It is a great gain to forestry to note that the weak arguments for forestry, which bring the whole subject into disrepute with persons of ordinary understanding, and leave the topic to be handled by visionaries, are being gradually laid aside. There are innumerable solid reasons why old forests should be judiciously cared for, and new ones planted, without resorting to bugaboos to frighten people into what cool reason cannot sustain. A very good point is made by Mr. T. T. Lyon, in a note to the Michigan Farmer:

"When, in going about our State, we see so many farms stark and treeless, often with a lonesome house, and perchance a barn also, without a single tree or shrub, for either ornament or shelter; and so very few that evince thought and taste in this respect, it seemed obvious to us that our people need no encouragement to go forward in the thoughtless work of waste and destruction ; but our earnest efforts, rather, to convince them that there is a possibility of carrying this process too far; and even that they may find actual profit, as well as pleasure and comfort to themselves, their families and their domestic animals, by sheltering their crops, their gardens and orchards, and their buildings as well, from the excessive force of the winds".