The Trees of Wyoming. 65 



within our borders ? Pupils and parents will alike be in- 

 terested in the trees of the state in their homes and in their 

 relation to ours. In what way can we better begin to de- 

 velop this interest than by learning to know them ? We 

 shall then soon find springing up a desire to enjoy, to own 

 and to protect them. 



FOREST RESERVATIONS. 



"I regard the forest as an heritage, given to us by Nature, not for spoil or to 

 devastate, but to be wisely used, reverently honored, and carefully maintained. 

 I regard the forest as a gift entrusted to us only for transient care during a short 

 space of time, to be surrendered to posterity again as unimpaired property, with 

 increased riches and augmented blessings, to pass as a sacred patrimony from 

 generation to generation." Baron von Mueller 



The setting aside by the General Government of 

 large tracts of forest lands, in various parts of the United 

 States, to be preserved perpetually as forests, has met 

 with much favor in most parts of the country. Some crit- 

 icism arose at first from a few who feared that private in- 

 terests might suffer or that certain industries, such as 

 mining, might be hindered in their development. Now, 

 that fuller information has shown that the purpose of this 

 forest legislation is wholly beneficent and that it is not 

 intended that these laws shall work a hardship on any 

 one, even those who were at first inclined to criticise are 

 now warm advocates of the policy. The early criticism 

 proves to have been a good thing. The attention of the 

 whole country has been called to the great benefits we 

 derive from forest covered lands. 



INFLUENCE OF FORESTS. While this is not the 

 place for a discussion of this question, yet it may be well 

 to mention a few of the points. First, it is well known 

 that large, wooded areas exert a great influence upon the 



