STATE HOETICULTUHAL SOCIETY. 233 



in certain sections of our land, and which have doubtless been 

 occasioned, more or less, by the depletion in our timber and for- 

 estry supplies. The area of our wooded lands is steadily de- 

 creasing j^ear by year, and as a consequence important changes 

 have been wrought both in our soil and climate. This feature 

 is not characteristic simply of this State, for we in fact are much 

 less subject here to heavy storms than certain sections further 

 south and east, and yet the ill effects of constant thinning out 

 our forest trees are readily observable by all. 



While visiting the eastern portion of Xew York, last fall, this 

 matter was most forcibly impressed upon our mind. Marked 

 indications were everywhere presented of the disastrous evils 

 consequent on this pernicious practice of deforestation. The 

 lumbermen have largely cleared the timber in the wooded dis- 

 tricts of that state, and consequently springs and streams are 

 drying up. The water of the Hudson, at Albany, has been 

 effected and made so low as seriously to interfere with naviga- 

 tion. The number and extent of flood*, as well as frightful 

 storms, is yearly on the increase. 



In view of facts so readily to be observed why should there 

 not be prompt as well as proper action taken upon the part of 

 state and national legislators to remedy to some extent, if possi- 

 ble, this crying evi*, and bring about some wholesome change? 

 ^ It might be well for us more carefully to note the time and bring 

 to bear our influence so fiir as possible, in order to secure the 

 better and more general observance of Arbor day. The young 

 especially should be encouraged to plant out trees of various 

 kinds. 



THE AMERICAN HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



At the request of the president and members of executive 

 committee of our Society, we attended the meeting of the Amer- 

 ican Horticultural Society, at Cleveland, Ohio, being present the 

 last two days of the session, which began Sept. 7, 1886, and con- 

 tinued four days. 



This society was organized eight years ago, under the name of 

 the Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society. At the session 

 held during the exposition at New Orleans the name was 

 changed to the more comprehensive one of the American 

 Society. 



The meeting was held first at rooms of the board of trade, af- 

 terwards at the tabernacle on Ontario street. The capacious 

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