A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 1001 



all owners of unoccupied or uninclosed land (containing inflammable 

 material) up to 5 cents an acre to cover costs of fire fighting (on any 

 land), unless such owners have, during the preceding year, provided 

 adequate protection for their land. 



CONTROL OF INSECT PESTS 



In a very few States, landowners are required to assist in preventing 

 or checking damage by forest insects. California and Oregon require 

 an owner to notify the State forester of any serious infestation by pine 

 beetles or other insect pests harmful to timber, and also to take steps 

 toward controlling such infestation and preventing its spread. These 

 States also provide for the creation of control districts in which all 

 owners must cooperate provided 60 percent of the owners request it. 

 In Massachusetts, an owner must give notice of an infestation by 

 gypsy or browntail moths and must destroy the eggs and nests of 

 these moths, of tent caterpillars, of leopard moths, of elm beetles, or 

 of "any other tree or shrub destroying pest." The State is obliged 

 to undertake the suppression of such infestations, but may assess the 

 costs against the landowners. In Vermont, the commissioner of agri- 

 culture may order an owner to destroy pests, including gypsy and 

 browntail moths "or any other threatening and unusual insect pest 

 found to be unduly injuring vegetable growth." In New York, the 

 conservation department may establish barrier zones and within them 

 destroy such trees and other vegetation as may be necessary to check 

 the spread of gypsy moths. 



CONTROL OF TREE DISEASES 



Legislation for the control of tree diseases is found in the white pine 

 region of the Northeast and the Lake States. In Maine the forest 

 commissioner, in New Hampshire the State forester, in Michigan the 

 commissioner of agriculture, and in Minnesota the commissioner of 

 forestry may designate areas within wnich blister-rust control is 

 advisable, and in these areas owners must carry out control measures 

 as ordered. Infected pines and Ribes (currants and gooseberries) are 

 declared public nuisances. 



In New Hampshire, Michigan, and Minnesota, tin owner may not 

 plant pine or Ribes in the designated areas without a permit. In New 

 York and Michigan black currant is declared a public nuisance, but 

 other currants may be grown within districts designated as fruit- 

 growing districts. Within these districts the eradication of five- 

 needled pines may be required and such pines may not be planted 

 without a permit. Elsewhere, if protective measures against blister- 

 rust have been adopted, owners must eradicate Ribes within 900 feet 

 of pine (in New York). In Vermont the commissioner of agriculture 

 may order owners to destroy host plants and such pests or fungous 

 diseases as he may specify. Such plants may not be replaced until 

 all danger of spread of the disease is past. Planting of black currants 

 is prohibited in Connecticut. In Rhode Island, the board of agricul- 

 ture is authorized to make regulations regarding the planting of pines 

 and currant bushes. 



