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CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES. 75 
I mention these facts also to indicate the advisability under certain 
circumstances of removing the lower branches of Douglas Fir when planting 
out. From comparing results I am sure this reduces losses, and it also prevents 
the seedlings from being blown over by gales. I would remind you that the 
Douglas Fir is the safest of all trees to prune. 
Time will not allow of detailed reference to losses from frost, drought, fire, 
and gales, but I hope these matters will have full attention from scientists 
in the future. 
Real and effective help may be given to forestry by this means. 
Conclusion. 
Forestry is entitled to every encouragement. Enough has been said as to 
State encouragement, which should be at least threefold : 
1st. The vemoval of handicaps. 
2nd. The prevention of losses. 
3rd. The ensuring of a proper return from planting. 
Of equal importance is the encouragement of forestry by the individual, 
including the townsman and even the school children of the rising generation. 
There is always one effective method of encouraging any industry or pursuit, 
and that is creating interest and disseminating knowledge. 
A national Arbor Day is suggested—a movement very popular and effective 
in America. Anything that will encourage forestry should be assisted, but 
whatever steps are taken should be on sound and properly organised lines. 
It must not lead to haphazard planting and bad results. The most important 
branch of forestry in the future must be sylviculture, and this should be borne 
in mind in encouraging Arbor Day, or planting of trees in general. Arbori- 
‘culture and town planting on garden city lines deserves every encouragement, 
but this must not prejudice proper methods of sylviculture, or the cutting down 
of timber on proper rotation in State forests. 
T mention this only as a timely warning, but I hope that an Arbor Day may 
be instituted and even war’‘memorials take the shape of planting trees. 1 
think that I can vouch for the co-operation of the Forestry Societies in 
establishing Arbor Day and secure the assistance of experienced foresters to 
supervise the actual planting. 
- What is necessary to put all these forestry matters on a proper footing? 
Proper support of the Forestry Societies, real encouragement by the State 
and by those in authority, and effective interest by industrial concerns, urban 
voters, and the British public. 
Mr. J. Hopxinson (Hertfordshire Natural History Society) reminded the 
Conference that last year, after his address as President, he suggested that 
an Arbor Day should ke instituted. He considered Afforestation to be one 
of the most important questions that could be brought before them. We were 
rapidly exhausting our forests; for several years we had been cutting down 
our trees at an enormous rate. His object in suggesting that this subject 
should be brought before them again was, that they should pass a resolution 
in the Conference fixing a day, and pledging themselves, and the members 
of their societies, as far as they possibly could, each to plant at least one 
tree on that day. He hoped they would communicate this to their societies, 
and get them to pass a resolution to the same effect. He suggested the month 
of October as about the best to plant trees, and we had in that month a very 
memorable day: the 21st of October (Trafalgar Day). He was of opinion 
that for the whole of the United Kingdom, Great Britain and Ireland, we could 
not have a better one. He would go further, and suggest that each of them 
in their respective locality should communicate with their Parliamentary repre- 
sentative, urging not only that the State should accept it, but that it should 
“be made a National Holiday. . 
He believed it could be done by very strong pressure. Possibly they might 
‘not keep to October 21; but they should keep as close to it as possible. He 
would move ‘That the members of this Conference pledge themselves to the 
