32 ANNUAL REPORT OF 



for tree planting. If the people wish progress in forestry 

 they must require their representatives to appropriate the 

 necessary money. They should have their senators and 

 representatives pledged before election. 



The situation is about like this. The State, through 

 its Forestry Board, has charge of i ,000 acres of forest 

 reserve (Pillsbury donation), situated about 18 miles 

 northwest of Brainerd, the most of which should be plant- 

 ed with pine and spruce immediately, and on which about 

 10 acres are being planted this spring, with a little money 

 saved from the Forestry Board's small fund for contin- 

 gent expenses. The State also has the 20,000 acres of 

 Burntside Reserve, granted by Congress, the most of 

 which should be immediately planted. The longer land 

 remains bare the poorer it grows. 



About how and at what cost would the planting of pine 

 and spruce be done? The plants would be two or three 

 years old. Spots a foot square would be dug, and if 

 necessary cleared, in which to set them. Where the 

 ground is bare the spots should be only four feet apart 

 and where there are bushes poplar or other small, short 

 lived trees that will serve as protection a few years the 

 spots may be eight feet apart. Two plants will be set in 

 a spot; in exposed situations four plants in a spot. About 

 5,000 plants would thus be required for planting an acre. 

 The cost of planting, including plants, would be from $8 

 to $10 per acre. 



For permanent improvements including roads, fire- 

 breaks and planting there should be appropriated for 

 each of the fiscal years 1908 and 1909, for the Pillsbury 

 Reserve, 15,000 and for the Burntside Reserve, $ 10,000. 



But so far as regards Minnesota's great forestry inter- 

 ests, the above is but a mere drop in the bucket. Nature 

 made Minnesota one of the great forest and pine growing 



