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cedars of Lebanon, proceeding to a more practical view of 

 the subject. The essayist said that there is a greater varie- 

 ty of trees in this country than any other, for it includes 

 all those of the temperate and many of the torrid zones. 

 She quoted official reports on forestry to show that the cut- 

 ting off of forests tended to produce droughts and freshets. 

 The leaves and debris that fall from the trees in forests re- 

 tain the water and feed it out gradually to the ground, giv- 

 ing rivers and brooks more steady supply through the year 

 but when the forests are swept away the rainfall or melting 

 snow and ice swell the rivers with a sudden rush and none 

 is held in reserve. 



The cutting off of forests in New York state, Ohio, and 

 other western states is bringing about this result with the 

 large rivers. Ohio was a great fruit state and noted as such, 

 but the cutting away of the forests has almost destroyed 

 the industry. The essayist referred to early colonial laws 

 to prevent the needless and unauthorized destruction of 

 forests. 



Mrs. Harriet L. Bailey, of West Newbury, followed Mrs. 

 Gage with an essay on " Woman's work in the Grange." 

 Mrs. Bailey spoke of the valuable help that woman renders 

 man in various organizations, among other things her work 

 in the Woman's Relief Corps of the Grand Army. In the 

 Grange her membership raises the moral and intellectual 

 standard. It is in her province to make the meetings more 

 interesting and thus draw the attendance of the young men 

 who might otherwise be tempted to frequent questionable 

 resorts. 



The farmers' calling was once not looked upon as desira- 

 ble by young women, the clerk in the store with his social 

 advantages was far preferable. This is now changed. 

 Agriculture as a profession is rising in the general estima- 

 mation. No one has better opportunity to secure education 

 than the modern farmer. According to the last report the 

 state granges numbered 8,964 members, and the increase in 

 1890 was 1,364. In the literar}^ line, women can do much 



