FORESTRY MOVEMENT IN UNITED STATES. 395 



planting of the State Horticultural Society was 

 supplemented by the state in the establishment 

 of two experimental tree stations, from which plant 

 material is distributed to intending planters through 

 a forest commissioner. 



The state of Colorado was the first to recognize 

 in her constitution the existence of a duty on the 

 part of the government with regard to her forestry 

 interests. 



Article XVIII of the constitution, adopted in 

 convention March 14, 1876, contains the follow- 

 ing clauses : 



" SEC. 6. The general assembly shall enact laws 

 in order to prevent the destruction of and to keep 

 in good preservation the forests upon the lands of 

 the State or upon lands of the public domain, the 

 control of which shall be conferred by Congress 

 upon the State. 



"SEC. 7. The general assembly may provide 

 that the increase in the value of private lands 

 caused by the planting of hedges, orchards, and 

 forests thereon shall not, for a limited time, to be 

 fixed by law, be taken into account in assessing 

 such lands for taxation." 



The constitutional convention also presented a 

 memorial to congress asking for the transfer of 

 the public timber lands in the then territory to 

 the care and custody of the state, which remained, 

 however, without attention. 



The intentions of the constitution to take care 



