1905 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



153 



it has nearly killed the vine. It is 

 only a question of a little more time 

 when its destruction will have been 

 complete and the tree will again revel 

 in its full measure of coveted sunlight. 



In a bill entitled "An 

 Vermont s For- . , ,. 



est Legislation Act relating to the 



preservation of the 

 forests," and another "to encourage 

 planting and perpetuating forests," 

 Vermont has two new measures, 

 passed at the latest session of its leg- 

 islature, which should help a great 

 deal to encourage the practice of for- 

 estry within its boundaries. The first 

 act provides for the selection of a For- 

 estry Commissioner by the Governor 

 from the Board of Agriculture, and 

 constitutes the first selectman in each 

 town as a forest fire warden in his 

 own town, with compensation during 

 the time he is employed at the same 

 rate he is paid for his other official 

 duties. He is authorized to employ 

 help in fighting forest fires at the rate 

 of fifteen cents an hour and may de- 

 mand the assistance of all townspeople 

 in extinguishing the same, there being 

 a penalty provided for persons refus- 

 ing to do this. Should a town require 

 more than five per cent, of the amount 

 on its grand list for the extinguish- 

 ment of fires in one year, the balance 

 is to be paid for out of the State treas- 

 ury. Penalty is fixed for persons who 

 leave camp fires unextinguished, and 

 parties kindling fires for brush-burn- 

 ing, etc., are warned to exercise care in 

 starting and controlling them. 



'ihe Forestry Commissioner is to 

 prepare forest fire warnings and no- 

 tices and extracts of the law and have 

 the same posted, and will prepare, or 

 have prepared, bulletins and circulars 

 treating of forest fires, their preven- 

 tion, best methods of controlling and 

 i extinguishing, care of forest lands, 

 \ best methods of lumbering, and in gen- 

 eral diffuse a practical knowledge of 

 forestry. 



The second act exempts from taxa- 

 tion all waste or uncultivated land 

 within the State which shall be planted 

 with timber or forest trees under reg- 



ulations issued by the State Forestry 

 Commissioner, and in accordance with 

 his directions. The Commissioner is 

 directed to prepare such regulations in 

 regard to the number of trees per acre, 

 species to be planted, time of the year 

 when such planting shall be done, etc., 

 and must keep a record and make re- 

 port of such exemptions. 



The first act is not quite as com- 

 plete and comprehensive as might be 

 desired, but the second is a most ex- 

 cellent move, and by offering to own- 

 ers of uncultivated or waste lands an 

 inducement to plant trees will un- 

 doubtedly have the effect of reforest- 

 ing for the future much of the worth- 

 less land of the State, with a crop that 

 is constantly increasing in value. 



A bill was introduced 

 New Jersey For- . , AT T 



est Legislation in the New Jersey leg- 

 islature by Mr. Alex- 

 ander R. Fordyce, jr., and later passed 

 by that body, providing for the ap- 

 pointment of five commissioners for 

 the examination into the advisability 

 of creating State forest reserves, and 

 to recommend methods of their ac- 

 quirement and administration by the 

 State, and suggesting protective leg- 

 islation. This commission is to make 

 a complete printed report to the next 

 legislature. 



A second act, introduced also by Mr. 

 Fordyce, on February 7, and which re- 

 cently passed both houses and was 

 signed by the Governor, thereby be- 

 coming a law, is even more indicative 

 of the fact that the people of New Jer- 

 sey are just now realizing what for- 

 estry means, and the beneficent results 

 which State action will bring. The 

 act creates a "State Board of Forest 

 Park Commissioners," of which the 

 Governor and State Geologist are ex- 

 officio members, and to which is con- 

 fided the reforestation of denuded 

 lands, prevention of forest fires, ad- 

 ministration and care of the State for- 

 ests on the principles of practical for- 

 estry, cooperation with private owners 

 of woodland, and encouragement in 

 the preservation and growing of tim- 

 ber for commercial and manufacturing 



