68 REPORT OF THE FOREST COMMISSION. 



Report of the State Forester. 



ALFRED GASKILL, 

 STATE FOREST RESERVES. 



SUMMARY. 



State reserves not increased but improving rapidly Area and 

 location Products are increasing, forest fires decreasing 

 Little planting necessary though some has been done- 

 Game refuges. 



In pursuance of its now established policy the Forest Commis- 

 sion has asked for no new appropriation to purchase land, and is 

 making little effort to acquire more forest reserves. This is not 

 because State reserves are undesirable, or not recognized as a 

 means of proving the practical value of forestry, but because it is 

 considered wisest to establish thoroughly the security of all for- 

 ests throughout the State, irrespective o-f ownership, before seek- 

 ing to increase* the State's possessions. The principle that a 

 State is better able than its citizens to control the forests and 

 wait for returns does not apply to this State at this time. When 

 forest fires shall have been so brought under control that any 

 piece of woodland can be said to have positive value the increase 

 of public forests can be considered. This argument does not 

 apply to disconnected tracts of woodland like the Mount Laurel 

 Reserve, which, by reason of their location, are practically safe 

 from fires, and are of value as demonstration forests. The For- 

 est Commission therefore hopes to acquire similar tracts in 

 various parts of the State from time to time. It would be well 

 to have a reserve of this kind in each county. The reserves now 

 owned by the State are as follows : 



