FOREST COMMISSIONERS REPORT. 7I 



It is suggested that for the next year means be provided for 

 reorganizing the Maine Forestry Association. This association 

 should include all who are actively engaged in lumbering and 

 wood manufactures of all kinds, as well as owners of timber 

 land and others whose interest is chiefly from the more general 

 standpoint of economics or aesthetics. Such an organization 

 would have a wide influence for the advance of the forestry 

 interests in this state. 



The department is at present facing a deficit, owing to the 

 increased work taken up during the past year. The increase of 

 one thousand dollars made in the appropriation for this work 

 by the present Legislature is not sufficient to pay the necessary 

 running expenses of the department at the present time. It 

 made possible the addition of an instructor, but it does not leave 

 enough margin to furnish supplies, tools and equipment which 

 are vitally necessary to the growth and well being of the depart- 

 ment. 



Unless a special appropriation is made for the further main- 

 tenance of the forest nursery by the next legislature, it is going 

 to entail an increased cost of some six hundred dollars for 

 manual labor and supplies, per annum. 



The general interest in forestry throughout the State is in- 

 creasing every year. Likewise the work of this department is 

 increasing. To do this work we should not be hampered as we 

 have been in the past by a lack of money. It is hoped that the 

 coming Legislature will make much more generous provision 

 for this work than has ever been made before. 



Sixty-eight per cent of the land area is either forest or waste 

 land ; more than one-third of the population depend for their 

 income, either directly or indirectly, upon the forests ; the 

 water-power and forestry interests are inseparable ; and how 

 much hunting, fishing, and summer resort business would be 

 done in Maine if we had no forests? Further argument seems 

 unnecessary. The conclusion is so obvious. 



Very respectfully submitted, 



JOHN M. BRISCOE, 



Professor of Forestry. 



