Why Should Trees And Forests Be Planted And 

 Protected In Minnesota? 



BY EVELYN THORNSON, 

 Montevideo, Minn. 



There are numerous reasons why forests and trees 

 should he planted and protected in Minnesota. 



Before the coming of white men 

 the forests covered all of this state 

 except a strip along the western 

 and southern boundaries or they 

 covered about five-eighths of the 

 area. It was the lumber wealth of 

 the great north woods that first at- 

 tracted immigration to Minnesota. 

 The forests furnished the early set- 

 tlers with fuel, and material to con- 

 struct their dwelling places. The 

 (1 en land for lumber has continued to increase until 

 it has built, up the lumbering industry. 



\Ye need fields for cattle, raising of grains, and 

 places for our homes; but we need wood as well to 

 supply us with firewood, material for buildings, fur- 

 niture, paper, bridges, ships, implements, and various 

 other articles. 



Our forests are a great protection for the streams. 

 \Vheie the streams have their source in the mountains, 

 the cutting of forests causes a heavy flow of water 

 early in the Spring, and little in the Summer when it 

 is most needed for irrigation and navigation purposes. 

 The leaf mold absorbs a great deal of snow and 

 rain which falls upon it. This water slowly and 



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