No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 305 



woodland examinations. Of this number, 41 replies were re- 

 ceived, 23 of which were carrying out the suggestions offered, 

 and 8 wished further assistance. Upon studying the problem, it 

 was found that to make the work effective something more than 

 just a working plan and the giving of written advice are neces- 

 sary to accomplish the success desired. 



Mr. J. J. Dearborn of the Harvard Forestry School, and a 

 young man of much practical forestry experience, was put in 

 charge of this work. We followed out the policy of first meeting 

 the owner upon his property, and of going over the proposed 

 woodland proposition and getting as near as possible his needs 

 and purposes. We then interested him in so far as practicable to 

 determine what should and could be done, provided further 

 plans and assistance were given. We have made 37 new exami- 

 nations during the past year. , Of this number, 33 are following 

 out or contemplating the advice given. By contemplating is 

 meant that they have already placed orders for seedlings, or 

 shown definite indications of doing something either this winter 

 or next spring. 



Markings for thinnings have been made over different tracts, 

 amounting in area to some 50 to 100 acres. In almost every case 

 where a thinning was advised, enough was actually done to con- 

 vey, as an example, the right idea to the owner. 



The actual superintendence of the thinning out of one tract 

 has been performed by the office, in order to demonstrate its 

 practicability and secure definite data which is to be used in illus- 

 trating methods and results. 



The largest tract that the office has undertaken is one of 1 ,600 

 acres, in the Berkshires. The field work and data have been 

 secured for this tract, but the making of the map and report of 

 office work end is still in progress. As a result of our assistance, 

 the owner of this tract has employed as a permanent forester a 

 graduate of the Harvard Forestry School of last year. The other 

 tracts examined have been much smaller in area, although a 

 number are of fair proportions, as Massachusetts woodlands 

 run. 



We have now several new applications on hand for examina- 

 tions, one application for a working plan, and some requests for 

 markings for thinnings. 



In order to keep in touch with the cost of operations and 



