No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 551 



help may be collected quickly in case of fire, and the telephone connec- 

 tions in all directions from the station. All such information will assist 

 in getting help to a fire as soon as smoke arises. 



The weekly report has printed instructions on the back. This report 

 is to be filled out each day, regardless of whether anj'' fires are observed 

 or not. If there are no fires, one line should be used each day, showing 

 weather conditions, wind, etc. All fires observed must be reported. The 

 observer must be very particular about the location of a fire, time ob- 

 •served, who matified, time of notification and time extinguished. He should 

 keep liis telephone in working order, calling up the central office each 

 morning and after storms, to determine whether or not the line is in 

 working order. If it fails to work he should go over the line and try to 

 find breaks, and get it in working condition as promptly as possible. He 

 should not open, disconnect or interfere with the telephone instrument in 

 any way until he is absolutely satisfied that the line is not in perfect order. 

 If it becomes necessary to examine the instrument, unless he is perfectly 

 familiar with the construction and repair of the telephone he should not 

 interfere with it in any way, but get a competent telephone man to make 

 the necessary repairs. In case of inattention of any of the towm forest 

 wardens or their deputies he should notify the district forest warden and 

 the State Forester's office. 



(4) Forestry Conventioiis. — In order to enable the various officials to 

 keep in close touch with the forest wardens throughout the State, and 

 also to enable neighboring groups of wardens to discuss methods, equip- 

 ment, etc., the State Forester is allowed to spend not exceeding S2,000 for 

 conventions dimng a year. While forest fires, their control and manage- 

 ment form a very important part of the program, such subjects as 

 reforestation, thinning and general forestry improvement practices are 

 discussed. 



(5) State Aid for Forest-Fire Equipment. — Massachusetts expects its 

 towns with a valuation of over $1,750,000 to be able to support its own 

 forest-fire equipment, but all towns having a valuation below this amount 

 the State agrees to reimburse for 50 per cent, of an expenditure not to 

 exceed $500. This has encouraged our poorer towns to greater protec- 

 tion. The forest-fire lookout stations have been built usually on the co- 

 operative plan, the towns covered paying one-half and the State the 

 remainder. 



(6) Utilization. — No more important part of forestry needs attention 

 than does that of finding the best use for all products. Massachusetts 

 was the first State to publish a bulletin on "Forest Utilization." This 

 was done in co-operation with the United States Forest Service. We are 

 at present continuing these studies, and have some very promising experi- 

 ments being carried on. 



(7) Brush and Slash. — One of the great causes for the larger forest 

 fires, and hence those of greatest damage, has come from fire getting into 

 old slashings or brash left from operating lots. A law was enacted last 

 year, taking effect Jan. 1, 1915, making it compulsory for every one 



