254 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FORESTRY, ROADS AND 

 ROADSIDE IMPROVEMENTS. 



[Adopted at the Annual Meeting, Jan. 10, 1899.] 



Having reported to you verbally for the committee on 

 forestry, roads and roadside improvements, and having re- 

 ceived your permission, by your vote, to report in manu- 

 script the several subjects upon which I spoke to you, I 

 now do so. 



During the past year I was invited to preside at a number 

 of meetings held in Boston, at which efforts were being made 

 to formulate a plan upon which a Massachusetts Forestry 

 Association could be established, whose charge should be to 

 aid in advancing the condition of, and improvement in, our 

 State's forestry condition. 



I consider that the fact that you had done me the honor to 

 place me as chairman of your committee, which included 

 that subject, was the reason that I was asked to endeavor 

 to guide that effort, which has met with success, and will, 

 let us hope, become a factor in the direction sought, and will 

 be of much benefit to the State's forestry and kindred 

 interests. 



During the past winter, when the matter of protecting the 

 beauty of roadside scenery against near-by excrescences of 

 advertising signs and sign boards was being considered by 

 the Legislature, I appeared before the committee having the 

 matter in charge (judiciary committee), and favored the 

 proposed law, so far as in the judgment of that committee it 

 was constitutional. 



The early form of the proposed bill was thought to be too 

 extreme, and did not meet with approval, nor did the 

 amended bill meet with final approval in our legislative 

 branch. The committee in charge gave careful hearings and 



