412 State Uoticidtura! Society. 



PROTECT OUR TREES 



Ahwahnee, Madera Co., Cal., August 24th, 1003. 

 Major P^rank Holsinger: 



Let me grasp your hand, Major, and tliank you for saving those trees. 

 \\'hat vandals some people can be. They can't see beauty or utility be- 

 yond the size of a dollar. I sometimes think our people have acquired 

 a mania for destroying trees. Many of them never stop to think of the 

 trees as one of the greatest blessings nature ever gave to man. We have 

 been destroying forests from the Atlantic to the Pacific. No tree was 

 safe from the ax. When we think of the fact that it requires the de- 

 struction of near thirty thousand acres of forest timber every twenty-four 

 hours to supply the lumber demand of this country, and that that demand 

 is fast growing day by day and our forests growing smaller from the 

 effects of the ax and lires, we begin to realize that we must learn to pro- 

 tect our trees ; not only on our streets and in our grounds and dooryards, 

 but on our mountains and plains wherever trees will grow. What would 

 our whole country be without them ? I wish we could all think of them 

 as the crowning beauty of our hills and valleys, and give them that 

 loving care and protection their great beauty and vitality demands. Yes, 

 trees have rights that men should be brought up to respect. — \\'estern 

 Fruit Grower. Frank Femmons. 



A BIRD BOOK FOR FRUIT GROWERS. 



Mrs. Fannie Holsinger had a selection on "Nature's Militia," from 

 the "Great World's Farm," by Selma Gage, the text of which was "If 

 Nature's Militia, the army of birds, be killed, it will be impossible to find 

 a substitute for their faithful guardianship." Birds are Nature's soldiers 

 and keep in subjection the inferior animals. Their other uses are scarcely 

 Avorthy of notice compared with their labors in the destruction of insects. 



She said, "In reading the first chapter 'of this book, I thought it well 

 worth reading before this society. On reading the second chapter I was 

 undecided which to read, and so on, each chapter offering so man\- sug- 

 gestions that I was in a state of perplexity which was best ; so not having 

 the time to read the whole book, I have selected the last chapter. I would, 

 however, recommend the book to every farmer and fruit grower, believ- 

 ing a careful reading will repay you for so doing." — Western Fruit 

 Grower's report of Mo. Valley Meeting. 



