The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-19

f~~E'SsAA$3 ACwE COUulflSS~ 80O
yet still steadily increasing in nonni..
tlon. This will continue, and when this
mno"'ng wave reaches the trecless
plalns' the problem will be, not IS it was
in the olden times in the old world. how
to convert heavily timbered areas
to cultivation, but how to
make timber grow, and trans.
form the now bleak wastes into inhah;.
table sections. Gentlemen TRAVELLING in
Iowa had told him of their astonishmcnt
at the change that had taken place DURING
the last 20 years,where the great prairies'
like those In our own State and the Ter.
ritories beyond, had been dotted all over
with Aourishing groves Of timber,
Mr.. Donnclly sometimes regretted that
his timber act, alluded to by MIR. Becker.
had not become law, as in some resDects
he thought it preferable to the present
law. But this, though perhaps burden
in some cf its provisions, would eyentu-
ally result in good. He thought that
section contemplating the giving Of grants
OF odd sections to forestry associations,
the same as had been done to railroad
corporations, Oh 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 a
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 thought 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
s'gnitied his willingness to introduce a
bill in the Senate of this nature.
Dillon O Bricn called attention to the fact
that owing to Some of the provisions of
the present tree planting act, and the
ra7ages of the grasshoppers, many
frontier settlers who had taken claims
under the act, would have to abandon
them if there was not modification in
the law. He therefore moved the ar.
polntment Of special committee oftive to
secure such action on the part Of the Leg
is'ature, as would make proper repre-
sentation of the facts in Congress and Sc
cure che desired modification in the pro.
visions of the act.
MIR. Dunbar said the young trees
were sweet mersel tn
the grasshopper, and settlers in his re-
glon, through the destruction Of these
pests. would be unable to meet with the
requirements 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 IL 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
grasshoppers came from Mankato, and
the - Of - lit down upon the
ground, and almost in the twinkliny 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. He
had been sold out under 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 Rtam7aus Cdthurticus
t!I;at, as the name indicates, it is 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
drouths, and neutralizc 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 a general modification of it's
provisions. Finally the whole matter of
legislation was referred to 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.
Condition Of tho Treasury.
The following is the condition of the