64 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



most important point in which, it seemed to me, had reference to 

 the facility with which a further growth of pine ma}' be maintained 

 on such lands where they have been protected from fires. When 

 burnt over, it is found very difficult and expensive growing- pine 

 there again. Mr. O. F. Brand gave a rough estiinate of the probable 

 value resulting from the preservation of our forests, giving some 

 interesting figures showing the results in millions of dollars for a 

 term of years. It was a suggestive paper. Mr. L. R. Moyer read a 

 paper reciting his observations in regard to the proper trees to 

 plant on prairies. Like all of his productions, it was practical and 

 thoughtful. Col. W. A. Jones spoke of the relation of the forests to 

 our reservoirs. I did not hear much of this paper, but judge it to 

 have been of value on account of the applause awarded it. Dr. Chas. 

 H. Hewett, secretary of the State Board of Health, talked a short 

 time in his usual lively and exhilarating way of the relation of for- 

 estry to the public health. As he presented no paper, and there was 

 no stenographer present, his remarks will not appear for publica- 

 tion, as will probably all the papers. Some of these papers will find 

 an appropriate place in The HORTICULTURIST. 



Edward A. Beals, of the Weather Bureau, read a paper on "The 

 Influence of Forests upon the Weather," full of valuable details and 

 figures. The amount of work he must have bestowed on this war- 

 rants more publicity than it could receive from such a limited 

 audience. Prof. W. M. Hays talked in his familiar way of "The Rela- 

 tion of Forestry to Agriculture," and made numerous applications- 

 Mr. D. R. McGinnis, of St. Paul, while not on the program, made an 

 inspiring speech at the close of the session. 



Perhaps the most interesting feature of the meeting was a sug- 

 g-estion made by Capt. Judson N. Cross in regard to the state's 

 accepting the trusteeship of an}'^ forest lands that are tendered to it 

 by the owners, with the understanding that after reimbursing itself 

 for the expense attending- their care and development the proceeds 

 should go to the support of educational institutions, allowing, how- 

 ever, for the payment of one-third of the net proceeds, for a limited 

 time, to the owners of the land or their heirs. Ex-Governor John A. 

 Pillsbury, who was present, intimated that there were a number who 

 would like to avail themselves of such an opportunilj' to dispose of 

 their pine lands. A committee was appointed to prepare a bill to 

 present to the next legislature, embodying these ideas, the result of 

 their deliberations to be made known to the public as soon as pos- 

 sible. This committee has not yet been announced. This plan 

 seems to present some very important features, not the least of 

 which is that it would commit the state to the adoption of a thor- 

 ough system of forestry, which would be necessary to carry out the 

 trust assumed, and incidentally would affect the management and 

 care of all the forests in the state. 



The result of tlie annual election is noted above. The attendance 

 at this meeting was very small, altogether too small for such a pro- 

 gram. It is to be regretted that more of those who are especially 

 interested in this subject could not have been there. Half or more 

 of those in attendance were members of the state horticultural 

 society. 



