324 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



use for recreative purposes under reasonable restrictions is 

 not inconsistent with the production of timber. The argu- 

 ments which caused the Commonwealth to appropriate 

 $6,380,000 for the metropolitan parks and considerable sums 

 for the other State park reservations apply in no part to the 

 acquisition of State forests. 



The educational eifect of well-managed State forests is 

 one of their chief advantages. They should as far as is con- 

 sistent with their economical management, be widely dis- 

 tributed over the State, in order that they may serve as 

 object lessons in practical forestry. 



Foi^est Fires. 



Forest fires continue to be a menace to the woodlands of 

 the Commonwealth. Investigations into the cause, preva- 

 lence, extinguishment and prevention of forest fires were 

 begun as soon as this office was established. They were 

 temporarily interrupted by the special investigation of taxa- 

 tion of forest lands, ordered by the General Court of 1905, 

 but they were resumed this year and carried to a conclusion. 

 The results of this investigation are embodied in Bulletin 

 No. 5 of this office. 



It is recommended that action be taken to improve the 

 present forest fire service. 



Appropriations Insufficient. 

 In view of the fact that the work has been hampered by 

 the lack of funds to carry it on properly, it is recommended 

 that section 6 of chapter 409 of the Acts of 1904, which is, 

 ' ' A sum not exceeding five thousand dollars may be expended 

 annually by the state forester, Avith the approval of the 

 governor and council, in carrying out the provisions of this 

 act," be amended to read : "A sum not exceeding six thou- 

 sand dollars may be expended annually by the state forester, 

 with the approval of the governor and council, in carrying 

 out the provisions of this act." 



