14 MISC. PUBLICATION 249, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
management and care of their timber. In this project the Department of 
Agriculture cooperates with the States in the maintenance of extension 
foresters to provide demonstrations and advice on the more efficient manage- 
ment of farm woodlands, the reforestation of those farmlands not now 
suitable for agricultural crops, and the marketing and utilization of farm 
timber. 
Under the Cooperative Forest Management Act of 1950, the Forest 
Service cooperates with the States in providing on-the-ground technical 
advice to owners of private forest lands and to processors of primary forest 
products. In 1960, about 450 projects in 46 States were carried on in 
cooperation with State foresters. 
Forestry in the States 
Forestry work in the States has made notable progress in recent years, 
and most States now employ foresters in various capacities. The State 
forester usually carries heavy responsibilities as directing head of a large 
organization and has under his control the annual disbursement of large 
appropriations. 
The character of a State forester’s work varies among the States. Where 
forestry is just beginning to receive attention, his first efforts must be largely 
of an educational and organizational nature. His chief task is to develop 
a forest policy for the State and to educate the people to protect and improve 
the handling of the forests within its borders. He must study the needs of 
the State and then go before the people and show them what must be done 
to put into effect the policy which he has formulated. He usually has to 
make a great many public addresses, issue bulletins, write articles for maga- 
zines and newspapers, and in every other possible way bring this message 
to the people. He must also obtain basic legislation and appropriations 
in addition to engaging in technical forestry work. 
On the other hand, in those States where there is already a settled 
forestry policy the State forester’s work is of a different character. His 
major activities are usually fire prevention and control, forest planting, 
educational work, and management of State-owned forests. 
Scope of State Forestry Work 
In the aggregate, some 27 million acres of land are in State forests. The 
type of administration given these State-owned lands varies. Many State 
forests are managed intensively, along lines similar to national-forest man- 
agement. Some State forests and parks are devoted primarily or entirely 
to public recreational use. In some States, substantial areas of State forest 
land—particularly scattered tracts which have come into State ownership 
through tax delinquency—has as yet received little attention. 
State activity in protecting forests from fire, with the cooperation and 
financial aid of the Federal Government, has opened a field for the em- 
ployment of many foresters. ‘Trained men are also used in the propagation 
and distribution of planting stock. In those States where an active State 
forestry program has been developed, a number of trained foresters are 
employed. ‘The State forester’s staff may include technical assistants in 
immediate charge of the various lines of activity carried on by the State 
organization. District foresters or State forest rangers may be assigned 
