Some people do not seem to know ihat sheep pas- 

 tures and forests do not thrive well when they are 

 combined. The sheep eat the brush away, which in 

 later years would be trees. Forests are too valuable 

 to waste in such a reckless manner. 



At first thought we might get the idea that forests 

 are not very valuable, but we find that they rank 

 second as one of the valuable necessities of life. Food 

 is first, shelter second. They not only shelter people 

 but animals. Many times whole herds of cattle would 

 have perished in the cold had there been no trees. 

 Maple sugar is procured from the maple tree ; tar, 

 rosin, pitch and turpentine are produced from the 

 pine; tannic acid comes from the oak. The fir, spruce, 

 balsam and other woods have furnished many pro- 

 ducts, such as pulp for paper, lumber for barrels, and 

 box parts, and paving- blocks. 



Minnesota is noted all over the United States for 

 its beautiful scenery. This is largely due to the trees 

 and forests. Tourists seek the quiet solitude of the 

 forests rather than the hot, dusty prairies. Picnics 

 would cease to be a form of pleasure if there were no 

 trees. We would not appreciate the lakes and rivers 

 so much if there w r ere no trees to shade the cooling 

 waters. Who does not enjoy the songs of the birds? 

 forests are their homes. 



Forests are exceedingly valuable because of their 

 power to preserve moisture and prevent erosion. The 

 tree roots hold the soil together, and when the 

 streams from the mountains rush over the plains, these 

 roots, having entwined themselves in and out through 

 the soil retain it so that the water cannot carry it 



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