COMMENT. 



Could a whole State be committed to an Insane Asylum? If 

 so, is the State of New York, as far as its' forest policies are 

 concerned, not a fit candidate? 



Students of history of the forestry movement in future days 

 will wonder how in the present days the divergent attitudes of 

 the State could be reconciled. 



In 1893, the State by constitutional amendment forbade itself 

 the practice of forestry on its own lands, declaring that its forest 

 lands shall be forever kept as wild lands, and that no trees should 

 be cut on them — which is clearly negativing any forestry prac- 

 tice. 



In 1898, it instituted a College of Forestry at Cornell Univer- 

 sity, and a demonstration in the Adirondacks, intended to educate 

 the people to a realization of what forestry involved. 



In 1902, or thereabout, its Forest Commission began planting 

 on State lands — a clear violation of the Constitution — and has 

 continued doing so. 



In 1903, it discontinued not the school, but the appropriation 

 for the school, virtually closing it, as well as the demonstration, 

 although the name as well as the equipment remained at Cornell. 

 In 191 1, the teaching of forestry was again taken up, albeit in 

 a different form, at the College of Agriculture in Cornell Uni- 

 versity, with State funds, and, in 191 2, to clinch the matter, a 

 forestry building, worth $100,000, was voted for the institution, 

 at which four professors and instructors are employed — surely a 

 strong enough department. 



Yet, the Legislature of 191 1 also provided a second school of 

 forestry at Syracuse University, reviving the old name of New 

 York State College of Forestry, and appropriating not less than 

 $50,000 for its inauguration the first year — five times as much as 

 the original College had required. 



Now this College is asking for an appropriation of $384,000, 

 to secure a $250,000 building and $103,260 for equipment, main- 

 tenance and instruction, besides some other items. 

 At present writing the question as to where the bounty of the 



