No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 303 



the State forest policy. The State Forester also gives lectures yearly at 

 the agricultural college, covering his field of work. The Massachusetts 

 Agricultural College has a professor of forestry whose privilege it is to see 

 that all students are taught a working knowledge of the subject. Where 

 certain students have shown special proficiency in forestry they un- 

 doubtedly, upon graduation, may secure credits in forestry schools, but the 

 college does not claim to turn out a teclmically trained forester. 



By this system of organization I am convinced that very satisfactory 

 results can be realized. There is certainly plenty of work for a State 

 Forester to accomplish without his being tied down to teaching or doing 

 much research work. His work compels him to be familiar with the gen- 

 eral State conditions, and the administration of field work in forestry 

 management, reforestation, nursery work, forest insect and disease dep- 

 redations, the care and management of State forest reserves, forest fire 

 protection, etc. The handling of the forest fire problem alone requires a 

 great amount of supervision to get satisfactory results. The installation 

 and management of lookout stations, the work of securing modern forest 

 fire-fighting equipment for towns and townships, and keeping it properly 

 housed and cared for so as to be effective for proper and efficient patrol 

 systems in dry times; all these demand constant attention. To keep a 

 forest fire system effective the State Forester must be in close touch 

 with the working unit. What is true of forest fires is equally true of seeing 

 that forest working plans are properly executed, and that all forestry 

 practices are performed in a practical way. 



It therefore remains for the professor of forestry to do the teaching of 

 students, and the station forester or the station botanist, entomologist or 

 pathologist to undertake the lines of pure investigation. With this defi- 

 nitely outlined plan results are bound to come. 



In closing, I simply desire to appeal to this association in behalf of a 

 more wholesome position than we have yet reached in recognizing forestry 

 or the forest crop as needing and deserving more attention than we are at 

 present giving it. 



New Forestry Legislation. 



The following new legislation was enacted by the last General 

 Court. 



Law relative to setting Fires in the Open Air, 

 The law relative to setting fires in the open air was amended at 

 the last session of the General Court so as to apply to all cities 

 and to such towns as accepted the provisions of the act at a meet- 

 ing of the voters called for that purpose. The time at which such 

 permits are necessary was also changed, so as to include the 

 month of March. The law as now in force is as follows : — 



