The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-12-26
FORESTRY IN VERMONT
Article by ENGoW =. D. Proctor IN Re-
laton to Deferred Forestry

The Hon. Fletcher ID. Proctor con-
tributes an article to a series by New
England executives, In Deferred For
estry" printed In the New England
Magazine for December In relation to
the subject Of forestry In Vermont ex-
Gov. Proctor says:
Approximately 60 per cent OF the
area OF our state Is forest or wild land,
and this vast area ought to be made
more productive and Of greater value
to it's owners and the people. Large
tracts Of former pastures or even titled
fields are now gradually being re-
claimed by nature and are growing up
to young trees. While this has been
a source Of regret and apprehension
In the past, and has led to much dis
cussion as TO what should be done with
our so-called abandoned farms, we are
beginning TO realize that II may all
be turned to q source OF profit to the
owners and to the state. II this land
were reclaimed and brought back to
state of cultivation It could not COM
pete agriculturally with the vast areas
of more productive agricultural land.
Besides the question of making the
land of greater value to the owners,
there is also involved the preservation
of our water supplies. II we neglect
our forests and cut them without 1udg-
ment our water powers will be serious
ly impaired, not only the larger ones
so necessary at manufacturing centers,
but also the great number OF small
mowers scattered throughout the state
which are or ought to be of great val
ue to their respective communities.
II we strip our hills and mountain
sides and do not take proper care 10
replace their forest growth the danger
of floods in the spring time VIII be
greatly increased, causing damage 10
small mill properties and seriously
destroying bridges and injuring high
ways. In the end the domestic water
supplies of our villages and cities are
also quite sure to be seriously anected.
Thus both directly and indirectly
proper forest encouragement and man
agement is necessary to the best inter
ests OF all the people OF the state. IL
is no longer theory or simply an
aesthetic question, but very practical
one. Vermont has already begun TO
recognize her duty in this regard. In
/ 904 the legislature provided that the
governor should designate one OF the
members Of the board of agriculture
to act as a forestry commissioner and
that the first selectman Of each town
should take measures to control aud
extinguish forest fires. II also exem-
pted from taxation for ten years UNI
\ cultivated lands planted with timber
or forest trees under certain condit-
ions. The legislature Of 1906 apprO-
priated $500 annually for FIVE years for
the purpose of aiding in the establish
ment and maintenance Of a nursery
for the propagation of forest seedlings
of useful varieties at the Vermont az
rlcultural experiment station. The
commission on taxation in their report
recommend changes In the taxation OF
timber lands for the purpose OF encour
aging their cultivation and preserva-
ton
All this has been in the right direc-
ltion but II does not go far enough Yer
mont should have a distinct forest
policy of her own. That this may be
successfully inaugurated and carried
Oh We euoulu nave a nAhA' Abi'oN'A
educated and trained along the most
advanced and approved lines who shall
give his entire time to the study of
forest conditions as they exist In Yer
mont. with a view TO their practical
and permanent improvement. This
policy has been adopted by many OF
TIE states. and II Is most successfully
pursued by the national preserves un'
der its Jurisdiction. Such a forester
should carry or publicity and educa-
tional work. freely advise with indiy-
dual owners, supervise our forest fire
laws, which ought to be strengthened
and made more efficient. eventually
take charge Of the state nurseries for
forest seedlings, and in a general way
formulate and conduct a policy so vi'
tai to the true prosperity OF the state
While this will entail some expense
I believe the state can undertake no
work nor assume any equivalent eX
pense that would yield TO her people
greater returns than an advanced for
estry policy wisely and progressively
conducted