In early days in this country, one can understand even a 

 Elaine regarding as parsomonious a careful consideration of 

 forest waste, for the forest was really a foe to be subdued 

 and seemed inexhaustible. One can understand too in pioneer 

 Minnesota why practical business men anxious for speedy de- 

 velopment have decried as theorists those advocating state 

 and national forests, as beauty spots and playgrounds for the 

 people as a present economic gain and as absolutely essential 

 provision for future welfare, but we rejoice that forest devel- 

 opment is at last an assured part of our public policy. The 

 main question, I take it, is the rapidity with which it is 

 worked out, dependent on the appropriations at the disposal 

 of the Forest Service, and this in turn is the outcome of popu- 

 lar interest and enthusiasm. 



Here lies the clubwomen's usefulness. Informed and en- 

 thused by Mrs. C. J. Backus, our Forestry Committee chairman, 

 who knows more perhaps than any other woman in Minnesota 

 about the subject we may aspire to be of assistance. For 

 years we have had programs on forestry, have observed Arbor 

 Day, have offered prizes in the schools for the best essays on 

 trees and their care, have sold to the children at nominal 

 cost many thousands of apple and plum trees, have induced 

 municipalities to plant avenues of trees and have written our 

 lawmakers urgently and often. We do not, however, accept 

 as quite literal Mr. Enos Mills' compliment to us when he 

 was here in St. Paul and addressed our General Federation 

 Convention. He said: "You have already done more for for- 

 estry than all the other organizations in the United States." 



We believe much interest can be awakened in the country 

 in these hundreds of farmers' clubs that have been organized 

 this past winter. We wish speakers on forestry might be at 

 all times available and plenty of forest nursery stock, as 

 follow up work. Their homes and their school houses set in 

 beautiful groves should be an ideal. The shelter belt protect- 

 ing the home, beautifying it, adding to its comfort at all sea- 

 sons and furnishing a supply of fuel is another measure to be 

 discussed at these clubs and is of as much interest to the farm 

 women as to the men. 



We, in our organization, rely largely, on promulgating our 



24 





