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of agriculture called for. The criminal waste of natural gas is quite re- 

 cent history; and the industrial consequences of its failure are painfully 

 evident in the manufacturing cities of the gas belt. 



Our natural 'gas and primeval forests belong to the past and are 

 things therefore beyond the help of any conservation. But we have a 

 great wealth of natural resources which need our most careful attention. 



Present Forests. — Our existing forests are made up of limited areas of 

 primeval forest, and second-growtli timber of inferior quality on our stream 

 bluffs and other waste lands, and in the farmers' wood lots. In the mat- 

 ter of afforestation there must be an improvement in the character of the 

 growing trees in the wood lots, which can only be brought about by scien- 

 tific forestal methods. Each farmer must be as competent in tree growing 

 as in corn and wheat growing. In southern Indiana and along the streams 

 of northern and central Indiana we have a large combined area of land 

 too steep for successful field culture ; and for the sake of soil protection, 

 and for future lumber supply, these tracts should be kept in perpetual 

 forests. In this matter of forests upon non-agriculti\i.'a1 lands, there 

 should first be a careful survey of such lands in order to form an accurate 

 estimate of the total area, and to determine what species ot trees are best 

 adapted to make a rapid growth of valuable timber. It seems quite safe 

 to say that the present woodland areas are of sufficient acreage to meet 

 all the needs for lumber within our own State, if the quantity and quality 

 of timber grown will be what it should be. 



Soil Fertilitij. — The most valuable natural resource of our State is 

 its soil, and the maintenance of its fertility is of paramount importance. 

 The loss in fertility due to poor agricultural methods is beginning to be 

 keenly felt. The loss due to soil erosion in southern Indiana was ably 

 presented in the Presidential address of two j^ears ago. 



Sewage Pollution. — No conservation program can ignore the problem 

 of keeping the state waters pure. Our streams must be brought back to 

 their original purity. As our population becomes more dense, the need of a 

 pure water supply becomes gn'atei', and it becomes imperative that we 

 stop polluting our streams with sewage. The turning of sewage and 

 factory wastes into our streams is not only vicious from the standpoint 

 of sanitation and aesthetics, but the carrying of sewage to the sea is a 

 waste of certain elements of soil fertility which should go back to the land 

 instead of being lost in the ocean. 



