40 



the liest of the logs are drawn out. Frequently large tops with their 

 limbs that might be utilized in many ways are left. Small trees or sap- 

 lings are removed for wood or are cut down in making roads and in clear- 

 ing and the possibility of early reforestation is destroyed. The debris of 

 such reckless logging operations remains on the ground to invite destruc- 

 tive fungi and insects and furnish fuel for fires that otherwise might run 

 out if the ground was clear or covered with a thrifty growth of youiig 

 trees. 



The marked increase in the numl)er of concerns using small and s.'C- 

 ond growth timber makes it important that we watch the development of 

 our young forests lest they, too, fall a A'ictim to man's greed before they 

 are of sufficient size to be profitably marketed or before plans for system- 

 atic cutting are inaugurated. 



Insect ravages are a source of very serious loss to oin- forests in many 

 parts of the State. Our records show occasional outbreaks in various 

 localities and whole forests are frequently denuded. While in the major- 

 ity of cases this does not at once result in the death of the ti'ee, it does- 

 produce serious loss in its effect on the reduced growth and diminution 

 in thickness of the annual riug, that valuable increment that represents 

 practically the only return to the owner. Frequently deformations and 

 abortions of vaa-ious parts result from the attack of borei's and other 

 insects. In most cases it is hardly practicable to inaugurate extermina- 

 tive measures when any considerable area is affected because of the great 

 cost and difficulties in treatment, but where local outbreaks occur, due to 

 particularly dangerous pests like the San Jose scale, and the whole region 

 is threatened, the State can well afford to cooperate and promptly back 

 such measures as will result in wiping out the cause of the danger. 



A most important and practical precaution to prevent the increase in 

 insects and fungi is to remove, as far as possible, old stumps and logs, 

 cut down and convert into wood or lumber dead trees, or remove their 

 bark, and thus decrease the possibility of the multiplication of the pests 

 by destroying tlieir iisual and most frequent breeding places. 



As far as I have been able to observe, our State has suffered little in 

 the way of extensive outbreaks in any particular locality fi'om parasitic 

 fungi, and while a goodly number of species of these destroying agents 

 may be found in the State, yet they are of the kind that attack veiy old 

 or dead timber and could be readily controlled by proper attention to the 

 destruction of their usual breeding places, as was suggested in the case 



