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states, as far as they are applicable to conditions in Illinois. The ap- 

 pointment of cotnity firewardens has been made optional, so that the 

 system can be started in a few counties needing fire protection the most, 

 and then gradually extended to perhaps ten or fifteen of the more 

 wooded counties as the benefit becomes apparent. The firewarden 

 should be a strong and energetic man, should know the roads and trails 

 of the county, and should be familiar with woodcraft. While the com- 

 pensation must necessarily be very small, it should not be difficult to 

 find public-spirited men willing to assume the responsibilities of the 

 position. To insure the greatest efficiency, the county wardens are 

 made responsible to the State Forester, who should advise and direct 

 the fire-fighting force of the state. The expense of fire protection is 

 divided between the state and county, since the general public, as well 

 as the immediate locality, benefit through the maintenance of the forest 

 cover. It is certainly the duty of the state to establish means for the 

 protection of the timber crops of its citizens, not only to protect indi- 

 viduals from loss, but more on account of the close relation between the 

 preservation of the forests and the general welfare of the community. 



The educational side of the forest policy should be developed by the 

 State Forester along every line that offers an opportunity to increase 

 the general knowledge and practice of forestry. He should give in- 

 struction in the College of Agriculture of the University of Illi- 

 nois and in connection with the Farmers' Institutes as well as pub- 

 lish simple and readable bulletins on forest management and plant- 

 ing. The course given in the College of Agriculture should not aim 

 to give the students a full professional education in forestry, since it 

 would not pay to absorb the time of the State Forester in in- 

 vading a field already well filled by schools, many of which are 

 better situated for the purpose. It should rather provide such 

 instruction as will give the students a good general knowledge of 

 the principles of forestry and enable them, especially those who ex- 

 pect to take up farming as a profession, to handle their woodlands to 

 the best advantage. Another most valuable means of education would 

 be practical demonstration of methods applicable to different sections 

 and forest types in cooperation with private owners, or on tracts given 

 to, or acquired by the state. Connecticut, Maryland, and New Jersey 

 are examples of agricultural states having small forest reserves, which 

 have been found very instructive for demonstration purposes. 



In addition to this educational work, the State Forester will find 

 many technical problems which will require scientific investigation. 

 Many questions will arise in connection with methods of thinning and 

 reproducing by natural means the second-growth woodlands of various 

 types, that must be answered through study and experiment. The 



