in stocks of the United States, or some other unquestionably safe stocks yielding not less than four per centum upon the par value of said stocks; and that the moneys so invested shall constitute a perpetual fund, the capital of which shall remain forever undiminished, and the interest of which shall be inviolably appropriated by said State to the endowment, support, and maintenance of a school of forestry at the city of Saint Paul, in said State, for instruction in the science and practice of forestry as adapted to the climate and soil of said State. SEC. 3. That all expenses of management, superintendence, and taxes from date of selection of said lands previous to their sales, and all expenses incurred in the management and disbursement of the moneys which may be received therefrom, shall be paid by said State of Minnesota, so that the entire proceeds of the sale of said lands shall be applied without any diminution whatever to the purpose mentioned in the preceding section. SEC. 4. That if any portion of the fund invested, as provided in the second section of this act, or any portion of the interest thereon, shall by any action or contingency be diminished or lost, it shall be replaced by the said State, so that the capital of the fund shall reman forever undiminished; and the annual interest shall be regularly applied without diminution to the purpose mentioned in the second section of this act, except that an amount not exceeding ten per centum of the interest may be set apart if needed, and be expended for the purchase of lands for experimental out-stations for tree culture on prairie lands and forest culture on timber lands whenever authorized by the legislature of said State: Provided, however, That if deemed preferable, suitable and sufficient tracts for such stations may be reserved of the lands selected under this act. SEC. 5. That no portion of the fund arising from the sale of the lands herein granted, nor the interest thereon, shall be applied directly or indirectly, under any pretense whatever, to the purchase, erection, preservation, or repair of any building or buildings. That unless a school of forestry as described in the second section of this act shall be provided within eight years from the date of this enactment, with a suitable building and at least forty acres of ground for experimental timber culture, and which school shall be satisfactory to the President of the United States, the grant hereinbefore made to the State of Minnesota shall cease; and said State shall be bound to pay the United States the amount received of any lands previously sold, and that the title to purchasers under the State shall be valid: Provided, That said State shall always be bound to employ at the head of said school of forestry a person of known and acknowledged qualifications in the science and practice of forestry; that tuition in said school shall be free; that pupils may be admitted from any State, but none shall be admitted as pupils who do not possess a trustworthy character: Provided, further, That said school and all its departments, records, and accounts shall at all times be open to the inspection and scrutiny of any visitor or agent whom the President of the United States may appoint to visit and inspect the school. SEC. 6. An annual report shall be made regarding the progress of the school, recording any improvements and experiments made with their cost and results, and such other matters as may be supposed useful; also setting forth the financial situation of the school, and stating particularly its income and expenditures; one copy of which shall be furnished to the Library of Congress, and a copy to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. FOREST-CULTURE. [Extracts from the report by C. C. Andrews, minister resident of the United States to Sweden and Norway, on the forests and forest-culture of Sweden, communicated to the Department of State August 5, 1872, and published in "Foreign Relations of the United States, 1872," pp. 601-646.] In a little pamphlet of 64 pages, entitled, "Directions in Forest-Culture for the Peasantry," by Mr. C. A. T. Björkman, secretary of the royal administration of forests, published in 1870, under the patronage of the Patriotic Society of Sweden, are some practical suggestions under this head, of which the following is an abstract. Björkman is also an instructor in the Royal Forest Institute, and has had upward of twenty years' practical experience in forest-culture. Mr. On one tunnland (1.22 acres) of medium fertile land closely grown with pine and spruce of from twenty to one hundred years of age, forest grows yearly to an average amount of half a famn of wood (1 famn nearly a cord), or 50 Swedish cubic feet. On a little forest of 50 such tunnlands the yearly growth is 25 famns. When one without damage is able yearly to consume as much as the forest during the same time grows, he thus obtams for all the future a yearly consumption of 25 famus, consisting of timber, fuel, fencing, &c., on the condition, however, that the consumption is suitably done; that no trees are here and there pulled up; also, that attention is paid to regrowth where the forest has been cut away. To such production can further be added about 5 famns obtained from branches and stumps, so that the amount rises to 30 famns. Where the consumption is thus regulated through the whole forest, the new growth of trees on the place cleared will be of larger size, and if they are close there will be an increase of