The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-01-20


.ritories beyond, had been dotted all over
with fourishing groves of timber,
Mr.. Donnclly sometimes regretted that
ms timber act, alluded to by Mr.. Becker,
nad not become Jaw, as in some respects
he thought it preferable to the present
law. But this, though perhaps \ burden
IN some OF its provisions, would eventu-
ally result in good. He, thought that
section contemplating the giving Of grants
OF odd sections to forestry associations,
tho same as had been done to railroad
corporations, on condition that one quar-.
ter should be put into timber, the grant
to expire in twenty or thirty years, when
the lands should be offered for sale at
specified sum, would have tended to the
rapid development and enhancement Of
the value of such lands, and their conse.
quent early settlement. In conclusion
he though ght the State should extend its
aid to the amount Of $500, three.fourths
Of which should be expended in premiums
for Arbor Day, the balance in the distri.
button Of practical information, and he
signified his willingness to introduce
bill in the Senate Of this nature.
Dillon O'Brien called attention to the fact
that owing to Some Of the provisions of
the present tree planting act, and the
rayages Of the grasshoppers, many
frontier settlers who had taken claims
under the act, would have to abandon
them ii there was not a modification in
the law. He therefore moved the ar.
pointment of special committee Of five to
secure such action on the part Of the Leg
as would make q proper repre-.
scntation of the facts in Congress and Sc.
cure the desired modification in the pro.
visions of the act.
Mr.. Dunbar said the young trees
we're sweet mersel to
the grasshopper, and settlers in his re.
gion, through the destruction of these
pests, would be unable to meet with the
of the law.
Mr.. Brown of, Mobiles gave a graphic
and forcible description of his experience
with these pests. His land was in the
north end Of that county. The grass
hoppers first struck him three
years ago. He then had 100
acres in wheat, from which he got Is
bushels Of grain. The next year from
the same track he got 10 IL bushels, and
last year 10 l-2 bushels. Three years
ago he had 5000 willows, of which the
ravenous hopper left 200. The next year
he replanted his ground, and again the
pests cleaned him out. He then came to
St. Paul and gathered two bushels Of ma
pie seed, which he sowed. The
seed sprouted we'll. He presumed
he had 10000 thrifty young trees, from
four to six inches in height, when the
came from Mankato, and
the - Of ~ lit down upon the
ground, and almost in the twinkling Of an
eye he did not have tree left. He did
not make the statement to excite sympa-
thy, or as plea for aid to himself. lie
had been sold out under a mortgage, but
thank God he had fixed the matter up,
and he was going to try again. But set.
tiers who had honestly made claims un-
der the tree planting act and were unable
to comply with its provisions, owing to
these depredations, should be aided by
an extension of time.
Col. Robertson stated that no Insect
will cat of the wood, bark or leaf of that
species Of the Blackthorn, known botani-
cally on the Rhan.nus Cathurticus
that, rs the name indicates, tits too drastic
their health. 1t is, besides, the best for
hedge plant for our climate--grows rap.
idly, makes a good protective hedge in six
years and is particularly adapted to our
prairies. He also explained how by belts
Of trees around prairie farms generally
they would be protected from our mid
summer hail storms, which destroy crops
about the time they are maturing; and
how tree growth around farms prevent
and neutralize miasma by the
generation of ozone, which renders the
organic matter Of the atmosphere innox.
ious.
Gen. Bishop, Hon. E. F. Drake and
others spoke in favor Of extending the
provisions Of the act to the unfortunate,
but opposed general modification of its
provisions. Finally the whole matter of
legislation was referred to a special COM
mittee Of five to report at an adjourned
meeting to be held Wednesday evening Of
next week in Representative Hall and the
meeting adjourned.
mankat0 - Now Ulm. .
tFrom st. Paul Dispatch, Jan. 1871
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