FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 233 



Woodland owners should realize that whether or not the sprouts are 

 killed, the damage done by a forest fire is very great, as the fire seriously 

 checks the growth, burns up the leaf mold and half rotted twigs which 

 should serve as plant food, and renders the soil less capable of holding 

 moisture and mineral salts in solution. 



In forests of sprout origin the effect of fires is worse than in seedling 

 stands, as a slight ground fire may cause punky stump to smoulder for days 

 killing all of the sprouts which sprang from it and thus greatly reducing the 

 final yield. 



When owners of woodland and the public in general come to realize 



what an enormous loss a forest fire means, more care will be exercised and 



the yield from our woodland will be greatly increased. 



Respectfully submitted, 



F. F. Moon, 



Forester. 

 Highland Falls, N. Y., December 23, 1909. 



Report on Reforesting Operations 



By C. R. Pettis, State Forester 



Hon. James S. Whipple, Forest, Fish cuid Game Commissioner: 



Sir. — The work of this Division of the Forestry Department has 

 doubled during the year. We are now operating five large nurseries, 

 reforesting State land, advising private landowners; and have, during 

 the year, supplied large quantities of planting stock to private owners, and 

 carried on experimental work. 



Tree Distribution 



This year was the second in which this Commission sold trees to private 

 landowners for reforesting purposes, and the amount sold indicates the 

 demand and the possibilities of reforesting. In 1908, seven applicants pur- 

 chased 25,100 trees, while in 1909, 179 persons bought 1,005,325 trees and 



