Comment. 3°5 



old one, due to the absence of its enemies, but that a rust requir- 

 ing two hosts for its complete cycle should be absent in the coun- 

 try in which the one necessary or preferable host is indigenous 

 appears an enigma. We expect that on closer examination this 

 rust will be found after all indigenous, but for some reason rare, 

 while wholesale cultivation of the host under artificial conditions 

 may have favored its prolific propagation in the new habitat. 



The last Legislature of the State of New York enacted two laws 

 of interest to foresters, one amending the general organization of 

 the forest, fish and game laws, the other creating a forest reser- 

 vation in the Highlands of the Hudson River. Both of them con- 

 tain curious examples of undigested legislative food. The latter 

 act reminds us somewhat of the ancient inforestation of lands by 

 William the Conqueror. It describes a tract of land of about 75 

 square miles, and declares all lands within these limits, fit only 

 for timber growing, but excepting lands fit for other specified 

 purposes, a forest reservation "to be managed and controlled after 

 the method of modem forestry, and the Forest, Fish and Game 

 Commission are authorized to acquire, maintain and preserve 

 according to the methods of modem forestry, the lands and prop- 

 erty within the said forest reservation." The land is to be 

 acquired by gift, contribution or bequest, or to be taken by pur- 

 chase, and the commission may also receive moneys for the pur- 

 chase' and the improvement of the lands. But the commission is 

 to superintend and control the cutting of timber upon the lands 

 included within the boundaries, not only on public, but private 

 lands ! This is introducing European methods with a vengeance, 

 and that in a state which, by its constitution, has prevented itself 

 from treating its own lands according to forestry principles. Five 

 thousand dollars is appropriated to carry out this "Undmg" 

 (absurdity). 



The phrase "after the method of modern forestry" is delightful, 

 especially when placed in juxtaposition to the phrase used in the 

 act amending the Forest, Fish and Game Law, in which it is pro- 

 vided— "The commissioner shall appoint all foresters necessary 

 for tree, garden and forestry work." 



In this act, too, the cutting of timber by private owners is regu- 

 lated. Evidentlv and properly for the purpose of diminishing 

 fire danger, it prescribes that within the forest reserve counties, 



