126 



estry, because they recognize that the stock of wood in sight, and suit- 

 able for their work, will probably soon become low and that nothing 

 but the most prompt and certain means of increasing the supply will 

 enable them to maintain and increase their business. 



In fact the pulp manufacturer promises in the near future to be 

 not only the greatest purchaser of wood, but also among the best 

 friends of the forestry movement, because as timber grows more 

 scarce he will be driven to utilize the smaller portions of the tree 

 trunks which never can have value to the lumberman. In short, he 

 will probably clean up and remove from the forests much of the debris 

 which now remains and furnishes the fuel for our most destructive 

 fires. 



PLANT LIFE AS AFFECTED BY ATMOSPHERIC IMPURITIES. 



We hoped during the season of 1898 to have had investigations 

 made of the plant life in the Western part of the State as alleged to be 

 affected by atmospheric impurities. The office, however, was so busy 

 that it was impossible to do so. This should be one of the first lines 

 of investigation undertaken during the present season and the work 

 should be continued until a thoroughly satisfactory and practical, 

 business-like answer shall Jiave been obtained. 



INSECT DEPREDATIONS. 



Civilized life always changes the conditions existing before it ap- 

 peared and the changes continue as the conditions vary. Hence it is, 

 that we may expect insect and fungal foes to our plant life to continue 

 their depredations with constantly changing results as the years pass. 

 It is one function of government to give the earliest possible warning 

 of the approach of these enemies and to check their ravages as early 

 as may be possible. It is clearly beyond the power of the individual 

 to do so, and if these depredators are allowed to continue, the harm 

 they work is often beyond estimate. 



The truth of these statements will become more and more clear as 

 our population becomes more dense, and our national life more in- 

 tensely active. 



Forest trees, as well as our crops, are frequent sufferers from these 

 insect and fungal foes. In some instances large areas of timber are 

 destroyed, and some insects hitherto causing but little damage are 

 now becoming serious pests. 



It is probably fair to assume that the recent appearance (and the 

 more frequent appearance as well) of these enemies is partly due to 

 our disturbing the balance which formerly existed here among living 

 things. Thus the birds destroyed many of the noxious insects; but as 

 we destroyed the nesting places and drove off the birds the insects 

 upon which they fed have multiplied until we now recognize, as we 

 never did before, their presence by the injuries they do. 



