THE PEOFESSIOX OF FORESTRY. 13 



The character of work which a State forester has to do depends 

 upon the stage of development of forestry in that particular State. 

 In one where forestry is just beginning to receive attention, his fii-st 

 efforts must be largely along educational lines. Ordinarily he 

 receives a small appropriation, and his chief task is to develop a forest 

 pohcy for the State and to educate the people to a better handling 

 of the forests within its bordere. 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 the magazines and newspapers, and in eTerj other 

 way possible biing his message to the people. He must secure legis- 

 lation and appropriations, and ordinarily has but little opporttmit}^ 

 for doing technical forest work. 



On the other hand, in those States where there is already a settled 

 forest policy, the State forester's work is of a very different character. 

 In such States the problem of fire protection absorbs a large amount 

 of his time, and there is usually much administrative work to be done. 

 Many States already have State forests, or are planning to acquire 

 them. Their management naturally falls to the State forester, and 

 gives him an opportunity to do some real technical work. Some of 

 the States also, as. for example Xew Hampshire, Vermont, Connect- 

 icut, Xew York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan, maintain nur- 

 series for the production of plant material for distribution to citizens. 

 The work of these nurseries must be directed by the State forester. 

 Usually also he assists private ownere in the management of their 

 woodlands. This is done both by correspondence and by actual 

 examinations of specific tracts, with recommendations for their man- 

 agement. All these duties give the State forester a wide scope for 

 work along both administrative and technical lines. 



Ordinarily the State forester is a thorouglily trained teclinical man. 

 In some States where the work is just beginning to develop he is alone 

 in the office, but more often he has one or more assistants. Xot infre- 

 quently he has charge of a force of rangers, who are employed chiefly 

 in fij'e patrol. In many cases he cooperates in this work with organi- 

 zations of private owners and with the Federal Government. 



The salaries of State foresters vary from .S2,000 to S4,000 a year, 

 but most of them receive about 82,500 a year. Their assistants 

 ordinarily receive from $1,000 to §2,000. 



Work in State forestry has just begun. It is possible to look for- 

 ward to the time when every State with any forest interests will have 

 an organization whose duty is to make the most of its forest resources. 

 When this time comes there will be an active demand for men in State 

 work, not onl}' in the more responsible position of State forester, 

 but also as assistants. It is true that tliis field is not imlimited, but 

 it is nevertheless an extremely important one, and it will probably 

 be a long time before it will cease to absorb a certain number of new 



