our state it is the duty of every one of us to help 

 plant and protect trees. 



Thank God for noble trees ! 



How stately, strong, and grand 



These bannered giants lift their crests 



O'er all the beauteous land. 



Why Should Forests And Trees Be Planted And 

 Taken Care Of In Minnesota? 



BY IRMA KLUG 

 Blackduck, Minn. 



When Minnesota was first settled, it comprised 

 about 54,000 square miles of forests and 32,000 

 square miles of prairie. The forest 

 area was in the northern and central 

 portions, reaching into Blue Earth 

 county. The prairies occupied the 

 southern and southwestern sections 

 of the state stretching northward 

 along the Red River Valley into 

 Manitoba. The forests were largely 

 of mixed hardwood and softwood 

 timber, contained in the regions ly- 

 ing around the St. Croix and Mis- 

 sissippi rivers, large tracts of White and Norway 

 pine. Along the moranic ridges which constitute an 

 important feature of central Minnesota stood magni- 

 ficent groves of white pines. 



Since territorial days the cutting of pine forests 

 has been an important industry of the state. 



In addition to the pines already named, the most 



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