28 Second Annual Keport of the 



of travel so that they may be accessible for inspection, thereby 

 bringing the work to the attention of the public. Out of 

 3,334 acres of forest preserve land which has been reforested 

 with stock from the State nurseries, 1.353 acres were set out dur- 

 ing the present year. The new law permits this commission to 

 supply trees to State institutions for their use free of charge, and 

 this provision has tended to an increased demand. The State will 

 have available for sale in 1913, 3,692,000 transplants and 1,000,- 

 000 seedlings. For the year 1912 the State had eight nurseries, 

 with an area of 49 acres; capacity 19,468,000 trees; trees sold to 

 private owners, 3,587,875 ; trees planted on State land, 1,346,500. 

 Under the requirements of the Conservation Law this commis- 

 sion has examined nearly all of the forest properties of the various 

 State institutions and transmitted reports to the various officers 

 in charge, making recommendations and giving advice relative to 

 the protection and improvement of forest and shade trees on such 

 properties. The 40 State institutions coming under such inspec- 

 tion have a total land area of about 35,000 acres, and the varying 

 character of growth, use and needs of the institutions have pre- 

 sented numerous problems. In general the work on the woodlands 

 connected with the State institutions comes under three heads: 

 First, cutting for the purpose of improvement and to provide the 

 necessary wood crop ; Second, reforestation ; Third, protection 

 against fire, disease or insects. 



Tree Diseases. 



The prevalence of the chestnut bark disease and similar infec- 

 tions of the trees led to the creation of the position of pathologist 

 in the Forestry Bureau of this commission and the work there- 

 under has been conducted in co-operation with the State Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. Many letters have been received making 

 inquiry concerning tree diseases and special trips have been made 

 to various parts of the State for the purpose of getting first hand 

 information and co-operation with various owners. The fact that 

 the State suffers losses each year amounting to millions of dollars 

 through the ravages of forest insects amply justifies serious con- 

 sideration by the Legislature. 



