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supplemented by an amendment which removes much of the dif- 

 ficulty which existed under the unamended act, and the act is now 

 found to be operative; in fact, in several counties convictions have 

 been secured, and in Huntingdon county, the Judge (Bailey), has 

 promptly made an example of offenders. This cannot but result 

 in decreasing the number of forest fires which are the result of intent 

 or carelessness, and will in time do much towards the preservation 

 of our timber lands. 



Attention has been given to the provision of the act of June 2, 

 1891, (which permits the recovery of damages for the destruction of 

 trees along public highways by telegraph, telephone and electric 

 light companies), and the convictions which have already been se- 

 cured have had an excellent effect in affording greater protection to 

 this class of property from wanton destruction and injury. 



In his report the Forestry Commissioner will suggest the benefit 

 which would accrue to the State, its citizens and its timber if the 

 minor principles of the forestry problem were introduced to a greater 

 oi' less extent among the children of our public schools, and he sug- 

 gests that proper kinds of seeds should be furnished to such schools 

 as will take proper care of them, and that the Spring Arbor Day 

 would be an excellent opportunity for inculcating the knowledge al- 

 luded to. 



In this connection I may also call attention to several suggestions 

 of the Forestry Commissioner which are well worthy of the greater 

 attention of the citizens of our Commonwealth, and especially of 

 those interested in the growth of our timber and forest lands. 



In North Carolina, New York, Minnesota, and in some other states, 

 legal provision is made for posting the State forestry laws at promi- 

 nent places in which they will most likely be seen by those who, in 

 any form, may have to do with forests and forest lands; the ex- 

 pense need not be large and the results, through gradual education, 

 may be very valuable, and, in time, add much to the value of our forest 

 lands. 



For a number of years past the Board of Agriculture, and more 

 recently the Department of Agriculture, has had their attention 

 called to the great injury done to forest trees and especially to fruit 

 and shade trees, in the immediate neighborhood of coke ovens, 

 smelting furnaces and other industrial plants, the refuse gases of 

 which are all more or less injurious to the growth of trees. Several 

 attempts have been made to obtain the aid of the State, through its 

 Department of Agriculture, in efforts to abate nuisances of this kind, 

 but in the absence of all reliable knowledge as to the effects of such 

 refuse matter, the Department has not felt it proper to take part 

 in such actions, but I would earnestly recommend that the Forestry 

 Commissioner, assisted by the other force of the Department, should 



