STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 105 



thousand and odd timber culture tilers we -will presume to address these observations. 



During certain seasons of tlie year travelers in the Alps are careful, when travers- 

 ing dangerous parts of their journey, to abstain from calling in a loud tone of voice, 

 lest the vibrations of the air, set in motion by their voice, should detach masses of 

 the yielding, melting enow, which in its descent should assume such dangerous pro- 

 portions as to form avalanches, greatly imperiling life and property. 



The writer apprehends no such immediate effects from the uplifting of his voice 

 in this matter, nor does he expect to diffuse so much information in handling the 

 topic, that the question will be easily solved by following suggestions thus thrown 

 out ; but he does expect the older and more experienced members of this society 

 to embrace the opportunity for remarks and discussion, after this reading, that will 

 in a great measure, help our frontier settlers to bury as with an avalanche, the 

 troubles and difficulties experienced in making anything of the nature of a tree, to 

 thrive on the prairie. 



If this end be accomplished, great indeed will be our reward. 



Returning to our subject, these settlers find to their hands, broad acres of virgin 

 soil, inviting the ministry of man and machinery. 



The lands, to commence with, are in better condition than the no less fertile tim- 

 bered lands of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, after three generations have 

 patiently dug, blasted and grubbed their way to the hidden mysteries under the sur- 

 face. 



The first question suggesting itself in the premises is. What is the one thing need- 

 ful to make happy, prosperous homes of these beautiful lands ? What is the great 

 desideratum to success, comfort and happiness? We unhesitatingly answer, Timber 

 — for fuel, buildings, fences, railroad purposes and a hundred equally needful re- 

 quirements. In a word, timber means homes, society, communities ; the lack of it 

 discomfort and desolation. To say these broad level plains are embryo wheat fields 

 is literally true, would an exclusive disposition to this end be wise ? As Minneso- 

 tians, we are wont to felicitate ourselves on being an agricultural people, and com- 

 miserate the mining regions, who get their gold and silver ready made. 



Look at the mining sections of California. The beautiful hillsides scarred and 

 gashed with ditches, tunnels, and excavations ; its clear, free running streams filled 

 with mud— changing the crystal snow-water to turbid masses of impurity, and the 

 fair face of God's creation used for dump piles. A home with such surroundings 

 would truly be in the midst of unqualified desolation ; and yet, we ought to inquire 

 if our course, in exclusive wheat-growing, is a wiser one. 



The older sections of our State are crying out for freedom from a merciless tyrant 

 whom we created in crowning wheat for king. 



Dame Nature is long sutTenng and kind, but when we demand "bricks without 

 straw" it's too much, even with her boundless resources, and any system of farmifig 

 that looks to the planting of one fixed certain crop, year after year is exhaustive to 

 the soil, expensive to the farmer and injurious to the body politic. 



To say that our bonanza farms are bonanzas to any except the owner is a mooted 

 question. 



Suppose the case of the money-making Eiistern merchant, who, worn out with 

 business, care and worry, comes west for recuperation. His active, speculative mind 

 sees rare chances offered for tlie taking. He buys a few thousand acres of land ; 



