Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-02

entire wooded area OF the state is now
embraced in the federal forest reserves.
That the remaining 20,0oO,WO acres of
its forests may be made to serve the
public interest in the fullest possible
measure. the State has solicited and
secured the cooperation Of the bureau of
forestry in working out proper forest
policy for it. Members OF the bureau
have. since July. 1908, examined over
Il .0O.0O acres of forest and brush
lands. and by the end of the year the
entire. State will have been covered. The
different types of land-as cumberland.
chaparral. pasture and agricultural land.
barrens. cut-over land, and burned land
will be mapped and the stand of tim
Der in each location will be roughly
estimated. Forest reserves may be in
creased in number or size, If land most
suitable for that purpose is found.
But the subject of paramount impor-
lance is the prevention and control of
fires. good opportunity for expert
ment along this line was afforded the
bureau by cooperation with the private
owner of an SO.oo0-acre tract. who had
previously introduced crude fire
protection system. A comprehensive
plan was outlined and its execution
begun. There has not been time for a
thorough trial. but its installation has
had an excellent effect. The nttrolling
Of the tract has been greatly improved.
ana the neighbors now voluntarily report
all fires, whether on or on the tract.
There has not been a serious fra on that
tract this season. This splendid showing
| is an impressive object lesson. 1t proves
the efficiency Of intelligent care and OF
! fighting at She start. The present
fire laws of the State are incomplete and
Inadequate. One result OF the work OF
the bureau will be the recommendation
OF fire law which. il adopted. will be
the hest ever passed by any state.
the most encouraging fact III forest
management is the growing determine
ton of large tmberland owners TO en-
ploy private foresters to handle their
holdings. This will ensure a method Of
numbering less wastctul than That at
present practiced, and. more important
| by far, it will be the means of bette.
protecting the forests and making them
Weld a continuous crop. such expert
control will be especially valuable IL
solving the problem of the best way to got
rid of the slash. which, until burned, is q
| constant menace to the forests ENtcn-
sivc experiments in slash burning have
already been carried on by the bureau
with satisfactory results.
| The bureau agents are also studying
the habits and rate OF growth Of sugar
and yellow pine to determine the prac'
ticability OF numbering so as to secure {;
second crop. The field work on these
studies is now about complete. \ report
on what growth and returns may be en-
pcted from plantations of different spe
cics of gum is nearly ready for trans
initial.
The study of chaparral has led to fruit
full practical conclusions. 1t shows II
California the same remarkable ability
to encroach upon and spread over oper
country that it exhibits in TcXas ant
elsewhere in the scmiarid portions of tho
southwest 1t makes satisfactory
watershed cover and almost CONSTANT,
replaces n forest destroyed by fire. lt'
composition varies with aspect and Gle
walton and with damage by fire,
The natural reproduction OF fores
trees has heen thoroughly investigated
by the bureau. together with the extern
OF the forest in tho past the effect OF hr'
upon forest reproduction. the contest be
tween chApurral and forest on burned
areas. and the rate Of growth Of youn,
forest trees. Every state which has larg
, valuable forests or u climate which de
, ln,ands extensive irrigation for farmln
: purposes should. in it's own interest
adopt Il definite and enlightened iores
policy. Work similar to that nearin