PE0GEESS OF FOEESTEY IN LOUISIANA. . ♦' 37 



tion of a second crop. Small trees left after logging should not be 

 boxed for turpentine. Turpentining should, in fact, be carried on 

 ahead of logging operations, and under the cup system. \ 



Forest taxation, while not at present a serious problem in Louis- 

 iana, is unjust to owners of young timber, the value of which is 

 merely prospective. 



Farm woodlots should be established and maintained in agricul- 

 tural sections to furnish fuel, fence posts, poles, and the lumber 

 needed for repairs. Where a supply of fence posts and other similar 

 timber is not available, catalpa and other fast-growing trees might 

 be planted with profit. Cottonwood and willow planted outside the 

 levees would help to protect them from erosion during high water, i 



There is an excellent opportunity for the State to place under 

 management the forest lands still in its possession, those received as 

 gifts, and those reverting for nonpayment of taxes. 



PROGRESS OF FORESTRY IN LOUISIANA. 



Since 1855 Louisiana has from time to time made provision for the 

 proper protection and use of timber, without attempting, however, 

 to coordinate the various enactments. This has resulted in much 

 fragmentary and unrelated legislation. The first effort toward the 

 adoption of a comprehensive forest policy was made in 1904, when an 

 act was passed providing for the establishment of a department of 

 forestry and a fire-warden system, and fixing penalties for the willful, 

 careless, or malicious setting of forest fires. The attorney general 

 ruled, however, that the act carried with it no appropriation other 

 than that for the office of commissioner of forestry and that for 

 clerical work and printing, and under these circumstances the organ- 

 ization of the commission was thought to be inexpedient. In 1908 the 

 legislature provided for a temporary commission of natural resources 

 to consist of seven members, which was to report to the legislature in 

 1910 upon the condition of the forests and other natural resources 

 in the State, with recommendations for their preservation. At the 

 same session a chair of forestry was established at the Louisiana 

 State University. The latter act carried with it no appropriation, 

 and the chair has not been filled. 



In 1910, as the result of the report by the commission of natural 

 resources, three important laws were enacted. The first of these 

 creates a permanent conservation commission of 8 members, 3 of 

 whom are ex officio — the superintendent of experiment stations, the 

 State forester, and the chief engineer of the State board of engineers. 

 Five other members are appointed by the governor. The duty of 

 the commission is to report on forest conditions in the State, the 

 drainage and reclamation of swamp lands, the prevention of waste 

 in the extraction of oil, gas, and other minerals, and all other matters 



