158 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



I just happen to remember an incident of history told about one of their 

 great emperors of the middle age, Frederic Barbarossa, or " Blue Beard,' 

 who went to Italy on a war expedition. After an absence of three years, 

 finding on his return a large forest rubbed out and turned into farming 

 land, and in a locality where, according to his judgment, the timber 

 should have remained for the general benefit of the people, he became 

 very much enraged, punished severely the perpetrators, who were persons 

 of high-rank, and ordered the forests to be replanted, which can be found 

 there to day. This occurred in the year 1150, A. D. 



And now in the 19th century, after many hundred years of progress in 

 civilization, science and increase of general knowledge, I ask, what are 

 we doing with our forests in this glorious country, where we are told in 

 every 4th of July speech, that it is the best government in the world? 

 Supposing the old Emperor "Blue Beard" should come back here now. In 

 imagination we will let him rule over us in his despotic way. Looking 

 after his new empire we see him coming up here to inspect the famous 

 pine forests of Minnesota, taking the road that leads through the pin- 

 eries to the great city of Duluth. Looking out on both sides of the road 

 for the beautiful trees that never appear, and then discovering nothing 

 but pine stumps, burnt poles and poplar brush, would not there be a 

 terrible reckoning up with the parties that are responsible for this frivol- 

 ous and unpardonable treatment of our forests? I passed over that coun- 

 try myself some time ago, and must say that I was ashamed to live under 

 a government that would allow such an outrageous work to go on. 



Thefe are millions in this country who never think of or pay any at- 

 tention to this all-important subject of forestry. A question was put to 

 me yesterday in conversation with a man of high education: "Why in 

 common sense," he asked, "do not the people or their rulers break up 

 those millions of acres of woodland, and make farms there on which they 

 can raise wheat, corn and potatoes to feed the poor, instead of letting 

 them lie wild as dead property, bringing in nothing, just for some rich 

 man to enjoy the pleasure of hunting?", and he added, "I cannot help 

 thinking that the people there are ignorant and foolish to allow those 

 lands to remain unoccupied," Such silly remarks coming from a promin- 

 ent business man, above the average man in education, are very discourag- 

 ing to our noble effort. As just such kind of men compose our legisla- 

 ture, I can see the difficulties before us. With the hope that we will win 

 at last and have a forest reserve Germanized in management, and my 

 best wishes for all the members of our association, I remain, yours truly. 



ADDRESS ON FORESTRY. 



TROF. B. E. FERNOW, CHIEF OF FORESTRY, WASHINGTON, D. C. 



Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen:— I believe it was Miss Frances E. 

 Willard, the celebrated temperance orator, who was once twitted upon 

 her efforts, that they did not seem to lead to any results. But she coolly 

 answered that she was in the same condition as the farmer working the 

 churn— it was necessary to agitate and agitate, and finally the butter would 

 come. (Laughter.) And so we are here again to churn and agitate in 

 the hope of producing some butter. I confess I am afraid we have been 

 agitating a long time without having succeeded in producing much in 



