72 



There remains yet one more aspect of this many sided question. 

 Communal forests are managed in Germany in local interests. To 

 adapt this statement to our own conditions it would appear as 

 though a county having a considerable area of land thrown upon 

 it by non-payment of taxes, might under judicious care and protec- 

 tion, in a comparatively few years, obtain a very large portion of 

 its needed revenue from sale of wood from such land. The whole 

 success of such an attempt would lie in honest, intelligent manage- 

 ment; but it would relieve the citizens of the burdens of taxation 

 just in proportion as it was successful. 



There are towns in Germany which have made themselves practi- 

 cally free from taxation by the sale of forest products. The fact is 

 an unfortunate commentary on the methods we have employed to 

 reach our present condition, as a State and as a Nation, that though 

 there never will come a time when our best kinds of timber will cease 

 to have a value, that the true Northern yellow pine (Pinus mitis) 

 has practically disappeared from our forests, and there is reason to 

 fear that in the very near future yellow poplar, black walnut and 

 wild black cherry, hemlock and white pine will cease to have large 

 commercial value here, because of scarcity. 



The report of the Forestry Commission has been so kindly re- 

 ceived and is in such demand that the edition will probably be 

 speedily exhausted. 



The Commissioner of Forestry proposes to prepare the following 

 papers as speedily as possible: 



First. Report on Forest Fires. 



Second. Report on Walnut Tree, producing fruit with the outer 

 covering of the hickory nut. 



Third. Report on the Engle Chestnut Orchard. 



Fourth. Report on Some Troublesome Weeds. 



Fifth. Abstract from Recent German Forestry Reports. 



Sixth. The "Yearly Cut" of Timber in Pennsylvania. 



Seventh. Forests as Soil Formers and Soil Preservers. 



I am sir, with great respect, 



Your most obedient servant, 



J. T. ROTHROCK, 

 Commissioner of Forestry. 



