1906.] FOREST SERVICE FOR FARMERS. 20J 



to save the Wisconsin pineries, but they afford an excellent 

 object lesson for other states." This morning's paper seems 

 to be very timely in view of the subject which we are to dis- 

 cuss at the opening of this morning's session. 



The President. You will notice on your programs that 

 we are to have an address on " The Work of the Forest Ser- 

 vice for Farmers." That is one of the things that is coming 

 to be very important to farmers, and I am glad to introduce 

 to you Mr. Herbert A. Smith, a native of Connecticut, but now 

 of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C, 

 who will speak to you upon this subject. 



"THE WORK OF THE FOREST SERVICE FOR 



FARMERS." 



By Dr. Herbert A. Smith, Washington, D. C. 



Mr. President, and Ladies and Gentlemen : 



I am indeed glad to come back here and talk to the people 

 of Connecticut about our forests, and especially so from the 

 fact that this very region is connected with my earliest mem- 

 ories. From the time I was foi.ir years old until I was nine 

 I lived within twenty-five miles of here, and always these 

 woods and hills have held a place very close to my heart. 



The Forest Service is, as perhaps you know, a new name 

 lately given to an old organization, formerly known as the 

 Bureau of Forestry, a part of the Department of Agriculture 

 at Washington. Up to a little less than a year ago the Bureau 

 of Forestry held a somewhat singular position. It was the 

 recognized authority in this country in all matters connected 

 with conservative forest use. It was the only part of the 

 Government which had in its employ trained foresters, and it 

 was the one place to w^hich other Departments of the Govern- 

 ment controlling forests had to apply when they wished any 

 information and guidance in the management of their forest 

 land. At the same time there had developed in this country, 

 as a recognized part of our National policy, the policy of 

 setting aside and maintaining forest reservations. A year 

 ago the National reservations, set aside under both Democratic 



