20 REPORT OF THE FOREST COMMISSION. 



a future crop, and commercial plantations. Here, however, the 

 continuance of the fire hazard is a serious handicap and owners 

 cannot be expected to invest largely where the risk is great. All 

 parts of the State still afford ample room for improvement in 

 this line. See Figs. 10, u, 12, 16, 17. 



CHRISTMAS TREES. 



The embargo laid and maintained by the U. S. Department 

 of Agriculture upon the shipment of Christmas greens from the 

 territory infested by the gypsy moth and the brown tail moth 

 (portions of New England) has created an unusual demand for 

 the home product. In itself this is good, although it must be 

 admitted that our pines and cedars are not very satisfactory sub- 

 stitutes for the balsams and spruces of the north. But the situa- 

 tion has its evil side in that our forests near the large cities are 

 being raided. In portions of Camden, Gloucester and Burling- 

 ton counties this became such an abuse that the Forest Commis- 

 sion was besought to support restrictive legislation. It was easy 

 to show that, there is no need for legislation, that existing sta- 

 tutes are ample to meet the situation, provided the forest own- 

 ers themselves do their part. It was thus arranged through an 

 agreement with the Senator from Gloucester County, v/ao is 

 also Master of the State Grange, to distribute through the 

 granges a circular letter informing farmers of their rights, their 

 privileges and their opportunities. See opposite page. 



