DIVISION OF FOEESTKY. 199 



mifflit be sent out from tune to time specimens to be tested in other lo- 

 calities. Xo ^rork of the Government would be more legitimate than 

 that of providing such a place. Xone would be more serviceable to the 

 country. In connection with similar gardens and experiment stations 

 ill the several States, working n\-ith a common method and for a com- 

 ii^on purpose, intercliauging seeds and trees, and distributing them 

 throughout the country, most valuable knowledge would be constantly 

 gained, many of the arts and industries greatly benefited, losses avoided, 

 aud the prosperity of the i^eople promoted. 



THE AMEEICAN FOKESTRY CONGRESS. 



Since the organization of the American Forestry Congress iu 1882, the 

 Department of Agriculture has recognized it as beiug engaged in the 

 same work as its forestry division and has given it its sympathy and aid. 

 One of the sessions of the congress has been held, by invitation, at the 

 Department. At the annual meeting of the congress at Boston, in Sep- 

 tember last, the Department was represented by the Commissioner, who 

 made an address iu behalf of forestry, and by the chief of the divis- 

 ion, who read several iDaiiers and presented a chart, which had been 

 prepared with much care, showing the comparative areas of forest, 

 farm, and waste lands in the several States and Territories. A reduced 

 copy of the chart is here presented in connection with this report. 



An apiDroximation only can be made as to the precise areas that may 

 be regarded as forest, but no pains have been spared in seeking the 

 most trustworthy sources of information on the subject, and it is be- 

 lieved that the figures hero given represent more nearly than any else- 

 where available the present state of the national domain as to the ex- 

 tent of its forests. 



SOUTIIEEN FORESTRY CONGRESS. 



A forestry congress of the Southern States has been held recently in 

 Florida, which was well attended by delegates from those States and 

 by many others. The Department contributed what it could in aid of 

 the congress, being represented there personally by this division. A 

 committee from the American Forestry Congress were also present, 

 giving what assistance they could by reading valuable papers and 

 otherwise. Governor Perry, of Florida, was very active in promoting 

 the interests of the congress, and at the opening session delivered a 

 very earnest address in behalf of the congress and its work. The meet- 

 ing of the congress dontinued during three days. Abundant evidence 

 was given during the proceedings that many in the South are already 

 sensible of the rapid and wasteful destruction of their forests and of 

 the lu^ed of taking measures for their protection aud preservation. Very 

 serious inroads have been made already upon these forests, and the 

 greatest source of wealth' to the Southern States is being sacrificed 

 witbout any adequate return. The turpentine industry is prosecuted in 

 such a manner that, while ruinous to the pine forests, it yields but a 

 meager com[)ensation for the labor and capital employed, and in the 

 fierce competition with which the production of lumber is carried on, 

 the markets are greatly overstocked and the product is sold, in many 

 cases, for less than its actual cost. 



The prevalent custom of allowing cattle and swine to range in the 

 forests is of very great detriment to them, destroying, as it does, to a 

 great extent, the young growtli, and thus preventing a succession of 



