Since 1907, 6,000,000 acres of swamp land in Minnesota 

 have been reclaimed at a cost of $1.50 an acre, according to 

 the report of the Minnesota drainage commission, just out. 

 The report says reclaimed land now is worth from $15 to $60 

 an acre. 



The statistics of the commission show that there are yet 

 4,000,000 acres of swamp land in the state which the com- 

 missioners state should be drained as soon as possible and 

 rendered available for agriculture. According to the report, 

 when all of the- drainage ditches are completed there will be 

 575 miles of graded roads built along them. 



The financial statement of the commission shows that the 

 original appropriation of $502,000 for the construction of 

 drainage ditches has .been doubled by private subscription, 

 and a balance of $204,000 stands to the credit of the drainage 

 fund. In the report the commission strongly recommends 

 that the drainage of swamp lands in the state be continued 

 until all land now useless has been reclaimed. 



The fact that the facilities for fighting forest fires are not 

 good, makes it more necessary to exercise great care in their 

 prevention. The spring forest cleaning will soon be here 

 and the utmost care should be exerted to prevent the escape 

 of fire. When a woods or meadow burns over, the loss is 

 always greater than generally considered. When a fire goes 

 through a forest it not only kills the young growth but the 

 growth of the trees not directly injured by the fire is retarded 

 for years, because the forest cover has been burned, which 

 retains the moisture necessary for forest conditions. The 

 loss in a forest fire is total because there is no insurance. 



Do not mutilate your shade trees. Pruning does not mean 

 cutting off the top of the tree and the ends of the branches. 

 It means the removal of dead and defective branches. It 

 means that one 'Of two limbs that cross and rub each other 

 should be cut off. It means that all branches that are re- 

 moved should be cut off close to the axis of" support and the 

 wound treated with an antiseptic dressing. The practice of 



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