128 FOREST PLANTING. 



in one year, and you can plainly see that the aggregate will very soon 

 cause the last " Requiem of the Pine Forest " to be sung, for in 

 twenty years they will all have melted away. INDIVIDUALS, STATES 

 and NATION should awake to the fact that soon our whole forest sup- 

 plies will have passed away. The only remedy is in a system of for- 

 est growing, aided and encouraged by Government, and unless this is 

 done, we will soon be compelled to resort to importation. There is no 

 place on the continent where the encouragement of a completely or- 

 ganized system of tree planting, by men who thoroughly understand 

 the business, and appreciate the great and growing necessity for the 

 inauguration of these and kindred enterprises, will be of so GREAT A 

 NATIONAL BENEFIT as on the barren plains of the West. It would 

 convert this -vast desert into a well developed agricultural country 

 more rapidly than anything the Government could do, and we believe 

 the subject is one well worthy of the care and attention of Congress. 



" The Hon. J. M. Edmonds, the commissioner of the public lands, 

 in his report to the House in answer to the enquiries of Hon. J. M. 

 Donnelly, in regard to this question of forest tree growing, says under 

 date of May 29, 1866: 



* * * ******** 



" ' The subject of inquiry is one of vast importance to the future of 

 this country, a proper answer to which can only be made after Aact 

 knowledge shall be gained as to the best and surest means of promot- 

 ing the purpose in view. 



"' A large portion of the vast region between the Mississippi and 

 Pacific is wholly destitute of timber, and this destitution is the great 

 and principal hindrance to the RAPID ADVANCE OF SETTLEMENTS. 



'"These vast treeless plains and plateaus WILL BE RENDERED 



HABITABLE ONLY BY THE PRESENCE OF TREES AND GROVES, which will 

 fertalize and moisten the soil, soften and modify the climate, and pro- 

 tect men and animals from the blighting effects of dry and searching 

 winds which now almost desolate that region. 



" ' It is a demonstrated fact that POPULATION WILL NOT AND CAN- 

 NOT ADVANCE FAR BEYOND THE PROTECTION AND ADVANTAGES OP 



GROVES AND FORESTS. In densely timbered sections, trees in the 



