roREST COMMISSION'ERS REPORT. 79 



three men, as is now the case in towns the old adage is again 

 proven that "what is everybody's business is nobody's business." 



There has been a growing demand that the State Forest Com- 

 missioner have the supervision of the incorporated as well as the 

 unincorporated townships but before making such a change 

 along that line considerable investigation as to the advisability 

 of such a change ought to be made. 



Conservation of which we hear so much in these days should 

 certainly be practised in the forests of Maine. In its nearly ten 

 millions of acres of wild land the State has an asset that will 

 last for many years to come providing proper care and atten- 

 tion is given. Much has been accomplished in the later years 

 in the way of conservative cutting and the larger concerns now- 

 adays scarcely think of attempting any big operation without 

 first getting the advice of its expert forester whose training has 

 been along such lines as will best preserve and perpetuate the 

 forest lands. 



I believe that cutting over the lands taking trees down to the 

 size of 12 inches to the swell of the roots means that the re- 

 maining growth will be sufficient to produce another' crop of 

 merchantable timber within a reasonable number of years. The 

 methods of cutting have changed greatly in recent years and the 

 waste that formerly went into high stumps is now nearly elimi- 

 nated. This is brought about by sawing down the trees before 

 the snow is deep. Of course these rules vary in some instances 

 as in case of side hill stands, and other places, where the wind 

 would be likely to blow down the small trees after the larger 

 ones are cut. In such cases it is advisable to make a clean cut 

 taking everything of any value. 



The forestry department of the University of Maine which 

 has been conducted as a part of the state department of land and 

 forestry has grown to such proportions and importance that it 

 would seem to me advisable to place this w^holly under the di- 

 rection of the president and trustees of the University. In 1903 

 as a result of considerable agitation for public instruction in 

 forestry in which the women's clubs of the State took an active 

 part an appropriation of $2500 was made for the work. It was 

 decided the best way to accomplish the desired result was to 

 establish a chair of forestry at the University of Maine. This 

 was done under Section 65 of the act providing for the Forest 



