ANNUAL WINTER MEETING. 95 



it would be a good plan to discuss them now. We shall be 

 short of a paper on celery and it is my idea that we should take 

 these resolutions from the table and discuss them. It will open 

 the way to place them in the hands of the committee. 



M. Cutler: We have had no discussion on vegetables, and I 

 should like to hear the subject of celery discussed if we have 

 no paper. 



L. R. Moyer: I would like to give a notice. The fourth sec- 

 tion of the by-laws provides for several committees, and I wish 

 to give notice, if it is in order, that there should be appointed a 

 committee on ornamental trees and shrubs. I think the reason 

 so few have been planted is because the people do not know 

 what trees can be planted. 



Referred to the committee on forestry. 



J. O. Barrett: Just a word or two. I am specially interested 

 in this matter, because I represent the people of the open prai- 

 rie. Now we have, according to the statement of the state ge- 

 ologist, or did have in 1872, ten thousand lakes in our state. 

 These lakes have dwindled down until to-day there are not over 

 one thousand. Our vast territory of woodland has been de- 

 stroyed and there is remaining now but a small remnant of 

 what it was in 1872. Take it in my own locality: our lake which 

 was originally brim full, has dwindled down so low that we can 

 wade to any part of it. Our locality was so dry this season, on 

 account of the denuding of our forests, that I did not raise but 

 about four bushels of wheat to the acre. The chances of rais- 

 ing crops there are constantly diminishing year after year, and 

 our farmers are much discouraged. Now it seems to me it is 

 impossible for us to raise small fruit, apples and the like, until 

 we commence to restore our forests in Minnesota. The pur- 

 pose of this resolution is to appoint a committee who shall for- 

 mulate a bill to be presented to the legislature, and the object 

 of drawing up these resolutions is that all this work may be 

 under the supervision of this society. I am not in favor of hav- 

 ing men on the forestry commission that are not adepts in this 

 work; we know more about it than anyone else, and I hope 

 that point will be kept in view, that if anything be done by the 

 legislature that the work assigned to the parties concerned 

 shall be under the supervision of this society. 



President Elliot: I wish to call your attention to that green 

 map; part green and part white, the green portion representing 

 the forests and white the prairie. 



