DANIEL BOONE'S "BAR" TREE 



1107 



more than the present price of the local product. This 

 problem affects not only the eastern region, but the entire 

 state. Texas can produce all the timber it will require 

 for all time by re-foresting certain of the cut-over lands 

 which are chiefly of value for timber production. 



One of the large problems in this state will be to im- 

 prove the streams in order to make them navigable and 

 10 reduce as far as possible the annual overflows. The 

 Federal Government is expending millions of dollars 



J. H. FOSTER 



Recently appointed as the first slate forester of Texas in 

 accordance with the law passed by the last legislature. He 

 has a most important work to do. 



annually in river and harbor work in Texas. Many 

 people do not realize perhaps that one way to aid in this 

 work is to maintain a forest cover at the headwaters of 

 the streams which will tend to prevent rapid run-off 

 after severe rains and to prevent the washing of the 

 soil. It would seem that ultimately the state may have 

 a duty to perform in the direction of maintaining state 

 forest on areas adjacent to the headwaters of important 

 navigable streams. 



Until the field of work of the state forester has been 

 carefully mapped out, it is impossible to make any defi- 

 nite plans for the future. The chief problems which 

 will engage his attention may, however, be mentioned as 

 follows: 1. Fire protection; 2. a study of the grazing 

 problem which is undoubtedly closely related to the firt; 

 problem; 3. protection of the headwaters of streams and 

 the possible establishment of state-owned forests; 4. the 

 development of better farm woodlots in the agricultural 

 portion of the state; .">. the encouragement of tree plant- 

 ing in treeless regions of the state ; 6. a study of tho 

 problem of forest taxation. 



Without enlarging upon these various possible lines 

 of work, it may be stated that the opportunities for 

 rendering service to the state are large. There are many 

 agencies which can be brought into line to assist in carry- 

 ing out these measures. The Federal Government offers 

 aid to the state in various directions, such as in fire pro- 

 tection, agricultural extension work, and in experimental 



investigations. It is Mr. Foster's desire to work not only 

 with the Federal Government, but to cooperate with all 

 the agencies in the state which have similar interests. 

 Texas already has a live forestry association. The lum- 

 ber interests are favorable and friendly. The farmers, 

 through their various organizations, will undoubtedly 

 find much of interest along forestry lines. 



There is a distinct advantage in having this new work 

 closely related to the Agricultural & Mechanical College 

 and with the State Experiment Station. According to 

 the forestry law, the state forester is in charge of a new 

 department of forestry and is forester to the Agricultural 

 Experiment Station. Eventually there will be some 

 strong courses of instruction added to the curriculum of 

 the College so that students, particularly the agricultural 

 students, may become familiar with the forest conditions 

 of the state and learn to appreciate the importance of 

 trees and to care for them in connection with their farms. 



MICHIGAN FORESTRY WORK 



THE Michigan Agricultural College was one of the 

 first Institutions to start a Department of Fores- 

 try. In addition to the regular work of instruc- 

 tion, the College has been active in developing forestry 

 in the State, chiefly in the agricultural districts. The 

 head of the Forestry Department is Forester on the staff 

 of the Agricultural Experiment Station and the College 

 employs a Field Agent in Forestry who devotes his entire 

 time to extension work. The College maintains a large 

 forest nursery and small planting stock is sold at cost to 

 people in the State. In the year 1913 to 1911 the num- 

 ber of small trees distributed was two hundred and twenty 

 thousand, and it is estimated that about two hundred 

 acres of private lands were planted through the activity 

 of the .Agricultural College in that year. During the 

 past year, three hundred and twenty-two thousand trees 

 were distributed, sufficient to plant about three hundred 

 acres of land. The greater part of these trees go to 

 farmers and are used for forest plantations, wind breaks, 

 fixation of shifting sands along the lake shore, etc. The 

 College has also been very active in developing forest 

 management of existing woodlots. It is now establishing 

 experimental willow holts in various places. Its organi- 

 zation for forestry work in the agricultural districts is 

 very complete. 



The Act for the exemption of small forests from tax- 

 ation placed the rules and regulations and certain other 

 matter pertaining to the act under the State Board of 

 Agriculture which naturally handles forestry matters in 

 the agricultural districts. 



A. K. Chittenden, Professor of Forestry at the College, 

 says : "I believe that forestry work in the agricultural 

 communities can be handled most satisfactorily and to 

 the best advantage through the Agricultural Experiment 

 Station and the Agricultural College, as they come in 

 touch with such communities and are familiar with the 

 problems met with. I regret that an impression is often 

 given that Michigan is doing little or nothing in forestry 

 in the agricultural districts, because on the contrary, it 

 is doing far more than almost any other State." 



