STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 159 



whether to turn back or go ahead; and coining upon one of these tim- 

 ber claims where there was a fine little grove of trees, the marked 

 amelioration in the atmosphere in the vicinity of the grove could be 

 readily observed, and they renewed their journey, passing along to 

 other similar spots upon the prairie. 



As indicating the force of the wind he stated on coming from home, 

 upon the occasion of his recent trip to the city, he started out for the 

 fetation, skipping over the drifts with a pair of ponies, about the only 

 conveyance in which he could get across the country, and coming 

 along he saw a black object sticking above a huge drift of snow, and 

 as he came nearer saw it was the end of a stovepipe; and on driving 

 up found a tunnel some three feet square which extended thirty or 

 forty feet under the drift, and was the means of access for the man 

 and his family to and from his dwelling. He saw no smoke coming 

 from the stove-pipe, but concluded there was a family in there, and 

 probably all comfortable and warm, although he did not go inside. 



But in Dakota they were becoming awakened as horticulturists and 

 foresters on this subject, and there was no doubt the legislature would 

 take some proper action in the direction of reforesting the prairies. 

 Gov. Church was a very earnest forester. 



He would recommend memorializing Congress in regard to taking 

 prompt and decisive action to advance the interests of forestry in the 

 Northwest. 



Mr. Underwood said he had had some fifteen years experience on 

 the prairies of Hlinois, and more recently personal supervision of tim- 

 ber claims on the prairies of Dakota, and felt like saying a good word 

 for the provisions of the timber culture law. His friend, Mr. Gribbs, 

 did not seem to think very much of these timber claims. 



Mr. Gibbs. I do not think they have much effect so far as cli- 

 matic influences are concerned. It is true they are a good thing for 

 the settler and his neighbors. 



Mr. Underwood said he had traveled through Southern Minnesota 

 quite tboroughly while canvassing for the sale of trees some nineteen 

 years ago in the part of the country where there was very little tim- 

 ber. In passing through the same country some fifteen years later he 

 had been greatly surprised at finding the change that had been 

 wrought in the appearance of the country during that time He could 

 hardly recognize the country, although he had a good memory of 

 places. A large amount of timber had been planted out and was be- 

 ing successfully grown. He had never been entirely foiled in his en- 

 deavors to grow trees on tree claims in Dakota, although they had no 



