49 



sion. In these exercises the pupils of our public schools should take as 

 prominent a part as possible by reading suitable poems or presenting 

 essays on various subjects connected with our trees and forests. 



In addition to this there should be presented to the people at these 

 gatherings a thoi'oughly practical talk by some one trained in forestry 

 matters on subjects that will reach the farmers, who own ninety-seven 

 per cent, of the forests, and direct them in improvements and work that 

 will result in a betterment of our forestry conditions. An effort should be 

 made to correct the prevailing impression that forestry means the hoarding 

 of trees. It should be clearly explained that the application of proper 

 methods would result in inaugurating a system of intelligent cutting that 

 would bring to the oAvner the largest yearly returns without impairing his 

 investment. It should be fuxi:her explained that there is no desire to re- 

 forest land well adapted for cultivation, but rather to cover with forests 

 the vast ai-eas of brush and waste land, that in 1893 represented thirty-five 

 per cent, of our total acreage, and that only in this way can these tracts 

 be made profitable. 



The thorottghness witli which the State is settled makes it likely that 

 this laud is untit for cultivation, and if this could be added to our perma- 

 nent forests, and these properly managed, our condition would be almo.st 

 satisfactory. This waste land is well scattered throughout the State, btit 

 several large tracts are located in Harrison. Parke. Perry, .Tackson and 

 Crawford counties, and these should, if possible, be secured by the State. 

 No other line of activity offers as large returns with so little labor as the 

 reclaiming of these waste tracts. A little tree planting, pruning, and clear- 

 ing of worthless stoclv for wood to pay the cost of tlie work, and tlie pro- 

 tection of these trees from forest enemies would soon secure a forest that 

 would become, if properly managed, a permanent and paying investment. 

 An especial effort should be made to reclaim all of this land that is 

 located in any way to influence our streams and if possible restoi'e to tlie 

 State these important factors in our prosperity. 



In some States the results from the work of arbor day have l)een very 

 important. In New York, last year, the day was observed in 10.2.">1 school 

 disti'icts. and in twelve years 229.616 trees have been planted. Our State 

 should not be behind in this matter. 



The next important means by which we hope to secure a betterment 

 of uur forestry conditions is through legislation. The history of forestry 

 legislation in Indiana at the opening of the last legislature was summed up 

 4— Academy of Science. 



