40 ANNUAL REPORT OF 



face, and it seemed to me that two-thirds of it was forest, 

 and yet it has four villages and a larger population than 

 average towns. 



According to forestry a tree has reached its fiscal age 

 and ought to be cut when it ceases to earn good interest 

 by its growth. On third and fourth rate hilly, rocky 

 and sandy land, which only should be used for forest, 

 the pine will on an average reach its fiscal age in 80 years. 



The original pine of Minnesota will last only about ten 

 years longer. The State should begin reforestation on an 

 extensive scale and the friends of forestry would accom- 

 plish a good work if they would secure the election to the 

 Legislature of even one able man who would make forestry a 

 specialty. 



EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION. 



Address of Gen. C. C. Andrews, Forestry Commissioner 

 of Minnesota, at the annual meeting of the State Editorial 

 Association in the reception room of the Mayor of Minne- 

 apolis, February 20, 1908: 



After something over twelve years' experience in the 

 forestry service of the State I have ventured to recommend 

 a plan of reforestation. I bring it before you, because I 

 believe that, as educators of public opinion, you can, if 

 you try, secure its adoption. It is that a constitutional 

 amendment be adopted providing for an annual tax of 

 three-tenths of a mill on each dollar of taxable property, 

 the proceeds to be used by the Forestry Board in the pur- 

 chase of forestry land at not exceeding $5.00 per acre, and 

 maintaining forest thereon according to forestry principles. 

 This tax would be only thirty cents on a thousand dollars. 

 The revenue from the forest to be paid into the State 

 treasury, except that one-quarter part of the net revenue 

 to go to the town in which the forest is situated in aid of 

 schools and roads. 



