296 BOARD OF AGlilCULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



studied, some useful comparisons can be made from the ac- 

 cumulated data, and perhaps light thrown on a subject which 

 has not been studied to the extent that one of such importance 

 should be in this country. 



A certain amount of " booming " was given to this phase 

 of the work by sending out circular letters to the various 

 State institutions, 15 in all; 5 of these took advantage of 

 the offer and sought advice in regard to their woodland. 

 Circular letters were also sent to the water supply authori- 

 ties in the various cities and towns, and 5 have asked for ex- 

 aminations ; other boards have asked for assistance. 



Results of Assistance for 1907. 



Blanks were sent to 25 people who received examinations 

 last year, the object of which was to find out how far the 

 recommendations made were carried out. Concerning the 

 other 12 of the 37 the office was in possession of information 

 which made the sending of blanks unnecessary. It was hoped 

 also that this sign of interest in the work of last year would 

 stir up those that have done nothing. 



A summary of the results of this investigation Is as fol- 

 lows: out of 37 examinations, 17 were recommended to thin, 

 20 to plant, 3 to do nothing, and 4 have no cards on file. Of 

 those recommended to thin, 3 did all the work and 6 did part 

 of it ; this leaves 8 who have done nothing, or have not re- 

 ported, which we imagine is much the same thing. On the 

 planting side, 2 carried out all the work as advised, and 10 

 did something; the remaining 8 did nothing, or have not 

 reported. 



From the results of the work as reported for previous years, 

 and from experience gained during the past year, we come 

 to the following conclusions : — 



1. That planting excites more interest and is more readily 

 taken up than thinning. 



2. That thinnings are increasingly important, as the 

 work of fighting the gypsy moth becomes more widespread. 



3. That thinning work is much more likely to be carried 

 out if the trees to be cut or left arc marked by the visiting 

 forester. 



