News and Notes. 115 



afford taxation relief to the owner who reforests denuded or idle 

 land. On the theory that the State may regulate the cutting of 

 trees on wild forest lands which constitute watersheds of navig- 

 able streams, a statute was drafted to prohibit the cutting of 

 softwood timber less than 8 inches, and hardwood timber less than 

 12 inches in diameter, in what is known as the fire towns, except 

 under the rules and regulations adopted by the Conservation 

 Commission. 



The Conservation Commission of New York, in connection 

 with its publicity work, has issued a news letter in regard to the 

 migration of birds. The sentimental aspect of the question ap- 

 peals to nearly everyone, but there is little doubt that the value of 

 birds in their direct or indirect relation to agriculture and forestry 

 has not been given sufficient consideration. It is clearly recog- 

 nized that the control of injurious insect life depends largely on 

 the birds, and if they are not protected and their numbers are re- 

 duced to any appreciable extent, increased damage from insect 

 depredations will follow. 



The Forest Service issues the following outline of a new 

 organization of investigative work : 



The Central Investigative Committee, provided for in the 

 Manual, was designed by the Forester on January 2. It consists 

 of Raphael Zon, chairman, representing Silviculture, James T. 

 Jardine, representing Grazing, and Howard Weiss, representing 

 Products. District investigative committees will be appointed as 

 soon as practicable. They will consist ordinarily of four men, 

 three of whom are engaged in the major lines of investigation, 

 silviculture, grazing, and products. The fourth will be a super- 

 visor. 



The creation of these committees marks a progressive step in 

 the development of the investigative work of the Service. It is a 

 recognition of the old principle that several heads are better than 

 one, in perfecting plans which call for the best the Service has in 

 scientific attainments and experience in research. 



The investigative work of the Service has greatly broadened 

 within the last three years. A large and well-equipped laboratory 

 in forest products is now conducted at Madison, Wis., with sup- 

 plemental studies in the East and in three of the western districts. 



