VERMONT DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 55 



timber as readily as possible and turn out just as much money, just 

 as often as it is possible to do it. for the good of all the people. 



One principle the Bureau of Forestry set down when it began to talk 

 about these things was that this is not a question of legislation entirely; 

 it is a question of getting the individual man to see that it is worth his 

 while to do certain things. When he ceases to see that it is worth his 

 while, then there is no power that can compel him to do the things. 



There was a Swiss forester whom I was lucky enough to know 

 when I studied abroad (I do not mind admitting I did study abroad, 

 although I have since forgotten most that 1 learned) who said this: 

 "What people do because they have tried it and learned it, is good; they 

 will do better and better as time goes on, but what they do because 

 they are forced to do it, they will avoid at the first opportunity." And 

 that is true here as there; therefore the thing for a practical forester 

 to do is to see the man who owns the land and make him understand 

 that it is a good thing to do those things, and not ask him to do them 

 until he does understand, because it is safe to say that he will not, and 

 you will get into trouble by asking him to do it. The thing is for the 

 forester to go onto the ground, tell the man what he can do and how, 

 and that it is worth his while to do it. 



There is just a word more I want to say, then I am through. There 

 are two things I think the State of Vermont could do that would be 

 of great value in getting this information before its people; the or- 

 ganization of a State Forestry Association to co-operate with and 

 assist a State Forester, or State Forestry Commission, call him what 

 you like; it is better to have one man alone than a commission. A 

 State Forestry Association, backed up by a State Forestry Commission, 

 to study these questions from the point of view I have tried to give. 

 Such an association might take up the question of the reduction of 

 •taxation in this State, or forest preservation. There are many States 

 in the Union where it is made impossible for a man to hold forest land 

 any time after he can get rid of it, because of the tax on it. Up in 

 Wisconsin I know a place where the tax on standing timber was six 

 per cent, of the sale value of that timber. Then an important question 

 is that of the spruce bearing capacity of different lands, how it can be 

 increased. Practical questions of this kind could be taken up which 

 would be of value to every farmer, every lumberman, every man inter- 

 ested in the forests of this State. 



One thing more: You have got here in Vermont a large number 

 of vigorous, enterprizing young men who are looking for lines of work 

 to do, to give their lives to. I believe very strongly in the future of for- 

 estry as a profession, if the young man who goes into it goes because 

 he cannot keep out of it. I have made it a point if a young man 

 thought he wanted to go into forestry, to keep him out of it if I 

 could, and I want to say that the risks of the new profession are very 

 great. You don't know — you are not sure that there will be a demand 

 for that kind of service beyond the capacity of the men who are now 

 following it, but if you are willing to take the chances, if you have 



