FOREST CONSERVATION IN SOUTHERN PINE REGION. 13 



can be proposed by the State, but must be approved b}^ the Depart- 

 ment. Since woodlot management is to a large extent a farm prob- 

 lem, the aim is to acquaint the county field agents of the State exten- 

 sion service with the essential principles of woodlot management in 

 order that they may show the farmer how to manage his woodlands. 

 Such projects have already been conducted in Tennessee and Indiana. 

 Of most immediate concern to a State which is just organizing its 

 forest work is the Federal cooperation which can be secured in fire 

 protection. Under the Weeks law the sum of $100,000 was appropri- 

 ated for the fiscal year 1916 for allotment to the States, to be ex- 

 pended in protecting the watersheds of navigable streams, provided 

 the State establishes by law a system of fire protection and makes 

 an appropriation therefor, and provided further, that the State ex- 

 pends at least as much as the Federal Government. This cooperation 

 has been in effect for nearly five years, and the results secured in con- 

 serving our natural resources have far exceeded the anticipation of 

 its most enthusiastic supporters. The States which are receiving 

 funds under the law are : Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massa- 

 chusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, 

 West Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Texas, Michigan, Wis- 

 consin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and 

 Washington, 21 in all. The remaining States in the southern pine 

 region should not let the opportunity pass for securing cooperation 

 of this character in keeping down their forest-fire losses. 



