onstrated that mixed woodland which has not yet been 

 seriously infested can be in part protected by the removal of 

 the trees most susceptible to the gypsy moth. The condi- 

 tions that have come to pass in the oak woodlands of the 

 eastern part of the State are also present in the chestnut 

 stands of the central and western sections, because of the 

 effects of the bark disease. For the purpose of finding a mar- 

 ket for the unmarketable material, and to assist the owner in 

 getting this material ready for the market, this branch of the 

 work was organized. The utilization branch not only finds 

 the market for the private owner but supervises the opera- 

 tion of the woodlot, placing the contracts for cutting, milling, 

 etc., and selling the product. The owner, of course, pays all 

 the costs except the supervision. Although this branch is at 

 present chiefly interested in oak and chestnut and their prod- 

 ucts, the market information which it gathers extends to all 

 species of wood and classes of products. The advantage to 

 the Commonwealth of this work is that material which would 

 likely go to waste is placed upon the market, and that wood- 

 lot owners, receiving a better price for their product than 

 they were accustomed to receive, are encouraged to think 

 better of forestry as a woodland investment than they other- 

 wise would. 



The forester in charge of this branch has two assistants, 

 one in the field and one in the office, besides several field 

 foremen who take charge of the cutting and logging opera- 

 tions on the estates under his care. 



Forest Fire Prevention. 



The work of fighting forest fires in each town is in the 

 hands of a local forest warden, who is appointed by the mayor 

 or selectmen with the approval of the State Forester. The 



