172 FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



moment to the country. During the past few years white pine groves 

 have been suffering from a " blight " whose damage apparently is fortu- 

 nately now on the wane. This new trouble came to us with a record of 

 serious damage in Europe and all the chances of multiplication and destruc- 

 tion that an importation threatens. Discovered by Mr. Pettis of this 

 Department on stock imported from one of the great German firms, from 

 whose nurseries shipments had been made to many of the eastern States, 

 the situation was thought threatening, and on June 28th a conference of 

 eastern foresters and agricultural authorities was called by yourself to 

 consider it. The result of the deliberations held was the conclusion that 

 plantations of stock from this nursery ought to be inspected and strict 

 precautions taken in the matter of future importations. It is too bad to 

 check in any degree the strong and wholesome movement for forest planting 

 that in all this section of the country has just fairly started, but it is far 

 better to do this than to jeopardize in the least degree our white pine re- 

 sources, both natural and planted. 



During the season just passed, the foresters of this office have, in co- 

 operation with employees of the Agricultural Department, carried out the 

 inspection work outlined for the season; and next spring the supplemen- 

 tary work required will be prosecuted. 



Mr. Pettis contributes an article to this report on the scientific aspects 

 of the subject and on the protective work as carried out or planned. 



Highlands of the Hudson Forest Reservation 



The New York Legislature in the session of 1909 passed a bill which, 

 in effect, creates a district in which the perpetuation and improvement of 

 the forest growth is declared to be of public importance; and in which pro- 

 vision is made for promoting this purpose by providing for a resident 

 forester, and extending over the reservation in general terms, certain pro- 

 tective and regulative principles. This law is something of a novelty in 

 American forest legislation. It attempts to secure an end, declared to 

 be of public importance, through regulation of the owner in the use of his 

 own land. In this respect, it is entirely in line with the practice of older 

 countries; and, without doubt, similar regulation will, in time, have to 



