1894.] idi [Kothrock. 



timber; tlie number of trees per acre required is the same, and, on the 

 other hand, the privilege of thinning is the same as to time and number. 



It is quite remarkable that so few of those who might have taken 

 advantage of this law have been aware of its place on the statute book. 

 The Commissioners of Schuylkill county have, however, paid to the 

 Girard estate money due under the provisions of this act. The precedent 

 is therefore established, andotiiers maj'^ be expected to avail themselves of 

 the benefits offered. 



It will be seen, however, that liberal as these premiums are, they fail at 

 the very period when there begins to be a temptation to cut, and when 

 the average tree is in the state of its greatest productiveness, so far as the 

 growth of wood is concerned. The woodland owner may keep his 

 domain constantly in condition to earn the government premium ; but he 

 will produce no thoroughly good-matured wood if he is encouraged to cut 

 it at thirty years of age. 



These bounties mark an important advance in public sentiment on the 

 forestry problem ; but they fall f\ir short of the full measure of usefulness 

 one might expect from a complete remission of taxes, when such remis- 

 sion is based on an appreciation of the fact that public rather than private 

 interest is most subserved by it. 



It is clear that the question of an extensive State Forest Reservation is 

 one which cannot be much longer postponed. That this is demanded not 

 less in the interest of a pure, abundant water supply than it is by the 

 ordinary interests of forestry is no less clear ; and it almost follows as a 

 matter of course that such reservation should be located on the water shed 

 which supplies the largest quantity of pure water to the largest popula- 

 tion. In this view of the matter, the spot where such reservation should 

 be is plainly indicated by the topography of the State. It should be noted 

 farther that this reservation might be made equally available as a public 

 sanitarium. It cannot be too strongly or too often noted that it is a 

 measure of wise statesmanship, to provide an outing ground where those 

 who are physically below par may by a sojourn in the open air of a whole- 

 some region find renewed strength for the duties of life. This is suggested 

 not on any basis of philanthropy or sentiment, but simply because it 

 promises to reduce the number of those who otherwise might become 

 charges on the Commonwealth. 



VII. Methods of Forest Restoration. 



This division might come more properly in a treatise on practical 

 forestry. Still it may be proper to make certain general statements here 

 on the subject. So far as known, there are at present within the limits of 

 the State but two areas which might with any degree of propriety be desig- 

 nated as illustrating forestry practice. Both of these are managed as a 

 portion of the City Trusts, and are located one in Schuylkill and the other 

 in Centre county. 



