FORESTER'S REPORT. 21 



FOREST PARK RESERVATION COMMISSION OF NEW JERSEY 



CUTTING TREES ON LAND NOT ONE'S OWN- IS' UNLAWFUL. 



Numerous complaints have been made to the State Forester that much destruction is wrought in New Jer- 

 sey woodlands by outsiders who seek Christmas trees and Christmas greens. 



FARMERS CAN MARKET EVERGREENS. 



The use of evergreen trees and shrubs at Christmas time is commendable; the practice of stealing the ma- 

 terial is wrong. The best that can be said for it i* that most property owners have considered young trees of 

 so little value that anyone who chose might cut them. There is not the slightest reason why the farmers of New 

 Jersey should not themselves supply the demand for this material, either by growing suitable trees on then 

 poorest lands, or by utilizing in this way some of the smaller wild trees whose timely removal from their 

 woodlands would benefit those that remain. This is practical forestry. 



DONT EXPECT STRANGERS TO VALUE YOUR WOODLAND IF YOU DON'T SHOW THAT YOU 



VALUE IT YOURSELF 



The best way to stop the trespass complained of is to keep each piece of woodland as though it were valued ; 

 -that is, keep out fires, encourage the young growth and fell intelligently when need arises.' No one need suffer 

 from trespassers who will take the trouble to assert his rights. The law of the State, emphatic and long 

 standing, is a c follows 



"AX ACT TO PREVENT WILLFUL TRESPASS UPON LANDS 



That if any person or persons shall unlawfully enter upon any lands not his own, after having been forbidden so 

 to do by the owner or 1 legal possessor of such lands, he shall forfeit and pay for each offense to the owner of said landa or 

 his or her tenant in possession, the sum of three dollars, to be sued for and recovered, with coats, in an action of debt; be- 

 l..ro any justice-of-the-peace in this State. (P L. 1857 p. 164 Comp. Stat. p. 5653.)" 



"AX ACT TO PREVENT THE UNLAWFUL WASTE AXD DESTRUCTION OF TIMBER IN THIS STATE. 



That if any ^person or persons whatsoever, shall, at any time hereafter, cut, fell, work up, carry away, box, bore, or 

 destroy any tree, supling or pole, standing or lying on any land within this State, to which such person or persons hath 

 nclt cr have not any right and title, without leave first had and obtained of the owner or ownersNjf the said land for that 

 purpose, every such person or persons so offending, shall forfeit and pay for each tree, sapling, or" pole so cut, felled, worked 

 up,, carried away, boxed, bored, or destroyed as aforesaid, the sum of eight dollars; one-half to the owner or owners of the 

 land, and the other half to the person or persons who shall .sue for and prosecute the same to effect, at any time within 

 tightoen months from the cutting, felling, working up, carrying away, boxing, 'boring, or destroying of any such tree, sap- 

 ling or pole; and that whenever any person or persons, within this State, shall be sued or prosecuted before any justioe-of- 

 the-peace within the same, it shall and may be lawful for such just ice-of -the- peace to proceed, whenever the penalty de- 

 manded shall not exceed one hundred dollars,' notwithstanding any claim the defendant or defendants may offer -to make to 

 tlip land whereon and from which the said tree, sapling, or 'pole may be cut, fe'.led, worked up, boxed, bored, destroyed, or 

 carried away, and to issue execution for the same, with costs of suit, unless the defendant or defendants shall immediately 

 c-nter into bond to the plaintiff or plaintiffs, with one or more sufficient sureties or surety, being freeholders, in double the 

 sum so demanded, with a sufficiency for costs of suit, conditioned for his or their aippearance at the next court where the 

 same may be cognizable, in an action of trespass, and to pay damages found aeainst him, her or them, with costs of suit, 

 any law, usage, or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. (Rev 1877, *p. 11874 Comp. Stat. p. 5397) " 



POST YOUR LAND 



The easiest and best course for property owners who have suffered, or may suffer, on this account, is to 

 post their land with. notices somewhat as follows and then vigorously pursue every offender 



IT IS FORBIDDEN 



To cut, destroy, or remove, any trees, 'poles, or shrubs from this property undor penalty of the law. 



JOHN DOE, 



Owner 



STATE AID TO FOREST OWNERS. 



The State Forest Commission is maintained to help woodland owners develop their properties and make them 

 profitable. It cannot prosecute violators of the law, or assume a burden for anyone, but the State Forester anc 

 his assistants will gladly advise and instruct anyone regarding the management of his forest 



(Approved) HENRY B. KUMMEL, ALFRED GASKILL, 



Executive Officer Forester 



TRENTON, February i, 1913 



