FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. I 43 



In addition to the field planting done with stock from our own nur- 

 series, 500,000 three-year old transplants were imported from Germany and 

 set out in the Paul Smith plantations. This makes a total of 1,050,125 

 trees planted by us on State land in the Adirondack Park last spring; we 

 also sold 23,900 to citizens for planting on private land, and 1,200 seed- 

 lings for transplanting in nursery beds, preparatory to final planting in 

 the field. These trees were sold pursuant to a law passed by the Legisla- 

 ture of last year. 



Our plantations have made a fine showing. The first was made near 

 Lake Clear Junction in 1902, consisting of about 700 acres, and the trees 

 have now attained a height of about eight feet. The illustrations in this 

 report are from photographs of that plantation. On account of the 

 unusual drought of the past season the plantations, especially those made 

 in 1908 on sterile, sandy soil, have been subjected to a most severe test. 

 However, after a careful examination, it was found that our losses were 

 smaller than in any previous year. 



New York was the pioneer State in reforesting, and it was necessary 

 to develop our own methods and learn by our successes and failures in the 

 severe school of experience. This work has now reached a high standard 

 of efficiency. Our nurseries are considered the best in the country and 

 compare favorably with those in Germany. The plantations are making 

 a fine growth each year; we have learned what species are best adapted to 

 different soils; the time to plant, and the size of material necessary to use 

 under different conditions, at least for our work in the Adirondacks. 



Nursery Work 



The nursery work during the year was carried on in five nur- 

 series, as follows: Saranac Nursery and the Forest Experiment Station 

 both at Saranac Inn Station, the Lake Clear Nursery near Lake Clear 

 Junction, the Cornell Nursery at Wawbeek, and Salamanca Nursery at 

 Salamanca. 



