362 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



[Pub. Doc. 



* No papers filed. 



Legislation. 



Except strengthening and perfecting several of the existing laws 

 by amendments, the last Legislature enacted only one piece of 

 important legislation relating to forestry. 



The widespread interest on the part of Massachusetts citizens 

 in the work of reforestation, and the desire of many to utilize their 

 waste lands in the most profitable way, has been followed by a gen- 

 eral demand for knowledge regarding the matter of obtaining 

 seedlings, the cost of the same, and, in many cases, complaints 

 on account of inabiUty to purchase them at reasonable prices. 

 These facts prompted the State Forester to consider the advis- 

 ability of estabUshing State nurseries on lands owned by the 

 Commonwealth at State institutions, where the labor of the in- 

 mates could be used without expense, thus enabling the production 

 of nursery stock at a price well within the means of anybody 

 desiring to purchase it. A bill providing for the creation of such 

 nurseries, under certain conditions, was passed and approved. 

 The act reads as follows : — 



