state Forests. 317 



consisting of more or less mismanaged woods, under the 

 administration, not forest management of the Com- 

 missioners of Woods and Forests, with Deputy Sur- 

 veyors in charge of the ranges. Although there are a 

 few notable exceptions in the management, it is to be 

 noted that the same stupid ignorance, which introduced 

 the clause into the Constitution of the State of New 

 York, was enacted into law in 1877 by the English 

 Parliament, forbidding in the New Forest all cutting 

 and planting. In 1900, there existed just one planting 

 plan, made by a professional forester, namely, for a 

 portion of the forest of Dean, while now only two 

 other State properties and two or three private estates 

 are managed under working plans. 



In 1887, a Committee appointed to inquire into the 

 administration of this property, expressed itself most 

 dissatisfied, but a Committee of Parliament in 1890 

 whitewashed the administration and reported that 

 the management was satisfactory. 



These committees were also to recommend measures 

 for the advancement of forestry. They laid in their 

 recommendations the main stress upon education, 

 but no action followed, and it can be said that the 

 government has never done anything for the advance- 

 ment of forestry in the home country, whatever it 

 may have done for the dependencies. A Departmental 

 Committee again reported in 1902 with all sorts of 

 recommendations, which have remained unheeded. 



The interests of forestry as far as the government is 

 concerned are at present committed to the Board of 

 Agriculture, an unwieldy body created in 1889, from 

 which this Departmental Committee was appointed, 



