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the value of their product, but first of all let us be fully informed as to their actual condition, their tendencies and needs. Those interested in our forests will find some information of this character presented by the Geological Survey in its forthcoming report; for the first work, the physical examination and survey of the State forests is already well advanced, some remedies for evils discovered are also suggested, but I think the immediate need is to push this work farther. The forest-owner should have the benefit of the same kind of assistance and suggestion that has been extended by the State to the farmer, the miner, and other industries.

A fuller examination into the errors of past management, and practical suggestions for improvement, are more needed than any more radical step at present. Just as the farmer has had the aid of the Experiment Station, so the forest owner should have at his command the aid of a practical scientific forester, and a bureau of forest information.

State reservations may be the ultimate outcome, but the idea may well be held in abeyance until we have fully digested the facts as to our forest. The expense of such a step will be very considerable, and we must be sure that it will really improve forest conditions before undertaking it.

But in any event nearly half a million acres of our most valuable forest is scattered through our agricultural sections in small wood-lots. This can not be reached by reservation, but it may derive very great benefit from the course which I recommend. In this part of the forest this society is most directly interested, for it is owned by the farmers of the State.

Prof. Smock referred to the fact of having given a paper before the Board and which had been published in one of the early reports (Vol. I of Reports), which gave in some detail the results of planting locust trees on the waste land on a farm in Monmouth county. Referring to Mr. Vermeule's paper he said that the question of forest management is one of importance to every farmer who has a wood-lot or waste land which is not suited to pasturage or tillage. These waste lands ought to be in forest and be cared for, because it is as easy and as economical to raise valuable timber trees as to raise poor trees.

He gave the result of observation of a tract of woodland on the same farm which had not received any attention and which was coppice wood largely, with many poor trees and open areas with worthless

brush-wood and shrubs. Half of the ground appeared to be unoccupied. A little care at the proper time would have produced a dense growth of fencing-timber of value. The waste lands of the ravines and banks, planted by father and grandfather of the speaker, were successful locust plantations; the wood-lot, left to itself, was not successful forest management and was unprofitable land.

In regard to the question of forestry he mentioned the work of the Geological Survey, which had been making an investigation of the forest conditions of the State, in accordance with a law passed in 1894. Mr. Vermeule had given much care and study to the survey of the forested lands, and experts in forestry also had assisted in these surveys -notably Prof. Gifford, of the N. Y. College of Forestry at Cornell University, who has prepared a report on forest management in Europe. He commended highly this report to the attention of the farmers of the State. The relation of water-supply to forests also was referred to as consistent with the farmer's interests. The importance of keeping the hillsides tree-covered or in wooded condition was stated and stress was put on it because of the washes and gulleys made in the tilled fields and even in pasture-lands by heavy rainfalls. These are scars on our mountain-slopes and they should be prevented by keeping the hillsides in wood.

The timbered hillsides prevent the washes and also improve the quality of the water by keeping the soil from being carried off by the brooks and streamlets making the water roily. The larger part of the population of New Jersey which uses city water or water from a public water-supply, makes this question one of great importance in the State, and the interests of the city and of the country are both with the forests and favor their protection.

In answer to a question of ex-Governor Hoard, Prof. Smock said that the depredations of the locust-borer were less now than they were about 25 years ago, when the plantations were cut. The succeeding growth had appeared to be vigorous and to survive the borer's attacks, or were perhaps more able to resist them. Possibly the borer has its periods of more active attacks upon the tree, and it may disappear.

The Movements of Saps in Plants

BYRON D. HALSTED.

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The Movements of Saps in Plants.

BY BYRON D. HALSTED, STATE BOTANIST.

One year ago, while at the twenty-sixth annual meeting of this Society, it was suggested to me that a paper would be appropriate upon the movements of the sap in plants. I then promised myself that if the Executive Committee desired me to address you, and I was granted the privilege of choosing my subject, it would be the one that stands as the head-line of this page.

Fearing that I might misjudge the popular mind in its conception of the subject before us, four questions were addressed to a considerable number, representing all classes and conditions of our people. Pardon me while they are read here, with the conditions under which they were answered:

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Kindly give me your off-hand replies to the following questions: 1. Is there more than one kind of sap in plants?

2. Does the sap circulate, and if so, what determines the direction and rate of the movement?

3. What becomes of the sap of ordinary trees and shrubs during winter?

4. How does sap get into and out of plants?

My whole point is lost if you first look up the subject; therefore please comply with my request for off-hand replies at the outset."

There were many persons who took the line of least resistance and simply said, "I do not know." This frank admission of complete ignorance, while pitiable in some instances, was neither misleading nor equivocal.

To the first question, "Is there more than one kind of sap in plants?" many replied that there was, but the number, except in rare instances, was not stated. One lady claimed complete ignorance, but being deeply engaged in school-work had a keen appreciation of questions, and stated that she answered "yes" because the question seemed to call for more than one kind. One person of middle age, who is a graduate of our

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