FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLIXA. 35 



agriculture in Xortli Carolina ? Xot only by publisliing bulletins, in- 

 structive but all too little read ; not only by providing for talks at farm- 

 ers' institutes; it is not even satisfied with providing splendid colleges 

 and high schools where young men can be taught both the theory and 

 practice of agriculture. But our active and progressive Department of 

 Agriculture has purchased seven test farms in different regions of the 

 State, where crop varieties are gro-rni, and where it is shown which 

 varieties and what methods are most suitable for certain soils and cli- 

 mates. In addition to these and in a way combining the college and the 

 test farm, farm-life schools are being established in nearly every county 

 in the State. But the arguments which above all else bring home to the 

 adult farmers the possibility, even the necessity, of practicing better 

 methods are brought out on the demonstration plats maintained by the 

 Department of Agriculture, and the demonstration crops supervised by 

 State and county demonstration agents. 



Does not this suggest the value of State experiment and demonstration 

 forests in carrying out a forest policy for the State? The Department 

 of Agriculture has set a precedent which the Forestry Department should 

 not only be allowed, but required to follow. 



THE LAW GOVERXING THE ACQUIBEMEXT AND ADMIXISTRATIOX OF STATE FORESTS. 



The following law, passed at the recent session of the Legislature, is 

 the first step in the inauguration of such a policy. While it does not 

 provide funds for the purchase of forest lands, it does recognize the prin- 

 ciple of State experiment and demonstration forests, and places the 

 authority to purchase such forests, when money for that purpose may be 

 available, with a responsible and competent department of the State Gov- 

 ernment. It also provides that State forests may be organized and ad- 

 ministered without any further legal enactments, where gifts of land 

 can be secured for this purpose. 



AX ACT TO ALLOW THE ACQUIREMENT BY THE STATE OF 

 STATE FORESTS.* 



The General Asscmhly of Xorth Carolina do enact: 



Section 1. That the Governor of the State is authorized, upon recommenda- 

 tion of the Geological Board, to accept gifts of land to the State, the same to 

 be held, protected, and administered by said board as State forests, and to be 

 used so as to demonstrate the practical utility of timber culture and water 

 conservation, and as refuges for game. Such gifts must be absolute except in 

 such cases as where the mineral interest on the laud has previously been 

 sold. The State Geological Board shall have the power to purchase lands in 

 the name of the State, suitable chiefly for the production of timber, as State 



^Chapter 253, Public Laws 1915. 



