CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 75 



they cut less than the increment in order to gradually in- 

 crease the forest. The endeavor is made also to increase 

 the production of the timber wood by reducing that of 

 the fire wood. The ' 'high tree forests" are cut down at 

 periods ranging from 120 to 150 years. 



The work is directed in a way that will insure natural 

 reforesting from the seeds that fall from the standing 

 trees. Not only the trees that have attained the age 

 determined by the rules are cut down, but also the dead 

 ones and those which are dying, and those that prevent 

 the growth of neighboring trees. In temperate climate 

 the annual cutting of high trees is on a limited area; a 

 large number of trees are cut down simultaneously. In 

 very cold climates and where winds are to be feared, only 

 a few trees are taken away at a time on the same point, 

 and cutting is then done on a larger area. 



The low forest, coppice and second growth are cut in 

 rotations, ranging from 25 to 35 years. The reserved 

 trees, which are very numerous, are cut on an average 

 every 100 years, but some selected trees are allowed to 

 attain and even pass 200 years. 



The labor performed in the forests consists in the con- 

 struction and maintainance of forest roads, water saw- 

 mills, houses for watchmen, replanting. Fortunately, 

 owing to the system of culture now in use, artificial re- 

 foresting has but little importance in forests, properly 

 speaking, but sowing and planting in the small open 

 spaces, or on the points where a few more valuable species 

 are to be introduced, or where the soil of the forest is 

 better adapted to some varieties, there sowing and plant- 

 ing are more frequent. The average cost of such work is 

 $10.00 per acre. 



Very considerable reforesting is made on mountain 

 lands, where the state plants trees to regulate the action 

 of the waters and stop the ravages of torrents. For 

 that purpose $700,000 are expended every year, the 



