The Monticellonian., 1903-06-11
TIMBER WEALTH OF STATES.
Inc Bcreau of Forestry Suggests Means of AscertaininE and
 Providing Protcction.

That excellent idea which Maryland
 has adopted of securing expert hell through cooperation with the bureau
 of forestry in making detailed
 studies of it's forests, county by
 county, is one that is equally avail
 able 10 all the states and about 1 equally advantageous to them, says
 the Kansas City Star. The Maryland l geological survey has recently been
 taking an inventory of its forest
 wealth, finding out how much there is of it, the condition it is in, what l benefit il is to the state, including its effects on stream flow and on agri- culture, how much damage has been done il, and how much damage may i be lessened.
 The work suggested the very great advantages of similar cooperation between other states and the bureau of forestry, although the eXamiEa- tions need not always be as detailed as in the case of Maryland. The mat ter is extremely simple and may be easily arranged, and the results are valuable out of all proportion to the cost of such work to the states. The bureau furnishes and pays the sal aries of the experts who make the examination when the state has guaranteed their field expenses.
 For long time the bureau of for estry has been urging state investiga- tions of forest lands. Inquiries are constantly received from lumbermen and others regarding the forest re sources of different states which the bureau is unable to answer fully, be cause often no accurate studies Of the regions have been made.
 States like New York, Massaehu- setts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin, which are working out for themselves some sort of for est policy, find t absolutely essential 70 take stock of their timber lands. Michigan has begun such an eXamina- tion through cooperation between the state forest commission. the uni versity authorities and the bureau of forestry. A study already made of 60,00o acres of forest preserve lands in northern Michigan by T. H. Sher- rard, of the bureau of forestry, re- suited in recommendations for fire protection experiments and for tree planting. which have been submitted to the state legislature. California has appropriated $15,000 for an eX- animation of the forests of the state. \ report on the forests of Texas has been prepared under direction of the bureau of forestry and will probably form, when published, the basis for forest legislation in the state. Sev- eral years ago the forests of the northern part of Wisconsin were ex- amined by Hilbert Roth of the bu- reau and his report was published by the bureau and by the state. Prof. J. G. Jack, of the bureau, two years ago made an examination of the for ests of Vermont and the work was continued more recently by Prof. (. D. Howe. Virginia may ask the bu- reau for help in mapping and study ing the forests of the state and Mis- sauri has expressed interest in an ex- animation of the forests of several counties.
 Recommendation for forest pre- serves before going before the legis- lature must be supported by reliable studies of the forest growth on the areas which it is proposed shall be reserved. New Hampshire, alarmed by the heavy cutting in the White mountains, has appropriated $5,0oe for an examination of that region by the bureau of forestry. and an ex- animation of the forest lands on Long island may form a part of the summers work of the bureau.