222 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



ognized the value of tree planting and 

 forest preservation and in the latter coun- 

 try the wanton destruction of a tree brings 

 swift punishment. An Australian writer 

 in commenting upon this says: "In most 

 countries that are noted for successful 

 forestry, the enterprise has been under- 

 taken simply to grow the timber and sell 

 it. Some countries, however, have re- 

 garded this as a secondary consideration. 

 The forests have been planted to check 

 floods, and to turn deserts into grazing 

 and farming areas by attracting rain and 

 moisture. In India, where deserts have 

 been turned into forests, some districts 

 have been rendered free from most devas- 

 tating floods through the foliage and 

 undergrowth retarding the rush of the 

 water, and allowing it time to soak into 

 the ground." 



" As the value of trees*, then, is so fully 

 understood it is but natural that those in- 

 terested in the irrigation industry should 

 welcome a movement so beneficial to their 

 interests as that of the forestry association. 

 To The Forester we extend the right 

 hand of fellowship and wish it, and the 

 association of which it is the official organ, 

 the success so good a cause deserves. 



The great drawback to farm 

 life in the estimation of many 

 is its loneliness. To live 

 miles from town and possibly be prevented 

 from exchanging visits with neighbors by 

 bad roads, is certainly a drawback to rural 

 life. Few persons are so self-sufficient as 

 to be able to live without the companion- 

 ship of their fellows for any length of 

 time. 



In certain sections this condition is 

 remedied by the telephone. It is in most 

 successful operation in Geauga county, 

 Ohio, where telephone wires are strung 

 throughout sixteen counties. The lead- 

 ing telephone company is the Bainbridge, 

 which was organized by eight farmers. 

 They formed a stock company and began 

 putting in 'phones which have given gen- 

 eral satisfaction. The cost of one mile 

 of this system was about $51.50, the stock- 

 holders doing a great share of the labor. 



Aside from the commercial value the 

 telephone is to the farmer, the social side 

 is well worth considering. If the men are 

 oo busy to spare the team, the "women 



folks" can have a good visit over th e 

 'phone; Mrs. Smith can tell Mre. Jones 

 that the baby has a tooth, and the latter 

 can obtain a recipe for angel-food cake or 

 brown bread without leaving her own 

 home. In case of sickness, doath or acci- 

 dent how invaluable it would be! When a 

 man is injured by the mower, or thrashing 

 machine how handy it would be to run to 

 the telephone and call for the doctor. 

 The success of the system in Ohio should 

 recommend it favorably. 

 The Recently we received the 



Cofoifs. ed little booklet of the "Associ- 

 ated Colonies," 42 Union 

 Square, New* York, of which Wm. E. 

 Smythe, former editor of the AGE, is 

 president. The Associated Colonies is a 

 corporation under the laws of New York 

 which is actively engaged in colonizing 

 the arid region of the United States. Its 

 land lies along the Pacific coast and else- 

 where, but principally in Honey Lake 

 Valley, Cal. To place the surplus popula- 

 tion of the East upon the surplus land of 

 the West is the work being done by the 

 Colonies on the co-operative investment 

 and co-operative settlement plan which has 

 already proven a success in certain sections 

 of Great Britain and the United States. 

 The principles of the Colonies are similar 

 to those of building and loan associations 

 but the investment, it is claimed, is even 

 safer than the former as irrigated land is 

 the basis of security. "There is no sound- 

 er security than fertile irrigated land with 

 an industrious man upon it engaged in 

 diversified production under skilled di- 

 rection." 



Persons desirous of becoming co-opera- 

 tive colonists must subscribe for an 

 amount of bonds sufficient, at maturity, to 

 pay for their colony home and its improve- 

 ments. As in the case of building and 

 loan associations only a nominal amount is 

 required to be paid upon the bonds for the 

 person to become entitled to the advant- 

 ages and enjoyments of the colony op- 

 portunities. 



The self styled patriots, call- 

 Points to ing themselves the Cuban 

 Annexation. Assembly, is an educational 

 body. They are such by an act of provi- 

 dence, and not because they care a conti- 

 nental for the education of anybody. We 



