36 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



cally understood tliat these Fells nre to be in no respect like the 

 adorned parks of most of our cities. Such costly ornamentation 

 would defeat the ver}- purpose of the enterprise. The charm of 

 the place should for all time consist in its simple, rugged natural- 

 ness ; while, at the same time, many practical lessons in forest cult- 

 ure might there be taught. In how man}' and varied ways would 

 the influence of such a project be most wholesome, — an honor to 

 the State, and a source of sure and abundant recompense ! 



In my judgment, Mr. President, the time has come when the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society should throw the weight of its 

 active influence in favor of forest laws in general, and of legisla- 

 tion for the Middlesex Fells in particular. 



I may add, in closing, that at the last session of the Forestry 

 Congress, two of the members of this Society were appointed, with 

 two gentlemen from each of the other New England States, as a 

 Committee to promote appropriate legislation by these associated 

 States in regard to forests ; and that this Committee now holds 

 the subject under consideration. 



Discussion. 



Francis W, Brewer thanked the Society, in behalf of the Ameri- 

 can Forestry Congress, for the use of the Society's Hall for the 

 meeting of the Congress, last September, and for other courtesies 

 shown the Congress at that time. He had listened with very great 

 pleasure to Mr. Strong's paper, the subject of which is of great 

 and growing importance — more so than most of us have yet real- 

 ized. The laws thus far enacted in aid of forestry are wholly in- 

 significant ; the laws of Connecticut provide for a bounty of ten 

 cents for each tree at the age of three years, and there are similar 

 laws in INIassachusetts. These are worse than none, for they are 

 made an excuse for not passing better laws. It would be niucli 

 easier to begin anew. Organized action is better than individual 

 effort, and it would be of great service if this society sliould urge 

 the passage of n law olfering a bounty for judiciously planted 

 groves. But pending the improvement of the statutes all who 

 have a bit of waste land should begin planting trees. It is sur- 

 prising how much land there is in this State of which farmers could 

 make no use so good as by planting with trees. This would 

 allow them to concentrate tlicir labors on belter land. A few 



