38 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of asking for government aid to forest planting. Tlie thouglitthat 

 ever}- farmer eouUl have a little forest of bis own, on land now use- 

 less, should be impressed on all. He knew a farmer who reserved 

 a portion of his land, which grew up to trees that when of proper 

 age were cut off, and now another growth is coming up. The 

 Hon. "William Foster owned a part of the Middlesex Fells, and 

 the project of reserving it as a natural park was a favorite one 

 with him. 



H. Weld Fuller said that it is a matter of vital importance that 

 we should have health preserved and homes fit for civilized human 

 beings, and forestr}' strikes at the very root of the subject. All 

 Europe is alive to the importance of forest planting ; in Austria the 

 forest area is increasing. Here, until recently, we have had too 

 many trees, but we are now awakening to the importance of re- 

 placing some of those which have been cut off. There is no doubt 

 that some of our waste lands can be made profitable by planting 

 with trees ; the^' are not like annual farm crops, which require 

 continual care. He had himself planted trees which are now six 

 feet in circumference. 



0. B. Hadwen, Chairman of the Committee on Publication and 

 Discussion, said that while the committee had endeavored to give 

 a horticultural phase to the programme of these meetings, he 

 knew that the welfare of the State depended largely' on the awak- 

 ening of public interest in the subject discussed today. He had 

 had an opportunity to learn the importance of forest planting, both 

 from others and from his own experience. Forest fires have been 

 a great hindrance to planting trees, especiall}- in the vicinity of 

 towns and cities. They are caused to a great extent by careless 

 bo3's and men. At present you cannot convict unless you can 

 prove malicious intent, and he wanted the law so amended as to 

 include negligence on the part of persons above twelve or fourteen 

 3'ears of age ; and he would like a committee to look into the 

 question whether taxation on forests should not be lessened if 

 owned by persons who have little means of support. Taxes 

 should come from other sources. 



The most important forest tree is the White I'ine, whicli is 

 adapted to all soils — on hilltops and in valleys. It grows rapidl}', 

 especially with a little encouragement ; where liberally treated he 

 has seen a growth of four feet in a year. He would transplant 

 seedlings from the nursery ; wild pines are not worth a tenth part 



