FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 65 



Neil McCallum : Eighteen years ago I was a timber butcher ; today I am a tree 

 lover. I set a row of sugar maples eighteen years ago, and took the best of care 

 of them, cultivated and looked after them. We have recently tapped those trees, 

 which are one foot through. They were set for shade, of course, but they are making 

 us returns. I want to suggest too that there are thousands of acres of this pine 

 ■stump land that is sometimes thqught entirely worthless that is really splendid land 

 for fruit; at least that is so in Oceana county. 



S. A. Tarpenning: One topic has been neglected. People tell us that in this for- 

 estry matter Ave are looking far ahead. That is not the right idea. I claim that the 

 tree that is planted out begins in a very few years to give a return through the milk 

 pail. I believe all authorities agree that if you have plenty of shade for farm stock, 

 you will increase the flow of milk in the dairy herd. 



Geo. A. Perry: I wish to call attention to the fact that the State encourages the 

 planting of trees in the road by an allowance on the road tax. This may not be 

 generally knoAATi, for I think it is seldom acted upon. 



L. Sours: Most fires in Grand Traverse section are caused by the railway loco- 

 motives starting fires and thus endangering the forests. I think we ought to have a 

 law covering this subject. 



Mr. Jennings: I am glad the sugar maple has been mentioned. I know a small 

 maple grove in southern Michigan that furnished timber for building and other farm 

 purposes, and last year it yielded more than $200 in maple sugar. 



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