G() JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



which outside the spraying season can be used for other purposes. 

 The breeding and dissemination of parasites in co-operation with the 

 U. S. Entomological Bureau continues. It does not appear whether 

 there is hope of ever coping with the pest to its extinction, although 

 an optimistic note on the value of the work is sounded ; but the control 

 in cranberry bogs, which can be flooded, seems to be entirely efifective. 



The chestnut blight is still rampant, and nothing can be done except 

 timely utilization, in which the department co-operates. The w^hite- 

 pine blister rust, which in the reports of 191 5 and 1916 comes in for 

 discussion, is, as far as we can find, left entirely unmentioned in the 

 report for 19 17. In the former reports, while the seriousness of the 

 infection is admitted, the author refuses to be pessimistic as to its 

 spread. It is doubtful whether here the wish was father to the 

 thought, as the very extended use of white pine in the plantations and 

 nurseries and the great setback of interest in planting due to the fear 

 of loss naturally inclined the State Forester to an optimistic non- 

 alarmist attitude. We dare not take position for or against such atti- 

 tude, but believe it the part of wisdom to combat the disease as vigor- 

 ousl\' as the gypsy moth, which we believe can be done with more hope 

 of success than in the case of the latter, on account of the definite host 

 plants and need of two such. 



It is claimed that by systematically cutting and burning weevil- 

 infested shoots for two or three years in plantations the weevil can be 

 controlled in great part. 



As regards protection against fire, we have already quoted the boast 

 that "we undoubtedly have the best fire-protective system of any State." 

 In spite of this, the tabulation of causes shows no appreciable decrease 

 of the number of fires during the last six years, and in spite of loco- 

 motive inspection, still 35 per cent of the fires are on the average 

 ascribed to railroads and a similar number remains unknown as to 

 cause ; hunters, with 12 per cent, being the next largest contributors. 

 The damage during the last ten years has averaged around $170,000, 

 with an average area of nearly 40,000 acres and a cost of extinction 

 averaging $30,000. The service is under a special State Fire Warden, 

 who reports to the Forester, with five district fire wardens, 36 towers 

 and other observation stations connected by telephone, special auto- 

 mobile outfits, with pumps. Co-operation of the Federal Government 

 and with towns, the poorer ones being in part reimbursed for fire- 

 fighting tools, are part of the system. 



The law relative to the compulsory disposal of slash and brush fol- 

 lowing logging operations, enacted in 1914, seems not to have accom- 



