354 ANNUAL REPORT 



He said it was a rule among tree men if they allowed suckers to 

 grow at the roots of a tree, it would absorb the vitality of the 

 tree. If that were true, perhaps this Society should not encour- 

 age many "suckers.'' 



Mr. Frankland. These are branches and they ought to be en- 

 couraged. This money is needed to keep these organizations 

 together; it is a necessity. This Society ought to ask the legisla- 

 ture for enough so they can give these outside societies some 

 encouragement. 



Mr. Sias. I don't know as it is the best thing to compare us 

 to suckers. A sucker is not the best fish in the world. I don't 

 think Mr. Dartt ever gives us anything, but he gives us some 

 things we can't understand. He told us a year ago that the box 

 elder was failing in Minnesota, although he was the only man I 

 think that knew it. I looked his place over, and while I wouldn't 

 dispute anything he says, I think he is making a mistake in 

 comparing this committee, of which he is one himself, to suckers. 

 If the century plant had some suckers there would be some life 

 in the plant. This Society must have branches. 



Mr. Fuller. I would ask if the century plant has any branches 

 whatever. 



Mr. Sias. I think at the top it has. 



Mr. Fuller. Oh, no. 



Mr. Sias. What do you get your flowers from ? 



Mr. Fuller, It has a large branch, however. 



Mr. Sias, I helped to organize this Society and I think this 

 work of establishing these branches just as important. They 

 will do just as much good as this Society has done or can do. It 

 will bring in an interest over all parts of the state. We don't 

 intend to ask for help from this Society; it hasn't any more 

 than enough means to run itself, and I wouldn't consent to that. 

 But we propose to start these branches and get this help if we 

 can. We will let them die when we are obliged to, and not before. 



Mr. Dartt. I simply said the box elder was doing poorly on 

 poor ground. 



Mr. Sias. I understood that it was '' failing." 



Mr. Dartt. It will be a shortlived tree and not worth much. 



Mr. Harris thought the Society should receive $1,000 or $1, - 

 500 more than at present, in order to aid in establishing 'local 

 societies. The Forestry Association might be merged into this 

 Society as that'association has "no active organization at pres- 

 ent. 



