IT has long been a much disputed question whether the hem- 

 lock, such a common tree in Wisconsin, ever is found in 

 Minnesota. At first sight it seems ridiculous that a tree 

 growing so plentifully in one state should not occur on the 

 other side of a political boundary line, but Wisconsin boasts 

 several species not native to Minnesota and it looked for a 

 long time as though the hemlock was one of them. Many 

 specimens were reported from different parts of the state, but 

 investigation always proved it to be something else. Cedar, 

 black spruce, white spruce, balsam and even Norway pine was 

 found in the role of the pretender. It began to look as though 

 there was no such thing as Minnesota hemlock, dozens of 



ports to the contrary notwithstanding. 



The question has now, however, been definitely settled in 

 the affirmative. District Ranger Hugo C. Nelson has reported 



patch of real hemlock within the state and the report has 

 n verified. Not a single tree as heretofore reported, but a 



nsiderable tract of timber scattered over seven forties and 

 made up of nearly 5,000 trees of all sizes from the tiny seed- 

 lings of a few years old to mature trees two feet in diameter. 

 A little patch of genuine hemlock forest, isolated and miles 

 from the Wisconsin line. 



Surely such a rarity as this should be preserved. A hem- 

 lock forest is a beautiful thing in itself and when it is prob- 

 ably the only one in the state it has an added interest. This 

 would make a splendid nucleus for a small state park or monu- 

 ment. It is located near one of the great trunk highways 

 and would soon become one of the points of interest for au- 

 tomobile tourists. 



Already some of this hemlock has been cut and unless 

 prompt action is taken all of it will probably be destroyed. 

 All bontanists should be interested in this project, also the 

 State Historical Society and all others who are interested in 



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