FOREST CONDITIONS IN DELAWARE. 55 



ural afforestation on the sand-bar, by draining large areas of marsh- 

 land furnishes an additional reason for this canal work being done, 

 either by an appropriation from Congress or the State. 



A STATE FOREST POLICY FOR DELAWARE 



Recent expert investigation of the problem of our future timber 

 supply emphasizes the facts that the next generation will be consider- 

 ably limited in the sources of timber supply ; that there will be an in- 

 creasing percentage of lumber of poorer quality used ; and that there 

 will be a steady rise in prices of forest products of all kinds. It is the 

 duty of both State and Federal Governments to do what they can to 

 alleviate, as far as possible, the future timber scarcity which, in the 

 course of time, is bound to come. 



There are two general lines of action which the State of Delaware 

 should pursue, in order to better its future wood supply conditions : 



(1) To encourage forestry by private owners. 



(2) To create State forests. 



(1) Encourage Forestry by Private Owners 



The State should take such action as will encourage private own- 

 ers in the care of their woodlands with a view of greater timber pro- 

 duction in the State, which would considerably increase the revenue 

 derived from forest land. 



Rational treatment of forests by private owners can be greatly 

 promoted by means of State action along the following lines : 



(a) There should be adequate fire and trespass laws* for the pro- 

 tection of private forests, and an equitable system of county taxation 

 for forest lands. 



(b) Provision should be made for lectures on forestry before 

 farmers institutes and at the State college. 



(c) Provision should be made for expert examination of wood- 

 lands of private owners and advice as to the proper methods of treat- 

 ing them. 



(d) A nursery should be established and maintained in connec- 

 tion with the Experiment Station, in order to provide forest tree seed- 

 lings free of charge to those wishing to plant. 



(e) Provision should be made for experimental planting and for- 

 estry work to be carried on, especially on lands belonging to the State 

 or public institutions, and for publishing the results of forest manage- 

 ment in different parts of the State. 



Note. For Delaware statutes relating to forests, see appendix. 



