206 Report of the Forest Commission. 



Membership and Fjnances. 

 By systematic canvass the membership of the Association has been 

 increased so that it is now nearing the 500 mark, and the character of 

 the membership shows a wider reach of influence. With this increase 

 in membership the income of the Association, and, in consequence, its 

 opportunities for usefulness, are increased. According to the treasu- 

 rer's report, a considerable sum stands to the credit of the Association 

 in the two funds, which are intended to accumulate for special uses, 

 namely, the fund from life memberships and for a permanent secretary, 

 the annual membership dues being now sufficient to cover the current 

 expenditures of meetings, publications, etc. 



Meetings. 



During the year three special meetings have been held, all with 

 gratifying success as to numbers participating and character of pro- 

 ceedings. 



The first, held in March, at the invitation and under the auspices of 

 the New York State Forest Commission, at Albany, was a notable 

 gathering, with the interests of the Adirondack forests as the central 

 subject for discussion, the Governor of the State and the eloquent 

 Bishop of tbe Episcopal church taking prominent part. The position 

 of the Association with reference to the Adirondack problem, as evi- 

 denced in the dkcu-sion, was, naturally, that the State should acquire 

 the bulk of the Adirondack forest, but that timber- cutting should be 

 deferred until well-considered plans of management and a competent 

 organization of control were matured. 



The second meeting was held, upon the invitation of the citizens of 

 Brooklyn, at that city, in August, in conjunction with the American 

 Association for the Advancement of Science, and was well attended by 

 members of the latter. The more intimate relation thus established 

 with that association of men, interested in the rational and scientific 

 treatment of economic questions, should be kept warm in the future, 

 and such joint meetings, when practicable, should become a rule, as 

 they enable the association to secure thereby the active interest of in- 

 fluential educators in all parts of the country. 



The third meeting, closely following the second, was held at the invi- 

 tation and under the- auspices of the New Hampshire State Forest 

 Commission. It was unique in its conception, being of a peripatetic 

 nature, the days given up to an inspection of the forest conditions of 

 the famous White Mountain region, and the evenings to discussion of 

 matters of interest affecting that region. It was found that, although 



