108 FOREST COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. 



is intelligently managed for the production of tree crops. The 

 only cure for this condition of affairs consists in vigorously pur- 

 suing the educational work in forestry, and so bringing it to the 

 attention of the owners. As a rule the owner is very willing 

 to practice the best forestry that he can, if he only is advised 

 how to go about it properly. In most such cases the practice of 

 forestry is more of an investment than an expense. 



In this connection it has been suggested that courses in for- 

 estry should be required as a part of the curriculum of every 

 student in a college or university receiving state or government 

 aid ; that men with at least an elementary training in forestry be 

 chosen as county agents under the Smith-Lever Law ; and that 

 special state agents, experts in woodlot forestry, be appointed 

 under this same law in every state where wood lot forestry is an 

 important factor, as it certainly is in Maine. 



Forest Nursery. 



Much of the earlier appropriations for the State Forest Nur- 

 sery were needed for the construction of the tool and packing 

 house, for the installation of the water system, and for the pur- 

 chase of equipment and supplies ; and no funds were available 

 until after the first of July, 1913, so that no planting on an 

 extensive scale was possible that year. Since it takes three 

 years to grow the plants to a condition for field-planting, few 

 were ready for sale and distribution in the spring of 19 16. 

 However, some few seed-beds had been started by the class in 

 silviculture, in the hopes that the funds would later be available, 

 and from these small beginnings, some 15,000 trees were ready 

 for the market and were sold this spring. These together with 

 some larger stock already on hand, brought in $96.49 to the 

 credit of this account. 



By next spring there will be some 55,000 white pine and 

 10,000 Norway spruce ready for the market, and after that time 

 the supply will in all probability be equal to the demand. It was 

 thought best to go a little slowly at first, in order to find out 

 just what the demand would be for this stock, but the demand 

 has so far exceeded both the supply and even the expectations 

 of the most hopeful, that it became necessary to purchase more 

 than 150,000 white pine and 5000 spruce from outside sources 

 so as not to disappoint prospective customers in filling orders for 



