FORESTRY. 379 



THE FORESTRY SITUATION OF TODAY. 



J. O. BARRETT, SECY. 



Delivered before the joint session of tlie Forestry Association with the Horticul 



tural Society, Jan. 11, 1891. 



Never in the history of the forestry movement in Minnesota was 

 it in so promising a position as now. The opposition has largely 

 lulled down, at least to consent, and inquiry is everj'where made re- ■ 

 specting the best methods of promoting, not only tree culture, but 

 tree preservation, against wanton depredation and fire. Let us not 

 pride ourselves as having gained this impetus by our own efforts 

 alone, as a distinct organization. But for what the fathers of this 

 state accomplished along in the sixties and seventies we would not 

 be where we are, occupying vantage ground. One by one many 

 of these pioneers have passed to their reward, but left their ines- 

 timable example to encourage us. But some are left, thank Heaven, 

 co-operating unfalteringly, having never forsaken their first love. 



Unjust were we in priding ourselves on some degree of victory, did 

 we not repeat and put on record the fact, that, in the early times and 

 in the darkest hours, when the Forestry Association was pronounced 

 dead and ready for burial, the State Horticultural Society, so like 

 Elisha at the departure of Elijah, took the mantle of responsibility 

 on its shoulders, and the Forestry Association breathed in resurrec- 

 tion and lived to see a brighter day. We cannot too largely credit 

 here, for at every annual meeting of this society our association is 

 recognized as a co-factor in fruit raising by tree protection against 

 adverse winds and undue evaporation, thus conserving humidity 

 for the benefit of crops. 



The year 1893 demarks a new epoch in forestry. Amid Minnesota's 

 magnificent exhibits at the World's Columbian Exposition, stood 

 that of forestry, and we will let it speak for itself. The forestry 

 congresses, where talented representatives of different enlightened 

 nationalities met to consider the vital problem involved, worked 

 along the very lines where we work. The vast multitude that came 

 to inspect the endless variety of wood specimens on exhibition in 

 the forestry building, did not only admire but, evidently, resolved 

 to rehabilitate the waste places of their native countries, and thus 

 utilize the grand movement of placing scientific forestry to the 

 front, where it belongs, initiatory to the twentieth (jentury, close at 

 hand. 



Having thus secured good fighting ground, let us briefly summar- 

 ize the duties before us: First, put this righteous vow on record 

 that the proposition, but crudely carved out a few years ago, to have 

 a forest reserve at the sources of our principal rivers and lakes, is 

 destined to materialize in some shape or other. This association 

 has never given it up. We yield not a foot of ground to be wasted. 

 We reverently swear the deserts of deforestation shall be made to 

 yield their increase under tree beneficence. Let our object be re- 

 peated here; a dense forest wall to guard our agriculture against 

 the polar winds; a dense roof of foliage, on a vast scale, and a leafy 

 floor under it to forestall devastating floods and conserve the sur~ 



