48 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



niir;iti(>ii :ui(l respoct, but tliore is no higher work of nrt than that 

 clone by the man who takes a tract of wild, iiiifi-rtilc ground, and 

 forms in his mind a picture of wliat may l)e made of it in fifty or 

 a hundred years, and works to realize that ideal — jjatiently laying 

 the foundation of what he will never see completed. Such men 

 we have here now ; there is one in the em[)loy of the Cit}' of 

 fioston. 



All our problems are complicated, and we must recognize the 

 fact that our environment is peculiar, and we must educate tlie 

 peoi)le to recognize it. They must realize that private interests 

 are not the highest objects. AVe might make attractive forest 

 places near the cities, preserving the Sources of water. Here in 

 Boston, is the fittest place for a journal devoted to this work. 

 No method of prosecuting it can be completely adequate which 

 does not include and provide for an advance in civilization. 



Discussion. 



"William C. Strong fully agreed with the previous speaker as to 

 the importance of the sul)ject so elociuentlv presented by him. The 

 time for talk has passed, and it is time for our own State to take 

 action. Our statutes are inadequate ; they profess to encourage 

 forestry, but do not. Low priced land is exem|)ted from taxation 

 if l)Ianted with trees, but not a tree has been planted as the result 

 of this exemption. Our i)resent laws on this subject are so meagre 

 and scattered that no one can tell much about them, and they 

 should all be repealed ; and a code should be enacted giving effect- 

 ual encouragement to forest planting, and more eftectually pre- 

 venting forest fires. 



Francis "W. Brewer thanked the Society for devoting two meet- 

 ings to the sul)ject of Forestry*, which is now l)ecoming recognized 

 as of vast importance to all classes of people. But, however able 

 may be our essays and discussions, the wave of progress set in 

 motion by them soon dies out without further work. All who see the 

 importance of the subject should be prepared to act intelligently, 

 for the impetus given will not perpetuate itself. He believed that 

 such a committee as was proposed would be most useful, and it 

 would have the more Aveight from combining its action with that of 

 other organizations. Tlie Committee of two from each of the 

 New England .States, appointed by the American Forestry Con- 



