Report of the Forest Commission. 



SUMMARY. 



Forestry applied in practical ways The people approve Forest 

 fires much less serious Forestry must be practiced by forest 

 owners if by anyone State reserves beginning to yield some 

 revenue Much activity on behalf of shade trees Legislation 

 and appropriations adequate Financial Statement Organ- 

 ization. 



In publishing its eighth annual report the Forest Commission 

 records with much satisfaction a very material improvement in the 

 condition of the forests of the State and an increasing interest 

 in forestry and arboriculture. Much of the interest is undoubtedly 

 a part of the nation-wide extension of the conservation idea: it 

 apparently is true, however, that the Commission's efforts have 

 made forest property more secure and more valuable than it was, 

 that the shade trees in cities and towns are better cared for. The 

 matters that have engaged the Commission's attention are pres- 

 ented in some detail in the reports of the State Forester and State 

 Firewarden which are printed herewith. A summary of them 

 follows : 



GENERAL POLICY. 



The constant aim of the Commission is to solve in a practical 

 way the problems presented. Conditions in this State are unlike 

 those in most others. We have two million acres of woodland, 

 yet little of it is either good forest yielding lumber or devastated 

 barrens. Good soil, good climate and a sufficient remainder of the 

 old stand make it possible to establish fairly good commercial forests 

 anywhere without planting provided fires are stopped. See 

 Figs. 6, 7, 8, 14. The first concern, therefore, has been, and is, to 

 organize an effective fire service. The second is to get forest owners 

 to practice forestry. There are plenty of arguments in support of 



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