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Department, of the results of various plans proposed to prevent 

 these losses. 



One of not the least important duties of this Division is to fur- 

 nish farmers and others with a place at which they may obtain, 

 without cost, information relating to any and all insect pests, and at 

 which they may obtain the most reliable and recent plans for prevent- 

 ing present or future losses, and it has been found by the experience 

 of the past year that this information may be kept at the office in 

 the form of circulars and thus convey to the inquirer just the informa- 

 tion he wants and at a time when it is most needed, and when it will 

 prove to be most beneficial. 



FORESTRY DIVISION. 



In addition to the duties devolving upon it by reason of former legis- 

 lation, this Division has, during the past year, had its work greatly 

 increased by duties resulting from carrying into effect the acts of 

 March 30, 1897, and May 25, 1897. The former act provides for a 

 Forestry Commission of which "the Commissioner of Forestry, Chair- 

 man of the State Board of Health, the Deputy Secretary of Internal 

 Affairs and two other persons, one of whom shall be a lawyer or 

 conveyancer of at least ten years professional experience, and the 

 other a practical surveyor, to be appointed by the Governor." 



By the provisions of this act r the commissioners are authorized 

 to locate Forestry Reservations, as follows: 



1. One of not less than 40,000 acres upon waters which drain mainly 

 into the Delaware river. 



2. One of not less than 40,000 acres upon waters which drain mainly 

 into the Susquehanna river. 



3. One of not less than 40,000 acres upon waters which drain into 

 the Ohio river. 



The act provides that these reservations shall constitute "one con- 

 tinuous area as far as the same is practicable," and the Commission 

 is empowered by the act to "have recourse to a jury to assess dam- 

 ages for any property to be taken." 



The act of March 30, 1897, gives the Forestry Commissioner the 

 power to purchase land at tax sales and makes it the duty of the 

 proper county officers to notify the Secretary of Agriculture and Com- 



