FOREST P-IRES IN NORTH CAROLINA. 37 



would gladly give to the State enough forest land to adeqiiately serve 

 such a purpose, JSTot only is low-priced land suitable for this purpose, 

 but valuable land is most unsuitable. Agricultural land is not wanted, 

 though a small percentage of such might be included in the place. What 

 is needed is to show how forest which is to remain in woods should be 

 managed. There is land in nearly every county which will pay better 

 to keep in woods than to clear. This is certainly worth less to the owner 

 than the average land in the neighborhood. At the same time it would 

 suit forest demonstration purposes better, because it is absolute forest 

 land, i. e., land which should remain permanently in woods. 



Demonstration forests, however, should be accessible. As their chief 

 use is to show by actual practice what can be done in forestry, they 

 should be where as large a number of people as possible can see them; 

 for instance, near a main line of railway or on an improved and well 

 traveled highway. 



Again, they must contain fairly average samples of at least one im- 

 portant type of forest of the region, and if possible all the important 

 types should be represented. Tor instance, a demonstration forest in 

 the eastern piedmont region should have some hardwood and pine forest, 

 some old-field pine, and some pure hardwood forest, with a fair repre- 

 sentation of most of the important timber trees of the region. 



Purchasing State Forests. 



ThB above law provides for two other methods of securing State 

 forests besides by gift. The State Geological Board is allowed to pur- 

 chase State forests either with money specially appropriated by the Gen- 

 eral Assembly for the purpose or with other funds which may be avail- 

 able. Section S^/o is designed to make clearer the purpose of this pro- 

 vision. It says that money cannot be withdrawn from the State Treasury 

 for the purchase of land without special appropriation by the Legisla- 

 ture. However, when such appropriation is made the Geological Board 

 cannot only purchase land, but it can administer it as a State forest; 

 protect it from fire and trespass; do necessary cutting and thinning; 

 plant trees or sow seed ; dispose of surplus timber or other products, and 

 make experiments in improved forest management. 



Specific instructions as to the management and care of such land are 

 i;ot necessary in bills appropriating money to buy State forests, because 

 general permission to properly administer them is given by this present 

 law. 



The State Geological Board is also allowed to purchase State forests 

 "for experimental, demonstration, educational, park, and protection pur- 

 poses," using any funds available. There is not likely to be very much 



