52 ILLINOIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



ironwood; the rock-face type, with the white pine and arbor 

 vitae; and the upland forest, with the red oak, white oak, black 

 oak, and hickory. 



Much has been said concerning the preservation of the white 

 pine forest in Ogle County, by all odds the most important forest 

 of this species in Illinois. There is no question as to the desira- 

 bility of preserving this forest, as a monument to future genera- 

 tions of the type of forest which was originally the most impor- 

 tant forest asset of our country. It is believed that only a slight 

 effort will now be needed to secure the purchase and preservation 

 of this splendid forest. After this has been accomplished it would 

 appear to be worth while to have set aside at least one example 

 of each of the forest types of Illinois. Among these there should 

 certainly be a river-bottom forest in southern Illinois, preserving 

 some of the gigantic specimens of the primeval forest ; a south- 

 ern cypress swamp with its unique plant inhabitants; a yellow 

 pine forest in southern Illinois ; a beech forest ; a tamarack swamp 

 in northern Illinois. These are to be taken only as important 

 samples ; a number of other important forest types should also 

 be included. 



The forest reserves mentioned hitherto, probably should be 

 State parks, but there remains to be mentioned a conservation 

 scheme of yet wider significance. It has been proposed to estab- 

 lish county preserves ; it is much to be hoped that this idea will 

 be carried out. The expense involved should not be very great, 

 and the return to the county would increase from year to year. 

 In most counties such preserves might well be established in 

 places of scenic interest, for such places usually have more or 

 less diversified topography, displaying several types of forest and 

 many tree species. These preserves would furnish places for 

 picnics, and for excursions in connection with the nature study 

 work of the schools ; not only would the tree life increase in 

 interest and beauty from year to year, but the same would be 

 true of the wild flowers beneath the trees, and of the birds, and 

 in fact of all kinds of plant and animal life. Bits of forest here 

 and there would gradually be restored to the primitive wildness 

 and beauty of the forests of pioneer days. 



Possibly conservation might go even farther than has been 

 generally suggested ; that is, there might be township preserves, 

 at least in many instances. In this event our forest tracts would 

 be numerous enough to be within easy reach of all our people. 

 All of our boys and girls could come into contact with forest life 



