58 | ANNUAL REPORT. 
of such magnitude as to protect the roads from snow blockades, and 
ultimately redeem the fairest portion of Minnesota, and render it an 
inviting and productive region. So much for what the First Division 
St. Paul and Pacific Railroad has already accomplished in this be- 
half. I wish I could say as much of the country tributary to it. I 
think I can truthfully say that the people are waking up to the feasi- 
bility and necessity of tree-planting, and the good example the com- 
pany has sct has encouraged them. They did more tree-planting last 
season than in any season before; next season they will do still bet- 
ter. The great want of cheap cuttings and trees has been met by 
the company, so that the poorest men can make a beginning. Gen. 
Becker and Jno. Swainson have already planted 40,000 forest trees 
on their farm near Morris, and intend to plant from year to year 
until they get about 700 acres into timber. Mr. Morris, our chief 
engineer, has a fine grove well under way on his farm near Morris ; 
Mr. Bartlett, near Hancock, has planted 30,000 cuttings. Mr. Bart- 
lett has also planted enough forest tree seeds for a million of trees. 
Nearly every farmer in and about Hancock is engaged in forest tree 
culture to agreater or less extent. At Benson, Capt.Frank Thornton 
has made a good beginning, and has already several hundred thou- 
sand thrifty young ash, box elder and soft maple. John Clint, road- 
master of the Western Division, has a fine plantation of young forest 
trees on his farm near Benson. At Lac qui Parle great attention 
has been given to tree-planting, and the extensive and flourishing 
plantations of J. H. Brown and Abner Tibbits are the special pride 
of that locality. Mr. Parsons, near St. John, has ordered 27,000 
cuttings and forest trees to plant on his farm. He wisely estimates 
that the enhanced value of his farm from this planting, will, to a great 
extent, make up for short crops and low prices. 
At Willmar, the citizens are alive to the importance of the work 
and are generally preparing for extensive tree-planting in the spring. 
On the whole, the indications are favorable and encouraging. The 
mass of the people are slow and cautious ; they are too poor to make 
many experiments, but when once convinced and educated to the 
proper degree in horticultural interests, they will do a work in tree- 
planting which in a few years will far exceed in magnitude anything 
the company can hope todo. This matter of educating the people 
in the correct principles and practice of forest tree-culture is a duty 
properly belonging to the Legislature. . 
The tree-planting committees of the Legislature at its last session 
recognized this duty and attempted to perform it, but failed. It oc- 
curs to me that this society would not go beyond its legitimate func- 
tions in calling the attention of the Legislature to this important 
subject. Measures of general public benefit, should not be dealt out 
wholly by private or corporate individual efforts. I have every rea- 
son to believe that the State is willing to do its whole duty in this 
behalf, if the matter is properly brought before the Legislature. 
Not only should correct information be gratuitously furnished to the 
people, but in addition to the bounties already offered. Young trees 
and the ground on which they stand, should be exempt from taxa- 
tion for a term of years throughout our whole agricultural domain. 
Such Legislation should also be obtained, which would protect nur- 
