STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 415 



Society, at Boston, in September next; Prof. E. D. Porter was 

 named as alternate. 



On motion of Mr. Harris, the proposed amendment to the con- 

 stitution was adopted, authorizing the fee for life membership in 

 the Society to be paid in two equal annual payments of five dol- 

 lars each. 



On motion, a resolution was adopted favoring an increase * in 

 the number of reports of the Society published to 5,000 copies, 

 of which number 2,000 should be bound in cloth. 



On motion of Prof. Maginnis, the following preamble and 

 resolution were adopted: 



Whereas, The forests of Min*nesota clearly have an important 

 and beneficial moderating influence on its climate, and their 

 preservation and conservation is of the highest importance 

 to the horticultural and agricultural interests of this State in 

 modifying extremes of heat in summer and of cold in winter, as 

 shown by signal service records, and as a proper percentage of 

 forests have an important influence in preserving the moisture 

 needed for j^lant growth and in supplying springs and rivers, 

 and as in our judgment the time has now arrived for prompt 

 and decisive action needed for the preservation of the forest area 

 we now have and by reforesting such portions of the State as 

 have been denuded of their forests and are naturally unfit for 

 continuous cultivation ; Therefore, be it 



Resolved, That the legislature now in session be memorialized 

 to enact a law organizing a department or bureau of forestry, 

 and furthermore, that we respectfully request the State Horti- 

 cultural Society, the State Agricultural Society and the Forestry 

 Association to appoint committees together, and to appear be- 

 fore such committee of the legislature as has jurisdiction in 

 the matter, in order to bring about immediate action thereon; 

 and furthermore, that Friday, the twenty-eighth day of January, 

 be named as a date, for the meeting of the said committees. 



The chair appointed Messrs. Maginnis, Boxell and Smith to 

 represent the Society. 



Mr. Brand presented the following resolution which was 

 adopted: 



Resolved, That we believe our timber culture law should be so 

 amended as to contain the following provisions, viz : That for 

 every acre of the following evergreen trees, planted with not less 

 than 2, 700 trees to the acre and well cultivated for one year, the 

 person so planting such trees shall be paid the sum of five dol- 

 lars per acre for all land so planted, not exceeding ten acres; 

 when said trees attain the height of four feet said planter shall 



* Senator Hoard's bill providing for an increase in the number of horticultural reports, 

 asked for by the resolution, passed the senate but was not reached for final passage in the house- 



