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so poor that white poplar would not thrive upon it, and in a brief 

 period producing a remunerative crop of pulp wood. Even Ailantus, 

 which will grow almost anywhere, gives promise of coming value as 

 a lumber for the cabinetmaker. The cost of these trees as a first 

 growth is almost nothing. Meanwhile they would form s<hade and 

 soil in which other, more desirable trees, would grow. The essen- 

 tial fact to bear in mind is that on land which yielded northing, and 

 was becoming poorer, fertility, under forest conditions, is increas- 

 ing, a crop of some value is being raised, and almost no money or 

 labor is expended. The gain, however small, is on the side of the 

 farmer, or land owner. Furthermore, this gain promises, if the 

 business is wisely conducted, to become greater each year, because 

 of increasing scarcity of wood and increasing demand for it. It 

 must be remembered that new uses are being discovered for wood 

 faster than substitutes for it are found. But if such a plan is to 

 succeed, fires and cattle must be kept off of the ground. Ultimately 

 we shall, on just such land, come to plant chestnut, locust, various 

 oaks and white pine. Indeed, once the first growth or protective 

 cover is formed, a day in autumn devoted to dropping acorns, 

 chestnuts and locust seed, in shallow holes) and then giving them 

 a slight covering of earth and leaves, would .more than likely show 

 results which would surprise the planter. These, however, are de- 

 lails which cannot be considered in this connection. 



To meet just this condition of affairs the State has wisely enacted 

 the following law: 



AN ACT 



For the encouragement of forest culture, and providing penalties 

 for the injury and destruction of forests. 



Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That in consideration of the public 

 benefit to be derived from the planting and cultivation of forest or 

 timber trees, the owner or owners of any land in this Common- 

 wealth, planted with forest or timber trees in number not less than 

 twelve hundred to the acre, shall, on making due proof thereof, be 

 entitled to receive annually from the commissioners of their respec- 

 tive counties, during the period that the said trees are maintained 

 in sound condition upon the said land, the following sums of money: 



For a period of ten years after the land has been so planted a 

 sum equal to ninety per centum of all the taxes annually assessed 

 and paid upon the said land, or so much of the ninety per centum 

 as shall not exceed the sum of forty-five cents per acre. 



For a second period of ten years, a sum equal to eighty per 

 centum of the said taxes, or so much of the eighty per centum as 

 shall not exceed the sum of forty cents per acre. 



For a third and final period of ten years, a sum equal to fifty 



