FORESTRY IN MASSACHUSETTS 



By F. W. RANE, State Forester 



IT IS with a degree of pleasure that organization more valuable data were 



I am able to report that our Massa- received relative to forestry matters 



chusetts people have been very con- during the past year than has been 



siderate of the recommendations of possible heretofore, 



their state forester during the past few The enactment of a bill on reforesta- 



years, and that the people generally of tion whereby the state forester is given 



the good old Bay State are offering a definite appropriation of $10,000 a 



cordial and hearty cooperation toward year for future work along this line 



establishing a definite constructive and alone marks the beginning of a practi- 



practical forest policy. cal demonstration of forest planting 



One of the greatest hindrances the throughout the state. Over half a mil- 

 writer had to contend with in beginning lion of trees were set by private indi- 

 his work in this state was forest fires, viduals last year, and the prospects are 

 Here, as elsewhere throughout the very bright for at least a million and a 

 Union, this demon was running ram- half being set this spring. It is believed 

 pant. A campaign was begun in the our reforestation law is well adapted to 

 fall of 1906, and during the winter fol- this state. The state forester already 

 lowing the legislature enacted our pres- has about 1,300 acres on hand for 

 ent state and town forest warden planting, 

 system. A forest fire protection act was 



The Massachusetts forest warden passed last year by our general court, 

 system is headed by the state forester, that is bound to accomplish great good. 

 Each board of selectmen of the towns One of the greatest drawbacks to a 

 is required to appoint a forest warden stalwart, progressive movement in for- 

 who, in turn, must be approved by the estry is the destruction and wanton 

 state forester. Each warden is there- waste caused by fire. This act central- 

 fore responsible to both the state and izes authority in the state and town 

 town. The forest warden has the au- with the idea of determined results, 

 thority to appoint his own deputies and A code of regulations as to fires set 

 to discharge them. He is clothed with by railroads has been passed upon to 

 sufficient power to represent the town's the satisfaction of all parties concerned, 

 forest interests. The state forester re- and it is believed that when the Massa- 

 quests that the selectmen appoint a chusetts policy has been perfected our 

 public-spirited and broad-minded per- present great losses from this cause of 

 son for this office. This law is already forest fires will be minimized, 

 in effect, and from one year's expe- Massachusetts has recently passed a 

 rience the results accomplished have law exempting from taxation all planta- 

 exceeded expectations. With a corps tions of young forest trees for a period 

 of 350 forest wardens (one in each of ten years after the trees have grown 

 town and city) each with an organized two feet on the average in height and 

 working force of deputies and sympa- stand six by six feet, 

 thetic, public-spirited backing, the state The state forester, forest wardens, 

 forester has an army of men thorough- and fish and game deputies are all 

 ly enlisted in bettering our Bay State clothed with the power to arrest with- 

 forestry conditions. As a result of this out a warrant all persons found in the 



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