1867.] SECKETARY'S REPORT. 27 



that has " fed fat its ancient grudge." Surely those vvitliin whose especial prov- 

 ince it lies would be well employed in devising means to stay the invasion of 

 this fearful scourge ! 



The great improvement in quality of the Squash, daring our seasons of 

 excessive humidity, over its condition in similar periods of drought, is worthy 

 of attention. Why should this most excellent vegetable be dryer and of higher 

 flavor, when grown in long continued rains, than under the influence of warm 

 and uninterrupted sunshine ? For that such is the fact, the experience of 

 many cultivators, in different localities, concurs to determine. 



RESTORE THE FORESTS. 



A proposition was introduced into the Senate of the United States, at its 

 last session, by Senator Cole of California, to grant a certain amount of public 

 lands to the States, the proceeds of sales of which should be employed for the 

 encouragement of the growth of Forest Trees. It is respectfully submitted 

 for your consideration, whether it may not be advisable to authorize the Officers 

 of this Society to memorialize Congress in aid of the measure. The evil which 

 Senator Cole desires to check and remedy is of alarming proportions. Our 

 climate is deteriorating, while our resources diminish and our very means of or- 

 dinary livelihood are sensibly affected for the worse by the reckless and improvi- 

 dent de-foresting of the State. Many a hillside has been laid bare that once 

 sheltered the valley smiling at its feet. The uses of large bodies of woods, 

 in tempering too fierce a blast ; or in retaining upon a level vast masses of 

 snow, keeping them alike from impassible drifts or from too sudden liquefaction, 

 cannot be too highly appreciated. Thousands of acres are now lying worse 

 than useless, not worth the taxes for which they are annually assessed, that 

 might and ought to be made a source of advantage to the community and profit 

 to the owner. If they can only be planted under the stimulus of a bounty, who 

 shall say that such bounty was not well bestowed ? Restore our Forests and 

 with them will come back a more equable temperature, fewer extremes of 

 drought and flood, and a reasonable prospect of a reward for his industry to 

 him who sets out and tends the Peach-tree and the Vine. 



