STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 221 



THE AMERICAN FORESTRY CONGRESS. 



At the sixth aanual meeting of the American Forestry Congress, 

 held at Springfield, 111., last September, it was stated that the com- 

 bined forests of the Northwest are being cut at the rate of 800,000,- 

 000 feet per year. At this rate of deforestation it is estimated that 

 within fifteen to twenty years the great pine forests of Minnesota, 

 Michigan and Wisconsin will be obliterated as an article of conl- 

 merce. 



It was there suggested that, if these forests were to be destroyed, 

 "the great rivers of the Northwest would in the dry season become 

 less than the babbling brooks instead of the commercial waterways 

 as they are now." 



Col. Robertson, of St. Paul, who attended the meeting above re- 

 ferred to, read an interesting paper on climatology, etc. You have 

 also heard from him in person at this meeting on this and kindred 

 topics. 



Mr. Newlon, of Kansas, read an interesting paper on *' Helps and 

 hindrances to Kansas forestry." He stated that the farmers of that 

 state had done much in the way of grove and tree planting on their 

 farms and around their orchards. These efforts were already afford- 

 ing a rich return. All that was needed in the future was intelligent 

 discussion and agitation to stimulate in the minds of the masses an 

 inspiration for forestry. Among the "hindrances" were mentioned 

 the great drouths, fires, birds and insects; also the cutting of tim- 

 ber as rapidly as it grew. The slaughter of the birds was particularly 

 deplored. 



The reports as to forestry in Nebraska were of an interesting na- 

 ture. There is awakened interest among the people on the subject, 

 and efforts are there made to interest the children of the public 

 schools. 



Among the measures recommended by the meeting was the passage 

 of a bill in Congress for the protection and administration of the for- 

 ests of the public domain. The bill provides for the designation of 

 public forest lands to be owned and controled by the United States; 

 withdrawal of such lands from sale, to prevent entries upon public 

 lands; for a commisioner of forests; the establishment of forest re- 

 serves; imposing penalty for timber cutting; and appropriating five 

 hundred thousand dollars to carry out the provisions of the act. 



Prof. J. L. Budd, of Iowa, read an interesting paper entitled " Pos- 

 sible modification of our prairie climate," in which he states: " We 



