162 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



which the sugar is added. Undoubtedly this is destined to be one of 

 great Michigan's greater industries. One factory in Lansing paid farmers 

 f 19,000 cash for milk in month of December, 1895. 



In closing, I wish to say it was not my purpose to instruct or amuse 

 you, but all along I have had in view asking you this question, ''Will such 

 a presentation of my subject educate boys away from the farm?" 



At this point Mrs. H. H. Hinds, of Stanton, read an essay, which will be 

 found in subsequent pages. See index. 



THE FOREST PROBLEM IN MICHIGAN. 



DR. W. J. BBAL, AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Within the recollection of some of us, most of our State was yet 

 covered by a virgin forest such as few portions of the world ever pro- 

 duced. These beautiful trees could not be spared because they grew 

 just where the farmer wanted to build his house and raise his grain. 

 Even at this day of the State's existence, I am somewhat reluctant to 

 speak on the forest problem. It needs considerable courage to stand 

 before you in this capacity, when I am certain you would much rather 

 hear others speak on some such live topics as cows and insects. These 

 things do not interest you now. It takes a tree a long time to grow. 

 We are inclined to leave that for our descendants to wrestle with. But 

 I am impelled to call your attention to one phase of this topic, viz.: 

 Forest fires. My eye falls on this one sentence in the Northwestern 

 Lumberman for January 4, 1896: "Without question the time has come 

 when more care than has hitherto been taken should be devoted to the 

 preservation and better utilization of our forests." Is this statement 

 possible — right here in western Michigan, the home of the famous white 

 pine, numerous oaks, elms and maples? Yes; for our lumber yards are 

 already being invaded by whitewood from Tennessee and yellow pine 

 from Georgia. Let us use our own timber and not import it; but let us 

 look around at our supply. Perhaps there may be something worth con- 

 sidering after all in this word of warning. 



CUTTING THE TREES. 



I have not a word to say against the man who cuts the best trees from 

 his land — not a word. They grew to be used. It would be next to 

 impossible to keep this timber very much longer, even if the owners 

 wished to keep it. I am familiar with some of the perils of the lumber- 

 man. The danger from high interest on the investment, the enormous 

 taxes put on the land owned by non-residents, induce them to log off 

 this tract during the winter regardless of the price of lumber and get 

 what they can out of it. Everything down to six inches in diameter 

 goes, and the land is expected to grow up to brushes, the rubbish will 

 soon feed the flames and in many cases the land will revert to the State 

 for unpaid taxes. What I have to say concerning the forests is said with 

 the view to help the lumbermen and not to hinder them. We have so 

 long been accustomed to the present mode of getting what we could out 