fertility from the abundance of leaves, and an additional growth may be reckoned on of 10 famns; so that the whole timber-production of every sort for home need is augmented to 40 famns. On the contrary, by bad management, the growth from year to year diminishes. The difference between regulated or economical management of a forest and the contrary, in money valuation, may be stated as follows: With the forest economy now in use, and if the forest from the beginning was not richly seeded, it can be taken without exaggeration that timber fails after the space of twenty-five years. The purchase of such at an avertge price of 3.50 rix-dollars costs afterward over 100 rix-dollars a year besides hauling. After a further lapse of five years even poles are lacking, which, at 4 rix-dollars per 100, cost 25 rix-dollars. When ten years more have passed the remaining trees are all too brushy and damaged to be serviceable for fencing, which, when the same has to be bought at a price of about 3 rix-dollars a load, or 30 rix-dollars for ten loads, it will be seen a yearly outlay of over 150 rix-dollars has been laid on the farm; a burden which, when finally even mechanical timber, and for the most part fuel also, is wanted, is further increased at least 50 rix-dollars, so that the expenses for timber for domestic use amount to 200 rix-dollars; a sum which comprises the interest on 4,000 rix-dollars wherewith the value of the estate has thus been diminished, while the owner has had considerable outlay yearly in procuring domestic timber. In other words, the proper rearing and care of a forest is the creation of a permanent capital or fund the interest of which can be securely relied on. V. HOW A PLAN OF SYSTEMATIC FOREST ECONOMY CAN BE CARRIED OUT ON A SMALL FARM. The so-called "tract-cutting," whereby consumption for the year is confined to a certain given clearing, usually comprising To or of the forest, is undoubtedly the most desirable manner of consuming in somewhat larger forests, where annual cuttings contain all of the different sorts of timber and wood which are required for home use. But in small forests, such as are here chiefly considered, where the annual cutting cannot be expected to supply the home wants, tract-cutting must be practiced with certain modifications, because it may happen, for example, that when one particularly needed heavy timber the annual cutting would include none other than fencing, and vice versa. This modified plan is called regulated thinning, being the same that is prescribed in the circular of the forest administration of June 20, 1867, for such lesser public forests as are not adapted to tract-cutting. As all economy ought to be based on a plan, we will now see how one should proceed to devise without cost an inexpensive plan of regulated forest economy. Taking, for example, a forest of fifty tunnlands (sixty acres), one must first examine and fix in mind where the old, middle-aged, and young forest "bestands" are situated, or, if they are blended, where each of the different ages preponderate. Old forest may be designated as that one hundred years old or older, the middle-aged from forty to one hundred years old, and the young under forty years. In case it has not already been done, the forest is surveyed and marked out into three divisions, according to the three age classes, and also mapped; but if the trees are so mixed that the forest cannot be classified according to age, it should, nevertheless, be divided into three somewhat equal parts. Natural formations, hills, swamps, or the like, are to be taken in preference as boundaries of the divisions. [Here are given details as to the method of measuring the forest.] The area of the forest being ascertained, one should deduct therefrom the unproductive parts-marsh, hill, or ledge-so as to know really how many acres will bear forest. Then, inasmuch as every tunnland (14 acres) of medium forest grows as much as famu, or 50 cubic feet, so it is evident that for every two tunnlands one may consume 1 famn, or 100 cubic feet, or as much as 25 famns on an average good forest of 50 tunnlands of actual forest land which grows young, middle-aged, and old bestands. If the forest is thin or slow-growing some abatement should be made, so that one calculates, for example, only 40 cubic feet on a tunnland, or, as is the same, 2 famns for every 5 tunnlands, when the yearly consumption on a forest of 50 tunnlands can amount to 20 famns. Regard should be had to the gaps or bare places, and that the annual yield of the forest is not overestimated. The principal consumption should be confined to that one of the three divisions of the forest which contains the oldest trees, and which ought to be sufficient for a third part of the rotation period, namely, forty years. How consumption shall be effected with a view to regrowth by self-seeding.