126 FOREST PLANTING. 



The following circular has been issued by the associa- 

 tion, and comprises an interesting statement of the ne- 

 cessity of the work and the means by which they propose 

 to begin it : 



" The design of the association is to settle the great question so 

 often asked, " What are these barren plains good for?" by investing 

 capital, skill and labor, in the experiment on such a scale as will, if 

 successful, increase the value of three hundred thousand square miles 

 of territory, vastly more than the small franchise asked from the Gov- 

 ernment is worth ; for in its present condition it is an unprofitable and 

 unproductive area. Our association is duly incorporated under the 

 laws of Kansas, and our board of directors are all men who have 

 been closely identified with the subject of tree growing for years. 

 Three of our directors, Dr. Warden, of Ohio, Robert Douglass, of 

 Waukegan, Illinois, and Prof. S. T. Kelsey, of Pomona, Kansas, are 

 men of eminent ability and experience in tree growing, and have a na- 

 tional reputation as scientific horticulturists, having made this busi- 

 ness a life study. 



" Prof. Kelsey has the immediate supervision of all the forest tree 

 growing of the association, assisted by the experience and advfce of 

 Dr. Warden, of Ohio, and Mr. Douglass, of Illinois. Hon. Alfred 

 Gray and J. K. Hudson, of Wyandotte county, Kansas, both of them 

 members of the State Board of Agriculture, with Hon. W. H. Small- 

 wood, Secretary of State, are directors in the association, and are all 

 experienced horticulturists. The President of our association is Col. 

 T. J. Peter, General Manager, of the A. T. & S. F. Railroad. Every 

 member of this association is heartily in sympathy with the proposed 

 enterprise, and if Congress will give us the encouragement asked for, 

 we expect to make the solution of this question a leading one for the 

 next five years. 



" We are now engaged in a series of experiments between Topeka 

 and Fort Dodge, on the lands of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 

 Railroad, and if Congress will grant us the aid asked for, we propose 

 to continue our work across the plains, by investing capital, skill and 



