224 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pul). Doc. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FORESTRY, ROADS AND 

 ROADSIDE IMPROVEMENTS. 



[Read and accepted at the Annual Meeting, Jan. 8, 1901.] 



The greatest obstacle and discouragement to the applica- 

 tion of true forestry to our wood, sprout, untillable and non- 

 pasture lands is probably forest fire. This scourge is known 

 to most parts of the State in varying degree, but the fair 

 face of Massachusetts has been most severely scarred on her 

 unique Cape district. It is Massachusetts as a whole that 

 our Board has to deal with ; and good principles, that can 

 be applicable to the most needy part, will be of value to the 

 more densely peopled. 



Recently reading in a promotive publicatioUj, " The For- 

 ester," of experiences with forest fires in the State of Penn- 

 sylvania, our State laws to aid in combating the causes of 

 such fires were stated to be good, and preventive, so far as 

 law can aid. Pennsylvania,* with her great commercial in- 

 terests in "using and preserving" her forests, should be a 

 good judge, and her leading forester. Professor Rothrock, is 

 well able to speak wisely as to how far laws can be useful. 



Our Cape district is a unique feature in our nation, and 

 there is profit to our State in giving to it the best thought 

 possible. I cannot speak with detailed expert knowledge of 

 the characteristics of that large tract of townships bordered 

 by the salt waters, and with an attractive climate that is 

 peculiar to itself. But I do know that, unless its reputation 

 for frequent and destructive forest conflagrations greatly 

 ceases, the benefits that rightfully belong there must be far 

 less than the Cape district deserves. 



What can this Board do to guard the State's interest there ? 

 An association of representatives from the several towns and 

 villages comprising the territory in question should be able 

 to decide, after associating themselves with the best possible 