-Before the consumption is undertaken one ought seasonably to estimate what timber and wood is needed for the year, so that the cutting can be well arranged, and that he shall not need to send inconsiderately at the last moment to the forest to cut. One should always seek to regulate the cutting so as to leave forests growing between the place of cutting and any naked or treeless surface. If the forest borders on an open field or lake, the cutting should commence at the opposite side, so as to protect the borders of the clearing from wind and storm, and thus avoiding windfalls. With the exception of seed-trees left at a distance of 6 to 8 and at the farthest 10 yards between the ends of the branches, all trees and bushes should be cut, inasmuch as the bushes that are left are for the most injured by bruising, and cannot become suitable trees, and besides they produce too much shade. The branches and tops, if left, are food for forest-fires, and should be hauled away. On the other hand the finer wigs are spread over the cleared place so that the leaves during the following summer may increase the mold. In course of two or three years one finds that many pine and spruce plants have come up. In five or six years after the consumption regrowth is usually so advanced that the seed trees can then be cut. After consumption in the manner stated has commenced, it is most desirable, in the cuttings which are made the following years, to extend the gap made through the first year's consumption, in doing which one proceeds in the direction from whence the heaviest winds usually come. On the other hand, one should spare the forest at the other border of the gap, which already has been somewhat tempered to the storm, and thus protects the forest lying behind. * * * Now, if one proceeds in this manner during the forty years allotted to the first division, observing strictly not to consume more than what, according to the before ordered calculations, he has found that the forest can bear, he will, at the close of that period, have consumed all the forest which at the beginning was on the first division; but in place thereof he has obtained a regrowth consisting of a new, strong, and close young forest up to the age of forty years. Meantime the second division, which was spared from all other cutting than such trimming as was needful for increasing the forest's rapid development, has grown and increased so that consumption thereof can begin, and be continued during the next forty years. At the expiration of this period consumption likewise goes over to the third division, which shall equally be sufficient during forty years; whereupon the whole forest has thus been gone through, and a new forest reared, so that ripe forest can begin to be consumed at the end of the one hundred and twenty years (rotation period) where the cutting on the first division had its beginning. In respect to forests in the northern sections of the kingdom, where timber is cut for the market, it is to be remarked that such trees are to be selected as are ripest, wherever they are, leaving, however, about twenty to thirty seed-trees per tunnland. How pruning should be done.—While consumption is going on as above mentioned, on the first division, the two other divisions must not be left out of view. In these divisions there usually occur crowded or oppressed trees, which, though approximately of the same age as the others, nevertheless have been overgrown by them. These ought to be removed, in some cases because they are dead and fallen, in others because they prevent a free development of the growing trees. This is called help-pruning. So there are usually found in the young forest older trees, which through their wide extended branches overshade it and hinder its growth, or are too old to be able to remain till the surrounding young forest is ripe. These trees ought as well to be consumed, which is done through the so-called preparing pruning or dressing. Pruning begins on the second division where it joins the first, proceeds through the third, and when that is finished begins on the new-grown forest of the first. Hereby one-twentieth of the forest is yearly help-pruned. One, however, is not obliged to prune every year if he has not need of such smaller timber and wood, but may do it every other or every third year, according to need, when, of course, the extent of the tract pruned will be increased. * * * Till one acquires experience he must prune sparingly. Especially must pruning be sparing on light soil. Pine forest is generally more pruned than spruce. Where the forest is already thin, all pruning must be postponed. In clay-bound soil, which has the preference for spruce, the pines ought principally * * to be pruned off, if such are found in considerable number, and the reverse on sandy soil, where pine should be the prevailing kind. Where birch occurs too plentifully in fir forests it should be pruned out and only one here and there left. Next to open field or lake, from which heavy winds are apprehended, one should leave a breadth of about fifty yards unpruned. The most suitable time for help-pruning in young forests is early winter, when the ground is frozen but heavier snows have not yet fallen. Help-pruning yields on an average a revenue of about two famns per tunnland. Preparatory or dressing pruning begins and continues only on the third division, and has for its object to effect an equal or harmonious forest bestand. Cleaning-pruning is the removing of dead, injured, or sickly trees, and those scattered by windfalls, and should be done at the same time and place with the other prunings, however, before there is enough snow to greatly impede the work. If the windfalls are considerable there should be a diminution in the consumption of sound forest. Pasture.-Generally there are rocky, unarable spots in a pasture, which should receive forest culture. For such places the white birch is recommended especially, as its leaves make good fodder, although it is not to be denied that the browsing injures the trees. The birch requires sixty years to attain its maturity. Marshes should be drained and stocked with the gray alder, which, although it belongs to drier places, can grow on swampy tracts. Consumption can be had when the tree is twenty to thirty years old.