THE RELATION OF HORTICULTURE TO FORESTRY. 451 
THE RELATION OF HORTICULTURE TO FORESTRY. 
GEO. W. STRAND, SECRETARY MINNESOTA STATE FORESTRY ASS'N., 
TAYLOR’S FALLS. 
The soil may berich in all the elements of plant food, yet for want 
of moisture and trees may be a barren waste. History presents 
instances enough to clearly demonstrate the fact that where forests 
wane, all conditions change for the worse. Deforestation and 
depopulation, without doubt, have always gone hand in hand. 
Where formerly kings and queens ruled the mighty and prosperous 
empires of the world, today we find but a sadly disfigured country 
or a place of desolation. 
What more of a proof is necessary to show that the one great 
problem which confronts the prosperity of a country (the index of 
which lies in the success of its agricultural and horticultural 
branches) is directly dependent upon the condition and position of 
its forest areas. The older, prosperous nations of Europe recognize 
this fact and its important relation physically and climatically to 
their country, and have taken steps toward the proper management 
of their forests, some of which are now yielding them handsome 
yearly incomes. 
Minnesota is a state peculiarly situated in regard to both horticul- 
tureand forestry. Thescarcity of water and peculiar meteorological 
conditions, with the decadence of our forests the past few years, have 
caused much thought and investigation. 
History doubtless repeats itself, and if this fair North Star state 
is to hold its position foremost among the agricultural states, or if 
horticulture is to go forward, we cannot follow in the wake of some 
of the older civilization or of the eastern states but must profit from 
their errors. Our people must come to see the importance of each 
and recognize the dependence of one upon the other. There must 
bean equilibrium kept for our greatest prosperity and happiness. 
The matter of forest preservation and tree planting should concern 
each individual, for unless our agricultural and horticultural 
industries flourish the country at large is influenced likewise. It is 
high time we awaken to the fact and act accordingly—or do our 
conditions differ materially from those of older countries? 
If the waste lands of this state were utilized as a forest reserve, 
together with the groves and shelter belts which should be found 
on every farm, the influence, without doubt, would be such as to 
make Minnesota even a greater horticultural and agricultural state, 
without maintaining a vast forest area. 
The problem of awakening the interest of the farmer and people 
in general to action is a complex one not many venture to solve. 
The forestry association has endeavored to do this in various ways 
for anumber of years, but when some great calamity happens, 
such as the Hinckley fire, this stirs them to action and 
forcibly presents the need of state or government forest manage- 
ment. Our state is now doing something for their protection, and 
has done for a number of years something towards the encourage- 
ment of tree planting; but the public must be educated to better 
