STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETT, 217 



few days in the State, but visited, we learn, a number of points of 

 interest, returning home by way of Iowa, and going thence to Boston 

 to attend the meeting of the American Pomological Society, at Bos- 

 ton, of which he was made vice-president. An excellent letter fro.m 

 him appears elsewhere. 



FORESTRY. 



We may be pardoned for referring to the forestry problem at some 

 length, because of the importance of the subject and the awakening 

 interest of late throughout the country in general with reference 

 thereto. 



Secretary Chas. W. Garfield, of Michigan, who is good authority on 

 this subject, says : " Sweeping timber from our country is fast bring- 

 ing about conditions which will render wheat growing unprofitable. 

 What then?" 



The importance of the preservation of timber, in its relation to ag- 

 riculture, has engaged the attention of many intelligent farmers, and 

 scientists as well. The national government has established its for- 

 estry division; New York, New Hampshire, Colorado and California 

 have forestry commissions, and Ohio has its state forestry bureau. 



OBJECTS TO BE SECURED. 



Adolph Leue, the eflScient secretary of the Ohio forestry bureau, 

 in discussing the subject, says: "The forestry problem briefly stated 

 is : To perpetually keep a certain percentage of the superficial area of 

 our country in forests properly distributed, and to use and husband 

 this in a manner that its usefulness be unimpaired. 



"Forests serve, first, to ameliorate the climate by sheltering the 

 ground, keeping it warm in winter and cool in summer; second, to 

 regulate in a certain degree the water supply of our streams; third, to 

 shelter our fields, our farm animals and our homes against the winds 

 of winter; fourth, to furnish material for our various industries." 



In addition to these objects there are numerous other considera- 

 tions, such as the pleasing effect of woodlands, affording agreeable 

 shade, the healthful influence of forests and groves, the protection to 

 insectiyerous birds, etc. 



TIMBER AREA. 



According to the census reports, there were about three hundred and 

 eighty million acres of woodland in the United States in 1870, or 



