384 FORESTRY IN NEW ENGLAND 



that this report when made will receive more serious consider- 

 ation on the part of the legislature than did a very admirable 

 report on this subject made in Massachusetts in 1905. 



The only special forest tax law at present in Connecticut is 

 one exempting forest plantations from taxation for a period of 

 twenty years. This exemption takes effect immediately after 

 planting. The law as amended by the General Assembly of 

 191 1 very unfortunately does not limit the exemption to lands 

 of low value. There is, therefore, nothing to prevent the 

 owner of valuable city lots thus securing exemption, provided 

 they are at least an acre in size. 



Massachusetts. 

 Administration. 

 A. — Massachusetts was the second New England State to 

 estabhsh the position of state forester,^ having passed the law 

 providing for that ofhce in 1904. The state forester is appointed 

 by the Governor, and is ex-officio a member of the State Board 

 of Agriculture. Under him are three assistant foresters in charge 

 respectively of moth work, forest management, and nursery work. 

 There are also assistants in charge of forest fire work, and of 

 moth-disease work. The moth work is organized under fifteen 

 divisions, each in charge of a division superintendent. The 

 appropriations are $20,000 for forestry proper, $5000 for lire 

 prevention, and $315,000 for moth work. 



Fire Service. 



B. — Town fire wardens are appointed by the selectmen upon 

 the approval of the state forester. These wardens are responsible 

 for extinguishing fires, and are empowered to appoint deputy 

 wardens and to employ such assistance as is needed. Wardens 

 have the right to cross lands and set back fires without being 

 Hable for trespass. 



In towns so voting, a written permit from the fire warden is 



^ The present state forester is Mr. Frank W. Rane. 



