204 FOREST commissioner's repokt. 



CONCLUSION OF MR. OAK. 



There v<eems to be no necessity of remarking to the reader 

 of Mr, Cary's report that the field of study he has opened 

 and outlined is full of most important facts and problems that 

 directly concern our commercial interests. 



The subject is so fruitful Avith ideas for practical investiga- 

 tion that it seems difficult to select which ones to give o-reat- 

 est prominence. 



To those who read and study the result of his labors, I 

 think the question will naturally arise, to wh;it extent is itadvisa- 

 ble to search further for the facts in order to solve the prob- 

 lems ? 



In this connection I Avish to say that only by means of a 

 much larger appropriation can we continue the work. 



No man in the State has had the opportunities for studying 

 the subject that Mr. Cary has enjoyed and no man, in my 

 judgment, is so well qualified to continue the work ; but unless 

 we have larger means to secure his further services, we shall 

 lose the benefit of his experience and be obliged to wait some 

 yeai's until greater interest is aroused and some other nian 

 has reached his standard before the work can progress. 



In other words the department will be obliged to stop all 

 work of investigation regarding forestry matters unless larger 

 means are provided. 



Referring to his report I wish to call attention to what he 

 finds the condition of lands said to l)e stripi)ed of lumber. 



It is rare indeed that it has ever occurred, yet very many 

 think so, and their belief has given rise to the erroneous idea 

 that it is })ossible to take off a crop of lumber every few years 

 from comf)aratively worthless land, — a condition that is clearly 

 impossible. 



Furthermore this loose cuttins: has created a false notion 

 in the minds of many that our lumber supply is inexhaustable 

 — that aiiiuud growth is much more rapid than it actually is, 



