states Activities. 433 



tuting tlie State Board of Agriculture a commission of 

 inquiry, whose report, published in 1888, had also no 

 consequences except those of an educational character. 



Similarly, the State of Massachusetts ordered the 

 State Board of Agriculture in 1890, to inquire "into the 

 consideration of the forests of the State, the need and 

 methods of their protection", with similar results, or 

 lack of result. 



In New Jersey, the matter was referred to the State 

 Geologist, who, since 1894, has made reports on forest 

 conditions and needs. Similar reference of the subject 

 was made in the State of North Carolina, in 1891, and 

 in West Virginia. 



The first more permanent State institution deliber- 

 ately established as an educational and advisory agent 

 was the Forestry Bureau of Ohio, in 1885, which pub- 

 lished a number of annual reports, but eventually col- 

 lapsed for lack of support. 



In the same year, three important States, New York 

 in the East, Colorado in the Middle States, and Cali- 

 fornia in the West, seemed simultaneously to have 

 awakened to their duty, largely as a result of the propa- 

 ganda of the American Forestry Association. 



In California, a State Board of Forestry was insti- 

 tuted, with considerable power and ample appropria- 

 tions, which, however, eventually fell into the hands of 

 unscrupulous politicians and grafters, the resulting 

 scandals leading to its abolishment in 1889. 



In Colorado, which when admitted to Statehood in 

 1876, had, in its Constitution, directed the general as- 

 sembly to legislate on behalf of the forestry interests of 

 the State, these interests were rather tardily committed 



