Vermont AcRicuLTtrRAL Repobt. 65 



ods that have been, or may be employed by a State similarly 

 situated to yours in establishing a rational forest policy. 



Let me at least summarize what appeared to me the desir- 

 able actions in establishing such a policy, approximately in the 

 sequence of their importance and effectiveness, the first two be- 

 ing of like importance and the effectiveness of the rest being 

 dependent on these. 



1. Improvement in the Forest Fire Laws, making them 

 mandatory under State control. State cooperation and State or- 

 ganization with very definite liability for the damage caused bv 

 the fires and liability on the part of the towns for their pre- 

 vention and extinguishment. 



2. The appointment of a State Forester, if possible tech- 

 nically educated, in charge of the fire service and of the educa- 

 tional and other forestry interests of the State. 



3. Encouragement by financial aid of all associations and 

 educational agencies concerned in creating an active interest in 

 forestry. 



4. Acquisition by the State for forest reserves of those 

 stump, brush and waste lands, which by their location and con- 

 dition are of importance to the State at large and do not promise 

 to private enterprise sufficient inducement to take care of them ; 

 and institution of a forest management for those lands including 

 nurseries for the production of plant material for their own use 

 and for distribution to would-be planters. 



5. Encouragement of private owners to improve their 

 woodlots and to plant up waste places by furnishing expert ad- 

 vice and plant material at cost, and by a just tax law — not tax 

 release. 



6. Encouragement of towns to acquire town forests by ad- 

 vice and by State loans., the State credit being used to guarantee 

 the public domain fund of the town. 



For your State, so mountainous that nearly one-half of its 

 area is still woodland, a State in which during the last 20 years 

 thousands of acres of land once improved in farms have re- 

 lapsed into unimproved condition, there is certainly every incen- 

 tive to make this natural forest area do efficient duty in timber 

 production; for the rational policy of every State must be to 

 make every acre as useful as possible. 



