570 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



Seventh Biennial Report of the State Forester of the State of Cali- 

 fornia. By G. M. Homans. Sacramento, Calif. 1919. Pp. 103. 



It is a sad reflection that the State, which was the first — more than a 

 generation ago — to recognize State interest in forestry by the appoint- 

 ment of a State Board of Forestry, has not yet recognized its first duty 

 in giving expression to such interest. The first sentence of this report 

 and the last page containing the financial statement justify this arraign- 

 ment. "California makes no appropriation for controlling the many 

 fires which annually destroy its grain, range, and timber." 



Less than $25,000 a year is spent in supporting the forest interests, 

 which give rise to an annual lumber cut valued at around $29,000,000, 

 and leaving the State Forester mainly to academic discussions and to 

 side issues, such as the planting of shade trees, park designs, and the like. 



"The fire records of California indicate that the State is not doing 

 its duty in respect to fire protection." In 1918, 333,000 acres (timber, 

 brush, grass, and grain) were burned, causing damage of around 1.5 

 million dollars. There are laws, but no adequate machinery to carry 

 them out. In the absence of State activity in this direction, some of 

 the counties have taken the matter in hand, partly in co-operation with 

 private owners. As a result of the instigation by the Food Adminis- 

 tration and through the Forest Industries Committee, of which the 

 Forester was chairman, these county organizations were extended. 

 There are also five more or less local private protective associations 

 reported. 



Forest planting i" tl'c diia regions of southern CalifomJ^ for wind- 

 breaks, ornament, shade, and fuel is discussed on tj pages. 



Some 26 pages are devoted to a brief account of forest distribution 

 and a description of the principal trees of California. 



The white-pine blister rust comes in for discussion, although not vet 

 in California. An embargo on importations that might introduce it is 

 in existence. 



Besides the biennial reports of the State Board since 19x2. bulletins 

 have been issued on the following subjects : 



Yield of Eucalyptus Plantations in California, Bull. i. 



Wood-using Industries of California, Bull. 3. 



Street and Highway Planting, Bull. 4. 



A Discussion of Log Rules, Bull. 5. 



A Mill Scale Study of Western Yellow Pine. Bull. 6. 



Wood Utilization Service, Cir. 6. 



Table Showing Board Feet Contained in Lumber of Various Dimensions. 



Handbook of Forest Protection, 1918. 



B. E. F. 



