any information as to the part of the State in which certain plants 

 may be found. 



In the Second Biennial Report of the Department of Geology 

 and Natural History, Territory of Oklahoma, for 1901-1902, Di. 

 A. II. VanVleet, head of the Department of Botany in the State 

 University, gives a list of "Plants of Oklahoma." This list gives 

 only the scientific names and includes about 1,000 plants of the 

 Territory which were then in the herbarium of the department. 

 The herbarium was later destroyed by fire. The list includes about 

 sixty trees and shrubs. 



In the Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, Vol. 

 XVIII, 1901-1902, there is a short paper by Dr. C. N. Gould, en- 

 titled "Notes on trees, shrubs, and vines in the Cherokee Nation. ' 

 This article includes the names of about 50 plants which occur in 

 the Cherokee Nation. 



In his "Geography of Oklahoma," Dr. Gould gives the occurrence 

 and distribution of a number of trees and other plants. This work 

 has proved of great value to the schools of the State, and has been 

 the only available information along this line for the general 

 public. 



Value of Tree Study. 



The rapid destruction of the forests in our country called the 

 attention of students of forestry to the dangers which confronted 

 us. The rapid development of the agricultural and industrial in- 

 terests of the country has been accomplished by a sacrifice of our 

 forests. At the present time people have been brought to a realiza- 

 tion of the importance of systematic effort to prevent further de- 

 vastation. 



Forestry laws are being passed and many forest reserves have 

 been formed. The United States now has reserves amounting to 

 50 million acres. Arbor Day observance is being instituted through- 

 out the states, the prime object of which is the planting of trees for 

 the beautifying of public and private grounds, and highways. 

 Many universities and agricultural colleges have put in courses in 

 forestry, and several schools of forestry have been established. The 

 movement has reached the high schools and common schools, and 

 farmers and owners of forest lands are giving their attention to the 

 work. 



It is of special importance that a careful study be made of our 

 native trees, both from a scientific and an economic point. The 

 general neglect and failure to ornament school grounds by the plant- 

 ing of trees and flowers has not escaped notice. School grounds 

 should be made the most attractive places possible. 



One of the problems in our tree study is to discover what tro ,: ; 

 may be transplanted and grown in the treeless parts of the Mate. 

 The inhabitant- desire shade and it is important that trees be se- 

 cured which will meet the conditions. This problem will receive 

 special attention in the final report. 



