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REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 27 
FORESTRY. 
The former Report on Forestry, from the limitations placed upon its ex- 
tent, did not contain all the matter that was prepared for publication. 
An Mdditional work has therefore been prepared, under my direction, by 
_ Dr. Franklin B. Hough, Commissioner of F Forestry, which it is desirable 
_ shall be published as a companion to the former report. 
Of the first report it may suffice to say that it has attracted general 
attention and gained the highest commendation from the most distin- 
guished authorities on forestry, and also from those interested in the in- 
_ dustries resulting from forest products in other countries. Their special 
journals reproduce extracts or full translations of important articles, and 
~ manifest great interest in our discussions relating to the extent, manage- 
ment, and maintenance of our forest supplies. 
The manuscript now prepared contains ample information upon the 
_ subject of forest resources of other countries, a subject which was neces- 
sarily excluded from the former report; it embraces much recent in- 
formation concerning the changes going on in special institutions for 
instruction in forestry; it reviews the proceedings of various American 
societies for the promotion of agriculture and horticulture, so far as they 
discuss questions relating to forest planting and management; it includes 
several special memoirs upon scientific investigations in this direction, 
the methods of management, and other subjects of unquestionable im- 
_ portance that have not hitherto appeared in the-English language. 
: In the prosecution of this investigation Dr. Hough, during the past 
fall, visited the British Provinces of Canada, availing himself while,there 
not only of the various official reports bearing on the subject, but of the 
 ¢0-operation and advice of many persons who, from official position or 
special qualification, were best able to promote the object of his visit. 
That the publication of this supplementary report will prove of value 
there is no room whatever to doubt, the whole question of forestry and 
_ timber being one of vast and vital interest to the entire country. 
This volume, if published, will contain about as many pages as the 
Report on Forestry published in 1877, and it is a very valuable compila- 
tion, which ought to be published as a second volume of Agricultural 
Report for 1878, and 300,000 copies could be distributed with profit to 
the business of the cpaheee 
This subject of Forestry is of so. great and immediate importance to 
‘our people that it is my duty to again urge the appropriation of the small 
sum of money ($6,000) asked for last year, for continuing this work of 
_ Dr. Hough, and fer obtaining other facts and information preparatory. 
to establishing a Division of Forestry in this department. 
Of the science of Forestry, so far as relates to the management of 
State domains for the growth of timber, the care of property owned by 
communes and public institutions, but under public authority, the rights 
of common usage, and all the laws, regulations, and judicial decisions 
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