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AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 



133 



with three plodding oxen, near Church's 

 Ferry, N. D., Mr. Barrett became con- 

 vinced that the great need of the West 

 was a large increase of trees and forests 

 for producing the most favorable climatic 

 and crop conditions, and the furnishing 

 of fuel, building and fence material. Ad- 

 vocating tree culture as a prime factor in 

 diversified farming, the present Forest 

 Commissioner mapped out his present 

 system of tree culture and the artificial 

 use of water, when needed in cultural pur- 

 suits, devoting two years, at his own ex- 

 pense, to bring to consummation the 

 creation of the Department of Irrigation, 

 Forestry and Fish. 



In order to interest the young in the 

 subject of forestry, he originated in 1892 

 the Sylvaton System, which received the 

 highest award at the World's Columbian 

 Fair of 1893. The system has been fully 

 organized ; the aims and objects of 

 the members of the State and local 

 Sylvaton societies are set forth in 

 twenty-five tenets. One of the leading 

 ideas is to enlarge the school grounds, 

 fence the same and convert the premises 

 into attractive Sylvaton parks. 



During the past two years the State 

 Sylvaton Society, at the private expense 

 of the State Superintendent, has fur- 



nished forest seeds and seedlings to nu- 

 merous schools. The pupils have planted 

 the stock in the school yards and also 

 near their homes in the country and in 

 the villages and cities. Many trees have 

 thus been started and made good and 

 substantial growths under the tender and 

 watchful care of the young boys and girls 

 of those schools. This year the original 

 plan has been enlarged and forest seeds 

 have been sent out in behalf of the society 

 to every pupil in North Dakota. The 

 seeds selected were the best to be found 

 in the State ; all were stripped from the 

 stems and put up in packages convenient 

 for handling, and were then duly shipped 

 for distribution, with circulars and direc- 

 tions for planting. 



The repeal of the State law providing 

 a bounty for tree culture has made the 

 plans of the society all the more benefi- 

 cent. In addition to the school distri- 

 bution there has been furnished an ad- 

 ditional lot of 500,000 seeds to be used 

 in starting the Sylvaton Home, School 

 and Church Nurseries, making a total of 

 two millions of seeds. If this practical 

 work is continued from year to year, 

 under a proper tillage of the trees, North 

 Dakota bids fair to become the tree home 

 land of the great Northwest. 



The Lumberman's View of The Forest. 



A Symposium in Two Papers. 



I. DESTRUCTION. 



With lumbermen accustomed to life in 

 the green pine-woods, the desolation of 

 the cut and burned- over lands is felt most 

 keenly. Passing through charred stumps 

 and bleaching stubs, he feels as one mov- 

 ing through a cemetery where, at every 

 step, he is reminded of lost friends. 

 These sad reminiscences are useful. 

 They start conceptions of what might 

 have been ; of a better way. 



Several lumbermen, in talking about 

 the matter, have in substance said : " If 

 we could get timber lands in a compact 

 body, then we could perhaps do some- 



thing in forestry; but, as we are now, 

 limited to alternate sections, our lands 

 are isolated ; our border lines are greatly 

 extended. Irresponsible and careless 

 parties have free access to our property. 

 We cannot protect ourselves. 



There are as many tramps in the woods 

 as elsewhere. They come to our camps, 

 perhaps ask for work, get board over 

 night, perhaps several days, then leave 

 as unexpectedly as they came. In sum- 

 mer they stop in our vacant camps and 

 often set fire to them. They are utterly 

 careless of property and sometimes de- 



