170 FOURTEENTH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 



We are often called upon to give advice to owners of wood lots. The 

 time has arrived when such land should be given attention, and it is most 

 profitable to do so. These lands are just as deserving of proper management 

 as any of our best agricultural soils, except that such management would be 

 less intense. We must consider these wood lots at present as the future 

 source of valuable wood supplies. At present almost no attention is being 

 given them and Nature has full charge. It can be said that Nature is no 

 more capable of managing these lands than she would be to practice agri- 

 culture. Forestry is growing wood crops the same as agriculture is pro- 

 ducing food crops. Nature is too wastful, erratic and too slow to be allowed 

 to take her own course in growing forests. The forces of Nature need direct- 

 ing. Planting is necessary in some cases, thinning out the growth in other 

 places. Steps should be taken at once to secure reliable data in regard to 

 this work and make practical demonstrations in different parts of the State 

 in order to give our landowners proper advice. The value of forests to the 

 community is so great that any expense in this work will be repaid a hundred 

 times over. When the private owner has been shown that forestry methods 

 are more profitable than the plans now in vogue, then our forests will be 

 preserved, and increased as an investment. It has been the policy of this 

 Department to give advice as far as our time will permit. The work will 

 be continued, and, if possible, such information should be combined in a 

 report for general use. 



Very respectfully, 



C. R. PETTIS, 



State Forester. 

 Albany, December 31, 1908. 



