St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-12
A STATE NEED.

| n -
A perusal of the pamphlet of thirty
two pages, prepared by Secretary j. O..
BARRETT. of the State Forestry associa-
ton, will remove any doubt that may be
had of the right of the society to invoke
the aid of the legislature. The under
standing it will afford of the nature and
| need OF the work in hand will induce
wonder that there was any hesitation in
the state legislature to even go much be-
yond the modest requests of the organ
iZation in the way Of aid. The publica-
ton is designated as the "Forest Tree
Planters Manual" issued by provision
OF the legislature, for free distribution
to any citizen of Minnesota. The grow
ing need Of the state for tree cultiva-
ton as it is being settled up
is presented in convincing and
| instructive manner. All the con-
siderations adduced point to the promo
ton of the well-being and prosperity of
| the inhabitants, and it is matter of
| surprise to one who has not given the
subject intelligent consideration to real
ize the variety of the conditions and in
| 1uences dependent upon proper pro-
| portion of trees. An advanced civiliZa-
ton and prosperous people are incom-
! patible with region denuded of for
estry. The early notion that this state
has almost ineXhaustibie forests has
been rapidly disappearing the past few
| years. The diScernment and Sagacity
of few led to the organization OF this
| society to do educational work on this
line fifteen years ago. 1t has done
useful service and results are
shown, but its mission should
| go on and broaden into larger
activity as the country is filled with
| settlers. No state in the Union will
| afford more attractions for homes or at
tain greater thrift than Minnesota when
all parts of it are suitably diversified
with forests. The varieties of trees
| found in the native growths of the
state afford very long list, and will
| meet the taste or requirements of any
| locality or resident. Among them are
the sugar maple. walnut, hickory, cher
ry, mulberry and the best of the ever
| greens. Detailed information is afford
| ed those who have need in all the rela-
tons of the subject. This paragraph
from one of the chapters shows a
breadth of view that may not be famil-
| lar to some:
You remember how proud and opulent
was Syracuse. 1t was environed with varie-
gated forests and watered abundanty
When the forests. ever a cOrollary of civliza-
ton, were ruined, the springs and rivers
dried up, and the bare relics of this classic
city are sunken in a sand desert over which
sweep uninterrupted the hot siroccos of Sa-
hara across the Mediterranean sea. That At
rican Sahara, how it shrieks the despair of
nature! for on that wild waste was once a
forest developing. the worlds civilization.
| The Island of Cicily. how famous in hIstoryl
| Once the great grain conservatory of Rome,
now changed from mildness to rigor of eli
| mate, its ancient fertility is almost lost.
What the cause? Cicily was despoiled of its
| magnificent forests. Algiers is subject to
drouths and famines. What the cause? Ask
the bowling winds reporting another wreck
by deforestation where the Ptolemes rocked
the cradle of science. What of Ceylon, once
so like an Eden in climate and beauty? Alas,
how riven, how changed for the worse,
since the greed of the English Spectator has
rJ0ll l. ~ r.