest interest in this timber question 

 is the farmer and landed proprietor, who, as cultivators of the soil are more 

 specially interested in all those products that are found so indispensable to the 

 welfare of the general community. The farmer that now plants out a good 

 breadth of timber will find it the most profitable investment and one that will 

 increase in value for 50 or 100 years to come. Timber is coming to be esti- 

 mated according to its future value. It is not an annual but a permanent crop, 

 and must therefore put an immediate value on tiie land on which it grows. 

 Land with young thriving timber of the proper sort, if offered for sale, brings 

 a remunerative percentage in value for the outlay in j)lanting. 



COXCLUSIOX. 



The influence general tree planting would have on the climate, on crops and 

 especially on the cultivation of fruit, v/ould be most beneficial, and there is no 

 doubt its influence would be greatly felt as a sanitary measure in affording 

 shade in the heat of summer and shelter from the cold blasts of winter to both 

 man and beast. To all these advantages may be added the great improvement 

 of the general landscape and especially the grounds surrounding the home, 

 which, being tastefully laid out with clumps and single specimens of shade and 

 ornamental trees, makes a standing picture of nature and art to be admired by 

 our children and all other§. It would induce a love of country and a spirit of 

 ]-)atriotism so that wc would cordially endorse the sentiment, ^'Tiiere is no 

 place like Home." 



RESOLUTIONS AND ADJOUKNMENT. 



Mr. Ohilson, of Battle Creek, offered the following resolution, which was 

 unanimously adopted : 



Besolved^ Tliat we regard it as expedient that the State Agricultural and Pomo- 

 logical Societies ofler premiums for wind breaks, both ot natural and artificial 

 growth, when planted or maintained as such for the protection of gardens, orchards, 



