No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 299 



at the last State election, the General Court of 1913 will under- 

 take the rather difficult task of solving the forest taxation prob- 

 lem by legislation. 



So intricate is the subject, and so vital is it that proposed legis- 

 lation along this line should be thoroughly well considered, that 

 the Boston Chamber of Commerce has joined with the Massa- 

 chusetts Forestry Association in the appointment of a committee 

 to study the problem and to prepare a bill designed to eliminate 

 many of the objectionable features of the present method of tax- 

 ing these lands. It is difficult to determine, or even forecast at 

 this time, in just what form this bill will be presented to the Legis- 

 lature for its consideration. 



That which is needed is such changes in the present method as 

 will encourage tree planting and the conservation of forests with- 

 out relieving the forest owner of his responsibility of giving his 

 just share toward the support of government. If this taxation 

 problem is successfully worked out, a long step will have been 

 taken in the right direction, and forestry will eventually become 

 one of the leading factors in contributing to the wealth and pros- 

 perity of the State. 



Present Conditions regarding the Chestnut Bark Disease 

 IN Massachusetts. 



While the whole forestry staff has been on the lookout for this 

 disease throughout the year, nevertheless it was deemed best to 

 have a general inspection of the State made, and Mr. John Mur- 

 doch, Jr., was delegated to do this. He visited the worst infected 

 sections that he was familiar with from his work of last year, and 

 submitted the following report : — 



In southern Berkshire County the disease, as has already been 

 reported, is almost universally distributed. A number of cases 

 were found which had not previously been reported, either from 

 having been overlooked under the conditions of observation last 

 winter, or in territory not then covered. A number of cases also 

 were discovered which had first become evident during the past 

 summer, amounting in all to perhaps 100 per cent, increase. Care- 

 ful examination of many cases, however, led to the conclusion that 

 most of the apparent increase was due to lesions v\^hich had started 

 in 1911, but which had not killed the host until 1912. On trees 



