76 -■ STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Then there are the birds, many of which live upon such insects as 

 perplex the farmer and the horticulturist all through the season. Dur- 

 ing the summer months the birds delight the ear with their song notes, 

 each especially tuned to plaj' a part in the grand concert which com- 

 mences with the twitter of the sparrows at the first dawning, and contin- 

 ues without rest until the finale is sounded by the clear notes of the 

 robin as the shades of night are lowering. This great family of birds 

 find shelter and nesting places in and about the woods. If we love their 

 songs and appreciate their incalculable benefits to the farmer, we must 

 furnish a home for them. Descriptive of the conditions which follow the 

 fallen forest, the poet says: 



"Lost are our birds; no haunts have the}' 

 In which to build and nest their young; 

 Vv'hile the slow slug and tent-worm prey 

 Our orchard boughs among. 



"The freed wind sweeps across the land 

 And beats against the homestead door, 

 For towering pine and maple stand 

 To bar its way no more. 



"Bereft of shade, the meadow rill 



Smaller and smaller grows each year; 

 The pink arbutus from the hill 

 Too soon will disappear. 



"The earth resents our spendthrift days, 

 And those of us who walk behind 

 Through desecrated forest ways 

 May desolation find." 



Because of the general and practical importance of the forestry ques- 

 tion, the following is suggested: The State should take prompt and 

 decisive action to encourage and assist farmers throughout t'he State 

 to set apart a reasonable proportionate acreage for permanent forest 

 preserves. 



This encouragement, because of its public importance, should con- 

 sist in part of exempting from taxation such proportionate acreage as 

 on investigation, may be found to meet the requirements of the public 

 good. This could be supplemented by a conservative yet ett'ectual sys- 

 tem of bounties on tree propagating and planting, and all upon the 

 condition of the absolute exclusion of all farm stock and proper pre- 

 caution against forest fires. It is also suggested that Farm Forestry 

 be discussed at farmers' gatherings during the year to come, to the 

 end that all will co-operate in establishing such a system of Farm 

 Forest building and maintenance as will add credit to the business sa- 

 gacity of the residents of our State. 



