384 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
of the lumbermen and the indifference and carelessness of the whole com- 
munity in letting destructive fires follow his ruthless axe. 
Upon this subject women should make themselves heard. They should 
inform themselves upon the true principles of forestry, and then earnestly 
protest against the wasteful slaughter of our fine old forests. Persistent 
effort along this line will surely be rewarded. Everywhere interest is be- 
ing aroused in this matter, and in the older states important action is being 
taken. Let us see to it that Minnesota, with her marvelous resources in 
this line, takes her place in the van. 
Under a wise system of forestry, all our waste land might be made to 
produce a valuable crop. Trees grow while we are sleeping, and millions 
of dollars would be added to the wealth of our state if those principles of 
propagation and judicious cutting, which are no experiment but have been 
proved effective by long practice in other countries, could be adopted here. 
Our state may, by this means. make provision for the constant and profitable 
employment of a multitude of laborers, and, at the same time, receive good 
returns on the money invested. Dr. Schenck, whose authority no one will 
dispute, in speaking of forest planting upon waste land, says, that such in- 
vestments are safer than savings banks and more profitable than the best 
government bonds; that “there is nothing in the world yielding compeund 
interest so regularly and surely as forestry.” 
Other arguments might be brought for this forest preservation. The 
influence of trees upon climate, in breaking the force of destructive winds, 
in modifying drought and effecting the water supply; for, whether or not 
forests affect the actual rainfall, they certainly do make its distribution more 
uniform. 
The value of our forests is inestimable, and we should guard them jeal- 
ously. They are a trust of which the future should not be robbed. We 
women, for our own sake, and especially for the sake of the children of 
whose rights we are guardians, should make sure that the work of preserva- 
tion is not too long deferred. A large portion of what remains is hope- 
lessly doomed, but.that fine tract of the original pine which lies about Cass 
lake, and which still belongs to the government, should be kept in its grand 
beauty as a legacy for the past and a retreat from the noise of toil and 
strife into the sweet solitude of nature. 
Such are the strong and urgent reasons why women should be inter- 
ested in forestry. 
HOW WE CONDUCT OUR FLOWER SHOW. 
MRS. IDA THOMPSON, GLEN AVON, DULUTH. 
The revival of flower shows in our city was due to Mrs. E. M. Bangs, 
secretary of Associated Charities, who suggested them as a means to raise 
money for that society, and they were very successful. Held in one of our 
large department stores, and well advertised, there was a large attendance, 
admission at this time being ten cents. It is surprising what can be done 
by one or two days of earnest work, with the place and fixtures provided. 
The music of the evening concert, and the general appearance of the store 
make it in reality a flower bazaar or fancy fair. 
This idea was enlarged upon later in a public hall, when a church com- 
mittee took hold of the work. They printed a program and premium list, 
with advertisements and advertised largely in the newspapers. This is the 
