The few seed trees left are rapidly disappearing before the 

 fires, wind and theft. 



"There is necessity for collecting data of the forest resources 

 of the State. The information in the possession of the lumber 

 companies, land lookers and supervisors is said to be available 

 and valuable. 



Opportunity for conservative lumbering of pine is said to 

 be nearly gone. But there is plenty of opportunity to modify 

 present methods of hardwood lumbering. 



The Commission should enter at once upon the protection 



of the State reserve of 60,000 acres set aside by the last 

 legislature, and- with sueh protection the conditions for natural 

 reproduction are promising. Experimental tree-planting is 

 said to be warranted only in combination with fire protection. 

 Taxation of stumpage has done immense harm in the past, 

 and the right solution doubtless lies in postponing taxation 

 until the lumber is cut. Trespass has been the cause of more 

 loss to the State than all other causes combined, but at pres- 

 ent it is unwise to stir up opposition by the too rigid enforce- 

 ment of the trespass laws." 



