56 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



that tliere is a law wliicli jtrovides that any man who owns land inside a 

 forest reserve may exchange it, unless it is a mineral claim, for land 

 outside — a perfectly just provision as applied to settlers, but one which 

 has been thoroughly abused by some others. This law has recently 

 become the great obstacle to the creation of new forest reserves. A 

 knowledge of how many land selections will follow the creation of any 

 reserve will immensely facilitate this most important movement. 



There is but little time left in which state and national governments 

 can get control of new reserves, and it must be done now or with enormous 

 difficulty hereafter or not at all. The whole matter is admirably illus- 

 trated by the story of the New York state forest reserve. Years ago 

 before the Adirondack wilderness was worth anything to sell, far- 

 sighted men tried to secure its reservation for the state. They were 

 laughed at. The result of it is that New York (which has a reserve of, 

 roughly, a million and a quarter acres) has had to pay about |3.50 per 

 acre for the more recently accpiired parts of it, and must probably pay 

 more hereafter. 



Following the creation of reserves is the necessity of a much more 

 intimate knowledge than we have yet of the reserves themselves and of 

 the character of their forests. The United States geological survey is 

 mapping the forest, the burned areas, the agricultural lands, etc. This 

 is an admirable first step in that direction, admirably well done, but a 

 much more intimate study must be made of the forest conditions on all 

 the reserves before any one will be in position to handle the forests in the 

 best manner. 



One of the largest projects just ahead is the creation of the Appalachian 

 forest reserve in the southern states. The states in interest have, with- 

 out exception, signified their willingness to yield the necessary jurisdic- 

 tion to the United States. There has been awakened a very powerful 

 interest in the Avhole subject practically throughout the south, and, with 

 the enthusiastic backing of the Secretary of Agriculture, the opportunity 

 is an admirable one. This is one of the very important movements in 

 forest work. 



With this, and of equally vital importance to the region concerned, 

 is the proposed establishment of three forest tree planting reserves in 

 Nebraska. If secured, we are hoping that many others may follow for 

 other treeless western states. 



Another phase of forestry which is rajudly growing is the movement 

 for state forest reserves. Michigan has a small forest reserve, and we 

 are all anxious to increase it, and to handle it properly. The size is too 

 humiliating to mention here in comparison Avith Pennsylvania which has 

 about 400,000 acres already reserved. As a beginning Maryland is study- 

 ing her forests in cooperation with the bureau of forestry. New York 

 has been doing so for some time. One of the important movements in 

 New Y'^ork of the near future will be to repeal that clause of the state 

 constitution which forbids the cutting of timber, and therefore, forbids 

 practical forestry on the state lands. The framing of this law is the 

 remnant of forest sentimental ism to which 1 referred some time ago. 

 Vermont has been having a i»reliminary study of its forests made this 

 summer, also in cooperation with the bureau of forestry. California is 

 thinking of appointing a state forester, and is anxious for a state forest 



