REVIEWS 183 



than 9,000 miles of lines — is not an easy problem. It is, therefore, 

 greatly to the credit of the commission that trespasses such as were com- 

 mitted a decade ago are unknown. 



In past years the commission has urged legislation which would give 

 it authority to regulate lumbering operations on privately owned lands, 

 with a view to stimulating tree growth and perpetuating the forests. 

 The legislature has not favored this, but has, through the appropria- 

 tion of funds to acquire land, made it possible to accomplish the same 

 objects in another way. 



The purchase of 159,855 acres, at an average price of $5.83 per acre, 

 has been approved, and 18,635 acres more expropriated. This, added 

 to the present area of 1,838,322 acres, gives a total of nearly 2,000,000 

 acres in the forest preserve. 



A new high record was made in planting 4,213 acres. Some of this 

 work was done by women who worked in the planting gangs. The 

 women gave complete satisfaction. In addition to the 4,213,000 trees 

 planted on State land, 426,000 trees were given to State institutions and 

 2,597,785 trees were sold, making a total of 7,236,785 trees, or. perhaps, 

 7,000 acres planted altogether. The production of the State nurseries 

 in the year was 7,236,413 trees. This it is planned to increase largely. 



The commission feels that it is now safe to resume the planting of 

 white pine under the following conditions : 



1. That the stock which is to be planted shall be absolutely free from 

 any disease. 



2. That the plantation be made on an area on which there are no cur- 

 rant or gooseberry bushes. 



3. That there be an immune zone of 500 yards around the plantation 

 which is free of Ribes. 



The work of eradicating Ribes on 2(^,2ili7 acres cost as high as $2.35 

 per acre and as low as $0.31 per acre, an average of $1.46 per acre — 

 an excellent showing. 



In 1918. which was a dry year, 398 fires burned over 7.354 acres and 

 did damage to the extent of $8,170. Ten years ago 368,072 acres were 

 burned, with a loss of $802,135, which shows the improvement made. 



Among the causes of fire, railroads lead (25 per cent of number, 10 

 per cent of area), wnth smokers a close second. Fishermen, burning 

 brush, and campers follow in the order named, then berry-pickers, 

 lightning (19), incendiary, and hunters. The rest are less than ten 

 each. 



Statistics of forest products for the cut in the State show a further 

 falling ofif. The total for 1917 w^as 861,870,781 board feet, of which 



