190] 



AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 



they should be convinced that it was neces- 

 sary. This has been accomplished, and 

 the task now before us is to begin the 

 practical work of restoration." Events 

 which occurred last spring showed clearly 

 that the people of the State understand that 

 the forest reserves which are being estab- 

 lished are for their benefit. There were 

 many fires in the territory adjacent to these 

 reservations, but though they did a great 

 deal of damage to private property, the 

 lands belonging to the State were largely 

 protected by the voluntary efforts of the 

 neighbors. Somewhat over one hundred 

 thousand acres have now been secured for 

 the State forest reserves. The year has 

 further been instructive in the matter of 

 the enforcement of the fire law. The 

 regular detective machinery in certain 

 counties has been employed successfully 

 for the discovery of those guilty of setting 

 fires, and convictions have followed. 



In Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan 

 the difficulties of the past years have been 

 largely those of arousing public interest. 

 r .. In great measure owing 



Lake States. to ffi the wor J f f the for ? st 

 officers and State associa- 

 tions in these States, there is now noticeably 

 more interest in forest conservation, the 

 question of taxing cut-over lands, etc., 

 than there was a year ago. The Minne- 

 sota fire law has worked fully as well as 

 conditions would permit. Meanwhile 

 forest officers in Michigan and Minnesota, 

 and the associations and individuals who, 

 though private citizens, are active in forest 

 matters in all these States, have gained 

 knowledge and experience of the difficul- 

 ties with which they must deal and of the 

 ways in which it is possible or impossible 

 to cope with them, which will enable them 

 to bring forward much more definite and 

 feasible programs than heretofore. Con- 

 sidering that legislation is one of the first 

 things which is to be looked for in these 

 States, this is of the utmost importance. 

 In this connection the good work of the 

 Women's Clubs in both Minnesota and 

 Michigan deserves mention. 



The history of the last twelve months in 

 the tree planting region of the Middle 

 West may best be spoken of in connection 



with the tree planting work of the Divis- 

 ion of Forestry. Planting plans have been 

 In the Plain P re P aied for fifty-nine 

 Reeion owners in eleven 



States. The farmers of 

 the treeless regions have never been slow to 

 appreciate the value of artificial planta- 

 tions, but they have had little reliable 

 knowledge or advice to guide them in their 

 efforts. This year the reports which have 

 been received from these States have almost 

 always mentioned the very lively interest of 

 the land owners in tree planting work. A 

 great deal of printed matter has been circu- 

 lated, both among the farmers and through 

 the columns of newspapers and agricul- 

 tural journals, and the tree planters of the 

 division have given many public lectures. 

 The law which practically exempts bona 

 fide tree plantations from taxation in In- 

 diana has worked well wherever people 

 -_ have known of its exist- 



Local Press. e . nc , e ; *-** A P ril ^^Y' 

 eight land owners had 



taken advantage of the law in one county ; 

 but in many parts of the State people are 

 still unaware that such a law has been 

 passed. Here is work for the local press. 

 A pamphlet entitled "The Boa Con- 

 strictor of the White Mountains " which 

 appeared during the summer, has served 

 jy to attract attention more 



Hampshire widely than an >' thin g else 



<XLLL UOii.il G I'll 1 11*11 



r which has been published, 



to the poor condition of New Hampshire's 

 forests. The evil which this pamphlet at- 

 tacks would appear to be a case involving 

 the trust question first of all, but the trouble 

 is none the less close to the forest interests 

 of the State, and as the welfare of New 

 Hampshire depends fully as much as that of 

 any other State, and more than that of most, 

 on wisdom and farsightedness in the use 

 of her forests, it is to be hoped that her 

 citizens will soon bring themselves to the 

 point of action. In this connection the ex- 

 cellent work of Governor Rollins deserves 

 special mention. 



In Massachusetts the State fire warden 

 law, which was drawn up by the State 



,, , Forestry Association over 



Massachusetts. J . .,. 



a year ago, went into 



force last spring. This law seems to have 



