No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 317 



The introduction of sylvicultural methods and better forestry 

 practices has made the outlook in moth suppression more en- 

 couraging than at any previous time. Step by step, each year 

 seems to give us a new vantage point in the moth work, and 

 while it is conceded by all experts that our problem is now one 

 of suppression and not extermination, we in this State are pre- 

 pared to handle the problem in the most rational and economic 

 way. The moth work in our cities and towns is resolving itself 

 down to a definite business undertaking in which each is lessen- 

 ing its expenditures in proportion to the thoroughness with 

 which the work is done each year. Towns and cities alive 

 and active are beginning already to look with relatively little 

 concern on the problem, especially throughout their residential 

 sections. Woodlands are also being properly managed by this 

 department as regards the gypsy and brown-tail moths, and 

 with a greater degree of success than ever. 



During the stripping stage of the gypsy moth this year we 

 notified all the division superintendents to list all forest prop- 

 erties within their respective territories thus affected, and to 

 report the names of the owners, the location of the tracts and 

 the number of acres stripped. Upon receipt of these data a 

 notice was sent each landowner in which the services of a 

 trained forester were offered, at no expense, to meet the said 

 owner and advise him, on the ground, as to the best methods 

 of management to pursue. The only condition on the part of 

 the owner was that he sign and return the request and plan to 

 carry out the meeting. This work is the continuation of that 

 alluded to under the heading, "Better Forestry the Solution of 

 the Moth Problem," in last year's report. 



The scheme has worked out marvelously, and over 300 

 requests have been received for examinations and advice, and 

 they are still coming in. Mr. Paul Kneeland, who succeeded 

 Mr. H. F. Gould, the latter resigning to go into private forestry 

 work, has organized and carried out this work with the aid of 

 INIr. Smith and certain of the division superintendents, until 

 at the present time he has examined 10,000 acres. Already 

 forestry operations have resulted in actually carrying out the 

 work on 1,000 acres. At the present time, organized opera- 

 tions in improvement cuttings are being practiced in 12 different 



