382 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



It would seem that such conditions ought to occupy the attention 

 of the Society of Forestrj^ of Minnesota, rather than the study of the 

 question of how to produce forests after we have reduced the state 

 to a condition where it will become the chief question to be dis- 

 cussed. 



Minnesota now has in existence forests enough, not onl}' to supply 

 her own want at home but some to spare for market, if they are only 

 husbanded as they should be under the fostering care of the state 

 and individal owners. So far as these owners are concerned, their 

 interests are in common with the public, but if the state can afford to 

 force the destruction of the timber, these owners can do nothing 

 but submit; but they neither can nor will subinit any longer than 

 is required to cut and market abroad the last stick under their con- 

 trol. They would be something more than merely ordinary, pru- 

 dent business men, who do not want their property confiscated for 

 the general benefit of the pubic, if they failed to slaughter the tim- 

 ber as fast as the market could be made to absorb it at home or 

 abroad. They are entering no complaints whatever, but they "keep 

 sawing wood just the same." 



In closing this article, I wish to express a regret that the forestry 

 branch of the state university, which would seem to be the only 

 practical organized body to handle the subject, has not, as yet, 

 called the people of the state to the existing condition and impend- 

 ing destruction of our forests. The scientific study of the subject 

 ought not to so far monopolize the attention of the student, that the 

 practical work and necessity therefor should be the paramount 

 topic. The farmers' sons who receive the course ought to be there 

 converted into practical foresters, whose knowledge covers the whole 

 field from a simple American business standpoint, rather than try- 

 ing to load down their memories with whole lexicons of unpro- 

 nounceable Greek and Latin terms. The state needs practical 

 foresters rather than lawyers, doctors, preachers, actors and "pro- 

 moters." 



THE PREMIUM PLAN OF FOREST RESERVATION. 



J. O. BARRETT, SECRETARY. 



The author of the article herein, entitled "Forest Saving vs. Forest 

 Raising" is one of the leading lumbermen of Minneapolis, thor- 

 oughly posted in that branch of industry, and, as his article shows 

 seriously deplores the existing conditions, and is ready to co-oper- 

 ate in any conservative forestrj' movement that is business-like. If^ 

 as I doubt not, he utters the sentiment of lumbermen generall}', 

 there is a sure prospect that they too will not consent to have an 

 "arid sandy plain" occuping the place where once the grand old 

 woods stood. 



The pivot of Mr. Walker's argument is that the tax tipon the tim- 

 ber lands is so heavy the owners cannot afford to preserve the grow- 

 ing timber longer than the profits of the present market warrant! 

 nor hold the lands, on account of the tax, after the timber is cut. I 

 trust that I correctl}- state his premises. If the burden of taxation 



