No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 323 



towns insist on employing home labor, accounts for the unsatis- 

 factory conditions that follow the early work. This criticism is 

 simply to point out what this department has to contend with. 

 I realize that it is perfectly natural that town officials feel it is 

 encumbent upon them to j^ive employment to their own townsmen 

 in preference to others, but in this case it would be better to 

 import an experienced foreman, at least until such time as local 

 men have become sufficiently trained. 



The State Forester beheves that in dealing with this moth 

 problem it will be good business to keej) up the work of the present 

 with the idea of gradually placing the burden upon towns and 

 cities. 



In my last year's report a definite recommendation was outlined 

 whereby the State appropriation should be lessened $65,000 last 

 year and $50,000 each year thereafter for three years. I am still 

 of the opinion that we should carry out that policy. Such a 

 gradual curtailment on the part of the State would not interfere 

 with the efficiency of the work. 



In dealing with the moth problem I am frank to say that every 

 endeavor is being made to impress our employees with the idea, 

 already alluded to in another place in this report, that better 

 forestry is the solution. This means that we are to change our 

 point of view from a policy that is unpopular and expensive, 

 although necessary, to a constructive one, namely, the conserva- 

 tion of our forests. What a showing could be made were we 

 able to utilize the present expenditure in moth work for pure 

 forestry! It is firmly believed that with a consistent policy we 

 may attain that much-coveted goal. 



The practice of furnishing with supplies in place of money the 

 towns and cities that the State reimburses has been carried out 

 for the past three years, with great economy to the State. 



During the past season some readjustments have been made 

 in the moth divisions. Three of the division superintendents 

 were supplied with runabout automobiles in place of motor cycles, 

 and this made possible their covering larger territories. Tlie 

 price of runabouts has now reached a point where they can be 

 used economically. 



