460 ANNUAL REPORT 



renewed, rotating with other crops as much as possible. This, 

 too, is now the ordinary horticultural practice in Southern Illi- 

 nois. 



RESOLUTIONS ON FORESTRY. 



The American Forestry Congress, in the meeting held at Denver, Colorado, 

 September, 1886, in behalf of the forestry interests of the country, adopted 

 the following resolutions: 



1. That the rapid destruction of the timber lands of this country is an evil 

 which will result in incalculable damage to the present and future generations; 

 that the denudation of mountain slopes and hillsides, by fire and axe, with- 

 out proper regard for renewal, has already begun to injure agricultural inter- 

 ests by disturbing favorable distribution of water supply, intensifying droughts 

 and floods, causing springs to become dry and streams to diminish their flow. 



2. That the importance of maintaining a proper amount of land in forests 

 can not be overestimated, and it is also apparent that only the government, 

 state, or nation can have an interest in such maintenance for the benefit of fu- 

 ture generations. 



3. That the public laads, at the sources of streams, necessary for the preser- 

 vation of the water supply, should be granted by the general government to 

 the several states, to be held and kept by such states in perpetuity, for the 

 public use, with a view to maintain a full supply of water in all rivers and 

 streams. 



4. Thit we recommend to the general government the creating of the ofiice 

 of commissioner of forestry, which ofiice shall be filled by a man conversant 

 with the interests of practical forestry, whose duty it shall be to see that the 

 laws upon that subject are carried into eff"ect. 



5. That fire is the most destructive enemy of the forest, and that the most 

 stringent regulations should be adopted jby the national, state and territo- 

 rial governments to prevent its outbreak and spread in timber lands. 



6. That the general government be recommended to assist the agricultural 

 colleges of the various states in the formation of tree planting and culture, 

 and that all work and experiments in that direction should be under the gen- 

 eral supervision of the commissioner of forestry, in case such an ofiice should 

 be created; otherwise to be under the supervision of the commissioner of ag- 

 riculture. 



7. That the principles of forestry and practice of tree planting should be 

 taught in the public schools of this country. 



8. That, in our opinion, the agricultural colleges of the various states 

 should give special attention to propagation and cultivation of forest trees, and 

 especially to the purpose of determining the most useful and robust varieties 

 of timber for their respective states, and for the various portions thereof, and 

 for the proper dissemination of the knowledge so obtained. 



9. That to encourage the planting and propagation of forest trees, states and 

 counties should provide for and allow an abatement of taxes proportioned to 

 the extent and success of such planting. 



