Forestry Notes. 



325 



FORESTRY NOTES. 



Edited by Professor William R. Dudley. 



Two things mark the year 1905 as the most important for 

 California, in the whole history of forestry, with the possible 

 exception of i8gi, the year of the passage of the Forest Reserve 

 Law. These two events are, first, the vote of Congress transfer- 

 ring the entire forest reserves of the United States from the 

 official control of the General Land Office to that of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture and its forestry service, and, second, the 

 enactment of a California Forestry Law by the State Legislature. 



resources were cut down somewhat from the original provisions, 

 disappointing its framers thereby; not all interests are satisfied, 

 and claims are made that sections 16 and 17 will work some 

 hardships in lumbering operations. Nevertheless, the acknowledg- 

 ment by the greatest State west of the great plains that its forestry 

 interests are so great as to need a code of laws, its act in appoint- 

 ing an expert forester and a corps of assistants, whose duties 

 are a scientific treatment of the forest and protection of the 

 State lands against fire, are gains which cannot be overestimated. 

 The law will doubtless be modified and improved by subsequent 

 legislation; but all advocates of forestry will be half-hearted who 

 do not loyally stand by this law until it has been thoroughly 

 tested in the hands of the Forester. 



It is printed in full in this number of the Bulletin, and we 

 ask campers particularly to read sections 14, 15, and 16. This law 

 has been drawn with the greatest care, with the advice of lawyers 

 best informed in regard to forest and park management, and of 

 foresters of the greatest experience. It was submitted to members 

 of several societies interested in forestry in California and to 

 practical lumbermen. Among modifications brought about in this 

 way we particularly call attention to the italicized clauses in section 

 3. Through lack of a law providing for the reception and care 

 of donations of land, the State has heretofore lost fine tracts 

 of timber. 



The California 

 Forestry Law. 



The passage of this law is of far greater 

 importance to the Pacific Coast than has been 

 acknowledged. It is not an ideal law ; its 



