FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 65 



be greater than the revenue derived from forest areas in other European 

 countries, none of them fail to show a profit in their management. It 

 is not alone the value of the timber that should be taken into considera- 

 tion when we calculate the benefit to be derived from the forest areas. 

 The influence of forests upon the climate, rainfall and sanitary condi- 

 tions of a county are too well known to need more than be mentioned. 

 None of the older countries of the world in which no attention has been 

 paid to the preservation of the forest areas have made as great progress 

 as those that have adopted a practical state policy of planting and pre- 

 serving. Spain, at one time one of the greatest of European countries 

 with her hillsides covered with forests and her farms abounding in fer- 

 tile fields, in an evil hour allowed the hills and mountains to be denuded 

 of their forest covering with the result that, there being nothing to stay 

 the rapid descent of the streams and mountain torrents, the hillsides 

 were seamed and scarred by gullies, and the fertile farms alternately 

 flooded and parched and the agricultural population became discour- 

 aged; the result being that this once wealthy and powerful nation, occu- 

 pying a position of commanding influence among the leading nations of 

 the world, has fallen so low that there are none to do her reverence. 

 While her present condition cannot be attributed entirely to this cause, 

 her position would be vastly better had she cared for and maintained a 

 proper forest area. Today few of the leading nations of Europe neglect 

 this important factor in their national wealth, the result being that a 

 perpetual forest is established in them. If these densely populated and 

 older countries can establish and successfully maintain forestry re- 

 serves, there is no reason why Michigan should not enact legislation 

 that will establish such reservations and encourage private enterprise 

 in this direction. To stimulate private parties to engage in forest 

 preservation the Forestry Commission hal? drafted and caused to be 

 introduced in the present legislature, a bill exempting from taxation 

 not to exceed one-fourth of the area of farm land that may be controlled 

 by one person provided such land be devoted exclusively to forest 

 growth. If this plan should be adopted and maintained for any consid- 

 erable period of time, the beneficial results cannot fail to be apparent. 

 I sincerely hope that the legislature will enact this legislation. 



In conclusion let me say there is nothing ^that appeals so strongly to 



the people as a 'proper observance of Arbor Day when we should each 



and all of us take for our motto that of the old Scotch Laird Dunbair- 



dikes, "When ye hae naething else to do you may aye be stickit a tree." 



9 ' 



