FORESTER'S REPORT. 17 



concern. And it is. We distinctly affirm that in New Jersey, or 

 anywhere else, there can be no forestry where serious fires are 

 feared. Forestry, after all, involves an investment in growing 

 trees. If that investment is jeopardized beyond what is normal 

 and reasonable, a practical man will have none of it. 



Our chief and constant effort is, therefore, directed towards 

 fire control. The very considerable measure of success attained 

 is set forth in the State Firewarden's report. There are portions 

 of the State in which the fire risk is now inconsiderable; there 

 management and planting are going on successfully. In others 

 the fire problem still controls. 



Next comes the effort to induce forest owners to practice for- 

 estry. The State owns, and can own, but a small fraction of the 

 total woodland, yet it is possible to make it worth an owner's 

 while to do the right thing. The means to this are, first, as- 

 sured security from fire and then showing him how and getting 

 him started. This may include improvement thinnings, or log- 

 ging, planting or the control of pests. See pp. 19, 22, 32, 35. 



The third effort is educational. The people at large do not 

 yet know what forestry is, how it touches their interests or that 

 the State is prepared to help those who want help. This work 

 is carried on through the schools by means of lectures, exhibits 

 and special publications. A popular lecture can be provided at 

 any time or printed matter supplied. 



A fourth line of work is with the Shade Trees. More people 

 are immediately interested in them than in forestry: for this 

 reason and because trees are so vitally important in city and 

 town life every effort is made to help solve local problems and 

 to encourage the support of Shade Tree Commissions. See p. 27. 



The fifth activity is with the State forest reserves. In many 

 states the acquisition of state forests is held of prime import- 

 ance ; in sortie the interest looms so large that there is little room 

 for anything else. New Jersey believes it wiser to own a small 

 area of State forest which can be fully protected and managed 

 to demonstrate what forestry will do for any owner than to with- 

 draw great tracts from private control. Moreover, the cost is 

 prohibitive. Demonstration forests in some parts of the state 

 not now provided are desirable and the effort to acquire such 

 that is still being made is not inconsistent with the general 



