A RECOMMENDATION 



45 



used, and the sand verbena would be very satisfactory 

 also. Lycium chinense is also frequently used for cov- 

 ering rough banks, but I have an idea that the Symphor- 

 icarpos would be better, but if you desire a variety of 

 material some occasional clumps of this material could 

 probably be used to advantage. Your "field of the cloth 

 of gold" should be most beautiful, and the alfalfa is a 

 very practical idea. 



A RECOMMENDATION 



By Hon David F. Houston, 



Secretary of Agriculture, Vice-President American For- 

 estry Association. 



IN his annual report to Congress Secretary of Agricul- 

 ture Houston makes the following recommendation 

 relative to the purchase of forest reserves in the 

 Southern Appalachians and in New England : "The wis- 



tion of $11,000,000 was made for these purchases to be 

 expended during the fiscal years 1910 to 1915. 



"The funds made available under the first appropria- 

 tion are nearly exhausted. In its report to the Congress 

 for the fiscal year 1914 the National Forest Reservation 

 Commission recommended that purchases be continued 

 until about 6,000,000 acres shall have been obtained and 

 that the Congress authorize appropriations through an- 

 other five-year period at the rate of $2,000,000 a year. 



"As fast as the eastern lands are acquired they are 

 piaced under an administration similar to that of the 

 western forests. Situated for the most part near 

 densely populated communities, the resources of these 

 lands are readily available. There is immediate need for 

 their timber, mineral, water, and forage resources, and 

 also for their development as recreation grounds. Pur- 

 chases should continue until areas sufficient to be influ- 

 ential in protecting the region are acquired." 



THE THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING 



E 



HON. DAVID F. HOUSTON 

 Secretary of Agriculture, vice-president American Forestry Association. 



dom of retaining the western forests under national 

 control is indicated by the course which the Federal Gov- 

 ernment has found necessary in dealing with the mountain 

 lands of the East. These lands passed into private handr. 

 directly from the States. Their present condition fur- 

 nishes an example of what happens when mountain lands 

 are controlled by individuals. The results became ap- 

 parent years ago. Erosion, loss of soil, and clogging of 

 streams with silt and stone followed the removal of the 

 timber. Stream flow became more irregular and great 

 losses resulted to property through increased floods. 



"It was necessary in the East to acquire by purchase 

 the same class of lands which in the West were put into 

 national forests merely by proclamation. An appropria- 



VERY member of the American Forestry 



Association who can possibly do so, is 



urged to attend the thirty-fifth annual 



meeting, to be held in Boston, Monday and 



Tuesday, January 17 and 18. Headquarters 



and meetings at the Copley Plaza Hotel. 



Governors of several of the New England 

 states will be present and they have also ap- 

 pointed state delegates, while every city and 

 town of importance in New England, together 

 with most of the organizations interested in 

 forestry conservation, have selected delegates to 

 represent them. It is expected to prove the 

 greatest gathering of forestry interests that 

 has even been held in any part of the United 

 States. 



Governor McCa'll, of Massachusetts, and Rep- 

 resentative Gordon Lee, a member of the Na- 

 tional Forest Reservation Commission, will be 

 the guests of honor at the Forestry Dinner on 

 the night of January 17, and there will also be 

 several other noted speakers. 



The chief topic for the meetings and the ban- 

 quet will be the effort to secure an extension 

 of the Weeks Law appropriation for the purchase of 

 Federal Forest Reserves in New England and the South- 

 ern Appalachians, and there will also be reports on 

 national and state forestry and municipal forestry, shade 

 tree planting, diseases and insects which attack trees and 

 on other phases of general and local forestry work. 



Tickets for the banquet are $3 each. Reservations 

 should be made at once ; both ladies and gentlemen are 

 to be present. Write to the American Forestry Asso- 

 ciation, Washington, D. C, for reservations. 



RECOMMEND A NEW MEMBER 



A sample of American Forestry will be sent to 

 every person recommended by a member. 



