114 Forestry Quarterly. 



number of fires reported last year was 1,736, and this year 500 

 fires. Extra help was required on only 50. 



"In actual practice this season fires have been located from 

 lookout points at distances of 30, 40, 50, and even 90 miles. 

 From every Forest where permanent lookouts have been estab- 

 lished come enthusiastic reports of the lookout plan. 



"On the Minnesota Forest 64 fires occurred, 36 of which were 

 caused by railroad locomotives. The fire report shows very 

 strikingly the value of the cleared and plowed fire line along the 

 railroad. The Soo line which traverses the Forest for 23 miles 

 has fire lines along the entire route and as a consequence not a 

 single fire was reported as caused by a Soo engine. Along the 

 Great Northern Railroad fire lines have been established in the 

 most dangerous places. All of the 36 railroad fires occurred 

 along the Great Northern and of these 2)^ were held inside of the 

 line, 3 started where no fire line had been constructed and one 

 jumped the fire line at a grassy spot with a very high wind back 

 of it." 



The reforestation policy which is being developed by the State 

 of New York already exceeds in extent that done by any other 

 State, and promises to grow into an even greater undertaking in 

 the near future. The planting on State lands, which in itself is 

 very extensive, is to be continued, and, in addition, forest seed- 

 lings by the million are to be furnished from the State nurseries 

 at low cost for planting on private land, the total estimated 

 number available for distribution in the spring of 1912 being 

 eleven million. In connection with the reforestation policy, a 

 public hearing was held on Feb. 20 and 21 by the Forest, Fish 

 and Game Committees of the Senate and Assembly on the bill to 

 amend the conservation laws relating to lands and forests. Some 

 eight per cent, of the State's total area now has no profitable 

 growth, and its reforestation is required by the industrial, com- 

 mercial, sanitary, and recreation needs of a rapidly increasing 

 population. The Conservation Commission is seeking not only 

 to enlarge the State's authority with reference to the reforestation 

 of public lands, but also aims to further encourage tree planting 

 by private land owners. 



Several important changes have been proposed in the forestry 

 laws of New York State during the recent session of the legis- 

 lature, the two most progressive features being those relating to 

 the regulation of timber cutting on certain private lands, and to 



