No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 363 



An Act relative to the Establishment op Forest Tree Nurseries 



UPON Land op the Commonwealth. 

 Be it enacted, etc., as follows: 



Section 1 . Chapter four hundred and nine of the acts of the year nine- 

 teen hundred and four is hereby amended by striking out section three and 

 inserting in place thereof the following: — Section 3. The state forester 

 may establish and maintain nurseries for the propagation of forest tree 

 seedlings upon such lands of the commonwealth, at the Massachusetts Agri- 

 cultural College at Amherst, or at any other state institution, as the super- 

 intendent or trustees of the institution may set apart for this purpose. 

 Superintendents of institutions where land is set apart for this purpose may 

 furnish free of cost the labor of their inmates necessary to establish and 

 maintain the said nurseries. Seedlings from these nurseries shall be fur- 

 nished to the commonwealth without expense for use upon reservations set 

 aside for the propagation of forest growths for other than park purposes. 

 All stock grown in nurseries established under the provisions of this act 

 shall be used within the limits of the commonwealth and shall be furnished 

 to state institutions free of charge. The state forester may distribute seeds 

 and seedlings to land owners, citizens of the commonwealth, under such 

 conditions and restrictions as he may determine, subject to the approval of 

 the governor and council. 



Section 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. [Approved 

 May 11, 1912. 



Summary op Recommendations of the State Forester. 



1. That the general plan suggested and carried out last year 

 regarding the moth work be continued this year, namely, that the 

 appropriation be reduced $50,000 from last year, making the sum 

 $200,000 for 1913. 



2. That towns having a valuation of $2,000,000 or less be 

 reimbursed by the State for one-half the expense in fighting forest 

 fires. 



3. That an increased appropriation be made to carry on the work 

 of reforestation. 



4. That the present forest fire permit law be amended so as to 

 make it apply to all the cities and towns of the Commonwealth. 



5. That the office of tree v/arden in towns be made an appointive 

 office by the selectmen, instead of elective, as at present. 



6. That legislation be enacted regulating the disposal of slash 

 or brush, following wood and lumbering operations. 



