66 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



ing forest growth, sprout or stump land, and by intelligence 

 and management, utilizing natural reproduction, turns it 

 from useless brush land into highly productive timber land, 

 or who secures the new superior crop by natural regeneration 

 from the judicious harvest of the old timber, — does he not 

 deserve as much recognition as the one who performs the 

 much simpler and easier work of planting a pasture, which 

 is already productive, even though it be at a lower rate? 



DiSTmBUTiNG Plant Material and Advice. 



The aid which the State can give by distribution of plant 

 material, by giving advice as to its use and subsequent man- 

 agement, is on an entirely different basis, at least if properly 

 applied. This is really an educational method, with some 

 financial aspects added. 



So little is the idea of forest planting and forest manage- 

 ment developed in our country, that reall}^ as yet little 

 readily available, practical knowledge exists ; and even the 

 plant material cannot be as easily, readily and cheaply 

 secured as is desirable, because of the absence of a large, 

 well-established trade in such plant material. Hence it 

 would be an excellent plan for the State to establish one or 

 several nurseries, in which such plant material should be 

 grown, not for free distribution, but to be sold at cost price. 



In connection and as a condition going with this assist- 

 ance, there should, however, be furnished and be followed 

 expert advice as to the choice of plant material, the method 

 of handling it and of managing it afterwards, as well as of 

 manao^inof the woodlands already in existence. This, too, 

 should not be given entirely free, — I do not believe much 

 in charity and paternal methods, when other methods will 

 accomplish the object, — but an equitable rate can be estab- 

 lished in proportion to the acreage or the amount of planting 

 or work, the State bearing the risk of coming out even. 

 The State could afford to emplov and command such expert 

 advice for the many, when the individual })lanter or forest 

 owner would find it difficult, or too expensive, to secure it. 

 Here again comes your State forester to the front. 



