192 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



estry literature. More fire warning notices and forest law 

 posters have been clistribnted and actually found posted in the 

 towns of the Commonwealth than ever before. 



The permit act for setting fires out of doors was very gen- 

 erally adopted last spring by the towns and cities throughout 

 the State, and it is the oj)inion of the wardens generally that 

 this legislation alone will be a great saving to the State from 

 forest fires. 



For the first time the forest wardens have been gathered to- 

 gether at conferences, which will be explained in detail else- 

 where in this report. In thus acquainting these officers with 

 their duties, we shall secure an efficiency not possible hereto- 

 fore. 



By an act of the last General Court the work of suppressing 

 the gypsy and brown-tail moths was placed under the State 

 Forester. This bill was signed by Governor Draper on March 

 14. Since that time, of course, the State F'orester's duties have 

 been greatly enlarged. It was found advisable to unite the 

 offices, and, as there was not sufficient room to accommodate 

 both departments in the State House, the office of the State 

 Forester was transferred to No. 6 Beacon Street, tenth floor. 

 In the readjustment of these two departments under one head, 

 the aim has been to retain and adopt all the better features of 

 each organization. The experience of the first half-year has 

 resulted in a more effective organization than has seemed pos- 

 sible. 



Ever since coming to Massachusetts in the capacity of State 

 Forester, my work has certainly been met with public-spirited 

 encouragement ; and now, under my enlarged duties, I simply 

 ask that you give me the same cordial and co-operative support 

 as in the past. Any State department, having the spending of 

 money for the public good, appreciates and covets assistance 

 from the people generally. We propose to have a " live wire " 

 organization in all our undertakings in the State Forester's 

 work; and I believe I am not overstating it when I say that 

 the citizens of Massachusetts generally are in accord in request- 

 ing you, the General Court, to enact laws sufficient for our 

 present and future forestry interests. 