-"Handledning i Skogs-Skötsel för Allmoge," 3—66. Letters received in reply to communications from president or committee of Chamber of Commerce of Saint Paul, in regard to a school of forestry at Saint Paul. List of those absolutely in favor of the plan: Feb. 14. Hon. J. D. Ludden, Saint Paul, Minn. Feb. 23. Dr. Wm. C. Russell, LL. D., president of Cornell University. Feb. 25. John Bascom, LL. D., president University of Wisconsin. Mar. 4. President Seelye, Amherst College. Mar. 6. Hon. Thomas Russell, Boston, ex-judge superior court. Mar. 6. Rev. James W. Strong, D. D., president Carleton College. Mar. 8. Dr. Noath Porter, LL.D., president Yale College. Mar. 10. H. M. Thompson, esq., practical nurseryman, Milwaukee County, Wis. Mar. 13. Dr. John A. Warder, Ohio, president American Forestry Association. (In all twelve absolutely in favor of the plan.) In favor of a school of forestry, but opposed to land grants: Mar. 12. Dr. I. W. Andrews, LL. D., president Marietta College, Ohio. Adverse to the plan: Feb. 26. Dr. Charles W. Eliot, president Harvard University. Mar. 8. Prof. C. S. Sargent, Brookline Mass. (on ground of it being too early for such schools). (Only two adverse.) Also, the following letters: Mar. 9. O. P. Whitcomb, State auditor, as to value of proposed grant. Mar. 29. B. C. Baldwin, chief clerk surveyor-general's office, as to devastation of pine forests in Minnesota. [From Hon. J. D. Ludden, Saint Paul, Minn.] SAINT PAUL, February 14, 1880. DEAR SIR: In reply to your letter of 9th instant, asking my views "as to the benefits which might reasonably be expected to result from the establishment of a school of forestry in this State," and "as to the number of persons well educated in the science and practice of forestry who would be likely to receive employment at fair remuneration," I have to say, the growing of forest trees on our prairies is felt to be of great importance by all. The National Government have made liberal offers of land, and the Agricultural Department has disseminated much useful information, and furnished seeds and plants or cuttings for experiments, and the public press have done all in their power to assist our farmers in their crude attempts in this undertaking. And yet most of these attempts have resulted in a partial or total failure. They have in many cases succeeded in raising fruit trees; good nurseries and productive orchards are found in many parts of the State, and this because in every community there are men of skill and practical knowledge in all that pertains to the cultivation of fruit trees. Forest culture has not been known here. There are few or none well educated in the science and practice of forestry. The average farmer has but little time for reading, and little judgment in applying such general information to his particular case. What he wants is a competent man in his particular field who is qualified to judge correctly of his soil, water-supply, exposure, and all other circumstances in his case that go to decide what particular timber trees this particular tract of land is best adapted to produce. That decided, he wants definite information as to how to prepare his land, and to propagate his trees, and how to care for and cultivate them. His adviser should be one in whom the settler can have confidence; then he would go heartily to his work, and as a rule would be fairly successful. The settlers throughout the State are most anxious to get such advice and assistance. This anxiety leads them to try many experiments at much cost of labor and time, ending only in failure. Utterly incompetent men safely palm themselves off as skilled assistants, as so much time must elapse before the result can be known. As to the portions of the State where natural forests are now standing, or have been removed since settlement by the whites, a different state of things exists. These forests were either of hard wood, containing many kinds of timber particularly valuable, as the black walnut and butternut, the oaks, the maples, basswood, &c., or of pine. The soil producing the first is good for cultivation, while the soil producing pine is often not well adapted for farming. From vast tracts of this pine land, the timber has been taken off and the land abandoned. From the remainder the pine is being cut at the rate of nearly five hundred millions of feet per annum, and as the timber is all cut off, this too is abandoned. The hard-wood lands have been more generally taken by farmers for cultivation. As a rule the settler looks upon the timber as an incumbrance, to be cleared off before the land can be cultivated, and cuts and destroys it in the most speedy manner possible, and often without provision for his own future wants of fuel or timber. These lands have once produced, and are again capable of producing, the most valuable timber found in our markets. In the case of the pine lands, pine timber is apparently the best product that can be obtained from the land. It is a public wrong that these valuable forests are not perpetuated by new growths. The white pine is rapid in growth. But I know of no man among us who knows how to do this properly and prudently. I have resided in what is now Minnesota thirty-five years, and have owned or had in charge considerable forest land. I have found difficulty in getting thoroughly competent men to go into the forest to advise as |