LEGISLATIVE MACHINERY FOR ENFORCEMENT OF 

 PRIVATE FORESTRY MEASURES^ 



By C. R. Pettis 



Superintendent of State Forests of New York 



In the discussion which has taken place in this summer's meeting 

 of the New York State Section of the Society of American Foresters, 

 I think that our discussion has been narrowed down, in some respects, 

 too much to a consideration of the problems presented here in the 

 Adirondacks. Furthermore, I feel that forestry can be practiced with 

 greater profit and ease in a large portion of the forest regions outside 

 of tlie Adirondacks than it can within the territory ; therefore, that a 

 consideration of the problem should be State-wide rather than local. 

 There are, however, phases of the discussion which have taken place 

 which, even though applied to a limited area, should not be passed 

 over without comment. There is a particular type of land in the Adi- 

 rondacks which deserves particular consideration, namely, the pure 

 spruce type on the mountain tops, which, if lumbered and practically 

 kept clean, leave very heavy slash and enormous fire risk, and, if 

 burned, all of the soil is destroyed and only the bare granite rocks re- 

 main. In my judgment, this land should not be lumbered out ; on the 

 other hand, should be acquired by the State and classified as a protec- 

 tive forest region. 



Observations covering the land all lying at lower altitudes show that 

 it may be classed as hardwood type. This type can be lumbered and 

 still remain productive, in my judgment, if certain provisions are 

 complied with. It will, however, reduce the forest cover and create a 

 very heavy fire risk, but, on the other hand, will afiford merchantable 

 material, and, if fires can be eliminated, will not be withdrawn from 

 production. There are certain qualfications as follows in regard to 

 this matter : 



1. That the size of the area to be lumbered must be limited and 

 that these areas should not be contiguous, but should be broken by 

 bands of green timber. This, of course, will increase the lumbering 

 expense, and there are points in connection with the operation which 



^ Delivered before the New York Section of the Society of American Fores- 

 ters, at Wanakena, N. Y., July 29-31, 1919. 



