VARIOUS NATIONAL SOCIETIES. 159 



Thursday Afternoon Session. 



The afternoon session began at 1:30. 



The committee on resolutions reported favorably on changing the number of 

 vice- presidents from two to five. The amendment was adopted. 



The committee on membership reported as follows: 



Life Members — P. H. Dudley, New York; Edmund P. Martin, New York; 

 John M. Bennett, Hebron, Nebraska; Dr. C. R. Agnew, New York; Robert B. 

 Warder, Lafayette; P. H. Van Diest, Denver. 



Members — A. P. Rose, Geneva, New York ; George H. Parsons, Colorado 

 Springs; J. H. Masters, Nebraska; Benjamin F. Eaton, Coloi ado; Prof. W. J. 

 Beal, Lansing, Michigan; Frank E. Brown, Redlands, California: Joseph 

 Davis, Triuadad; A. E. Beardsley, Trinidad; Theodore Boggs, McPherson;x 

 Blair Burwell, Durango; G. Benklemau, Denver; P. O'Brien, Denver; W. A. 

 Byers, Denver; G. J. Carpenter, Fairburg, Nebraska; David Brothers, Denver; 

 W. S. Tilton, Winfield, Kansas; and Martin Allen, Hays City, Kansas. 



These gentlemen were consequently made members of the congress. 



The following resolutions were introduced and adopted: 



1. That the Corresponding Secretary be empowered to use Ms discretion in soliciting 

 contributions during the interval between this and the next meeting, and if sufficient 

 funds be on hand, that the two Secretaries form a Committee on Publication for the 

 purpose of publishing the proceedings of this meeting. 



2. That the New England committee, created at the Boston meeting, at their request, 

 be continued for another year, and that the name of Samuel L. Boardman be substi- 

 tuted for that of General Charles Hamlin, resigned, on that committee. 



ELECTION OF OFFICERS. 



The committee on nominations reported the list at the head of this article. 



On motion these officers were declared unanimously elected. 



On motion it was decided that the papers read at the meeting be collected 

 and published in pamphlet form. 



A paper was then read by Hon. Martin Allen, of Kansas, on the " Great 

 American Desert." He spoke of the "Desert" as it was at the time that Pike, 

 Long and the early pioneers visited it and compared that condition with the 

 present one. He stated that there was no doubt but that as trees are planted 

 the rainfall increases and the rain belt extends westward, and prophesied that 

 with the energy which is now displayed by the people of the plains the desert 

 and the treeless plains will entirely disappear. 



Mr. Carpenter of Nebraska then described at length his experience in 

 in planting trees in that State and the methods used by him. 



Professor Budd was then called upon to give his experience in forest culture. 

 He described the result of his observations in Europe and Asia. 



Secretary Fernow then gave a lengthy talk on the same subject. He was of 

 the opinion that when the Americans once were aroused to the question of 

 forestry that they would far surpass the European countries, inasmuch as the 

 latter have many old methods which they will not drop, whereas the Americans 

 are now ready to use the latest and most improved methods. 



Messrs. Budd, Fernow and Minier entered into a discussion on the black 

 locust tree and the damage done it by insects. It was agreed that planted 



