I think that in general the forests would be preserved if the people knew how to use them systematically if efficient means of preservation of timber could be obtained, in order to use the softer and light wood as good material, avoiding, as said by the illustrious engineer, Joaquim Julio Proenca, the devastation of the virgin forests for hardwoods to be employed in construction of certain importance, principally railroads; if we could plant good species, growing fast to be used as fuel and good timber, for instance, the eucalyptus as is being done in California, and was advised in Minas Geraes by the distinguished botanist engineer, Alvaro da Silveira, and if we could stop or diminish the clearing of forests or old process of burning the forests for fuel and agricultural purposes by divulging the scientific processes of cultivation, and profit by using green wood as a fuel in great factories, using dry stoves heated by the furnace gases, as established by the deceased President Joao Pinheiro in his factory at Caeté, Minas Geraes, Brazil. From these considerations we have many suggestions how to protect the trees, but, certainly, the suggested measures and those profitable ones found in many forestry codes in our states, must not be taken only by the Union, whose service, as I said before, must be as simple and economic as possible in order to be stable. The Federal Government in accordance with the states must help the development of the instruction on forestry, establishing special forestry gardens, however small, connected with botanical branch in the engineering courses, for better knowledge and trial of species of rapid growth, suitable for construction and railroad ties; must promote replantation of resistant trees such as eucalyptus in the arid region, principally where the sources permanently or temporarily appear; must promote the employing of light and white soft timber by giving premiums to the inventor of the best and most economic process for its preservation, and finally, must make every possible propaganda by publication of short and practical papers and so on among farmers on the influence and value of the forests. [1] In my book on the water supply and sewers of Caxambu, Minas Geraes, Brazil, I explained the influence of the forests upon the underground water in a chapter under the title “Preservation of the sources.” * * * * * Transcriber’s Notes: ――Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_). ――Obvious printer’s, punctuation, and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected. ――Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved. ――Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.