No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 331 



IV. The Forest Nursery should be enlarged. 



If we had one million white pine seedlings at the State nursery 

 to distribute at cost, I believe they would all be purchased and 

 set out in Massachusetts this coming year. As a matter of fact, 

 we shall not begin to be able to supply the demand, and already 

 I have placed orders for spring delivery for two hundred and 

 fifty thousand white pine seedlings for Massachusetts people. 

 These seedlings can be raised for less than one-half our people 

 are compelled to pay at the present time. As State Forester, I 

 am very anxious to get just as many trees set on our waste and 

 unproductive lands as possible; and, while nurserymen are ad- 

 justing their business to meet the growing demands for young 

 trees, and are unable to supply them even at present high prices, 

 it is well that we encourage our forestry interests by growing 

 seedlings at cost. Were it not for the import duty, transplants 

 (seedlings once transplanted) could be imported from Europe, 

 and all charges paid, cheaper than we can purchase the seedlings 

 themselves in this country. 



It takes at least two years to grow white pine seedlings before 

 they are ready to be set out permanently, and three or four years 

 for transplants; hence, if we enlarge our nursery work now, it 

 will be some time before the plants are ready for distribution. 



Besides white pine, there are many other species of forest 

 trees that should be propagated for dissemination. 



I would recommend that the nursery work be increased to at 

 least four times its present capacity. While the first cost would 

 seem large, nevertheless, in from two to four years the money 

 would be returned to the State from the sale of seedlings. 



V. Increased Appropriation needed. 

 While the State Forester deplores the necessity for asking for 

 increased appropriations for his work, he nevertheless feels 

 that it is his duty to do so. While, as has already been shown, 

 the money for both increased nursery work and forest reserves 

 will be returned to the State ultimately, nevertheless, such appro- 

 priation must be made to begin with. Five thousand dollars 

 could be used to advantage in enlarging the nursery, and for a 

 system of forest reserves for which the first cost would be rela- 

 tively large, it is recommended that an appropriation be made. 



