of the country against needless waste, and for the encouragement of measures tending to the more economical use, and the proper maintenance of our Timber Supply.

It is evident that the consumption and waste of the Forests of the country much exceed their restoration by natural growth, that the native supply of Timber of the better qualities is rapidly becoming less, and that the demand for building purposes, manufactures and other uses, is rapidly increasing from year to year.

This decreasing supply, and growing consumption, must unavoidably lead to serious inconvenience, and may, unless seasonably prevented, occasion great public injury, by leaving the future without adequate supplies.

We deem it an established fact, that the interests of Agriculture are promoted by the presence of a due proportion of Woodlands in a country, and that they suffer when clearings are carried to excess. The protection which they afford appears to mitigate, in a sensible degree, the vicissitudes of Climate, and to maintain the supply of water in springs, rivulets and wells. They shelter a country from injurious winds, and may be made practically useful, in preventing the drifting of snows and sands, in preventing or diminishing damages from torrents, and in limiting unhealthy emanations from marshes. Their influence in connection with questions of water-supply for cities, and the maintenance of hydraulic power, and of navigation in rivers and canals, where these may be affected by droughts, deserves serious attention.

But it is especially to the Woodlands, as a source for supplying materials of first necessity to the country, that we would respectfully invite the attention of your Honorable Body; and here we would remark, that a realizing sense of the importance of this subject has long since led the principal governments of Europe to enact laws, and establish regulations for the maintenance of a due proportion of Forests upon their Public Domains, and upon the lands belonging to Local Municipalities and Public Insti

tutions.

We are aware that wide differences exist, in the tenure of land, in the United States, as compared with those of Europe, and that the titles to landed property are here very generally vested in their owners, without any conditions whatever as to Timber Culture.

It is also true that, in most of the older, and in some of the

newer States, there are no lands whatever, adapted to this use, now belonging to either the State or the Local Governments - the whole being owned by private citizens, and subject to no conditions, but such as their Representatives in a Legislative capacity may establish for the general welfare.

It is to the Owners of the Land, that we must therefore look for the adoption of measures tending to avert the injuries in prospect; and in furtherance of this end, we deem it within the province of a State Legislature to encourage the enterprise, which may be done in a good degree in the following manner:

1. By a Law protecting Trees planted along the Highways, and by encouraging such plantations by deductions from Highway Taxes. It may, in particular cases, be proper to require such plantations to be made at the public expense, with the view of protecting roads from drifting snows, or for other local benefits, and in a manner best calculated for securing these objects.

2. By a Law that shall exempt from taxation the increased value of land, from the planting of trees, where none were growing, for such period as may appear proper, or until some profit may be realized from the plantation.

3. By the appropriation of money to Agricultural and Horticultural Societies, to be applied as premiums for tree-planting, regard being had to greatest areas planted, and the most successful management. Reports should be required, giving details of the methods found most effectual in obtaining these results.

4. By prizes for the best Essays and Reports upon subjects of practical Forest-culture, to be awarded by competent Judges, and those approved, to be published for distribution among those who would be the most benefited by this information.

5. By encouraging Educational Institutions within the State to introduce a course of instruction, having reference to practical sylviculture. This object may be promoted by the aid of Collections, and by correctly labelled Plantations of the various species of Forest Trees adapted to the soil and climate. At Agricultural Colleges, and at higher Institutions of Learning, stations might be advantageously established under State patronage, for experiments and observations in cultivation and acclimatization. The distribution of seeds and plants affords a direct and efficient aid, in the promotion of an interest in this subject.

6. By laws tending to prevent Forest-fires, by imposing penal

ties against the wilful or careless setting of such fires, and by enlarging and defining the powers of Local Officers in calling for assistance, and in adopting measures for suppressing them. The waste from this cause, in some years, greatly exceeds the amount of timber used, and there is no question connected with forest supplies, that demands more serious attention. Our main reliance appears to depend upon vigilant precautions, enforced by adequate penalties, and sustained by a strong public sentiment.

7. Under favorable circumstances, Model Plantations might be established and maintained by a State Government, under the care of persons specially trained to the profession of Forestry. Their location should be chosen with a view of affording convenient opportunity to those who might wish to learn approved methods of management, by the study of a work worthy of imitation.

8. The appointment of a Commission of Forestry under State authority (analogous to the Commission of Fisheries in many of the States) might prove of great service in promoting efficient measures for the advancement of this interest. The Members of such a Commission, who would doubtless be selected on account of their influential standing, and their known intelligence upon this subject, would be able to study the conditions and requirements of their State, and devise means for most effectually securing the object in view.

In tho questions arising upon this subject, we depend much, upon the intelligence of our fellow citizens, who are generally not slow to appreciate advantages, or to foresee a real danger where the indications are apparent. When this danger is fully realized, we believe that no time will be lost in seeking to apply the remedy. The measures we recommend will tend to awaken an interest in the subject, and lead to an intelligent understanding of the means for meeting the dangers that may arise from undue exhaustion of our forest supplies. They will diffuse the benefits gained by experience, for the good of all, and educate public opinion to a degree that will sustain more energetic measures, as their necessity may be hereafter more fully known.

Chairman of the Committee,

A. A. A. S.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE TEACHING IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE Committee appointed at the Saratoga Meeting of the American Association, on Science Teaching in the Public Schools, respectfully submit the preliminary Report.

The repeated appointment, by this body, in successive years, of committees to look into the scientific education of the public schools, must be taken as showing that such an inquiry is regarded as both legitimate and important. Yet the duties of such a committee have not been defined by the Association, nor have any of our predecessors opened the way to a consideration of the subject. It was probably expected that we would furnish a digest of information from many quarters, as to what sciences are taught in the public schools, with what facilities, and to what extent; accompanied by such recommendations regarding the increase of scientific studies as the results might suggest. But our course has not proved to be so clear. We have been arrested at the outset by a question of the quality of the science teaching in these schools. which demands the first consideration. There are certain radical deficiencies in current science teaching, the nature and extent of which must be understood before any measures of practical improvement can be intelligently taken up. We shall here confine ourselves to this preliminary inquiry.

The investigation has interest from the immense extent, and rapidly increasing influence, of the American public schools. There are now nearly a hundred and fifty thousand of these schools, supported at an annual expense of probably seventy or eighty million dollars. Maintained by state authority, they are firmly established in the respect and confidence of the community. Under the influence of normal schools, teachers' institutes, systematic superintendence, school boards, regulative legislation, and an extensive literature devoted specially to education, they have become organized into a system which is gradually growing settled and unified in its methods. With unbounded means and unlimited authority, these schools have undertaken to form the mental habits of the great mass of the youth of this country. They prescribe the subjects of study, the modes of study, and the extent and dura