The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-11-05
A REPORT UPON FORESTRY WORK
Will be Submitted by Maryland to the
National Conservation Commission.


States to make report of what has
been done in forestry work to the ma
tional conservation commission appoint
ed bV President Roosevelt. 1t is also
stated that the information that the
State board Of forestry is to furnish will
probably be more complete than that of
any of the other States. The National
board expects to make report on con-
ditions throughout the country, as far
as can be learned, about the first Of the
YEAR
State Forester F. w. Besley said that
the Forestry Board was at work collect
ing the data showing what had been done
during the summer, apd expected to be
able to forward it to Washington in a
weeks time. With the information
will go maps of counties, showing the
timber tracts and indicating by means
of different colors just what kind of
trees predominant in each patch Of for
est land. Although the work has not
been completed all over the State.
Mr.. Besley said that very full informa-
ton could be furnished, and he expect
ed that within year there would be
maps of every section of Maryland.
During the past few months field sur
Veys and comprehensive studies of for
est conditions have been made in the
follow ng counties: Garrett, st Mary s,
Allegany, Calvert, Queen Anne and
Wicomico. Previous to that the work
had been completed in Prince Georges $,
Kent, Hartford and Worcester counties.
Maryland is better prepared to fur
nish the conservation committee with
useful information than almost any
oUher State that know of, - said Mr..
Besley. Many Of the States win make
conjectures and draw conclusions. but
we have been careful in obtaining our
data, and the information that we offer
will be the result of accurate inspection.
The maps are especially good and show
the conditions at a glance in each Of
the counties in which work has been
completed. 1t is our intention to draw
up State map after all the counties
have been completed. We have gained
much valuable knowledge through some
of the recent surveys. In Prince
Georges ard Wicomico counties it has
been ascertain.d that cultivation Of
some pretty good tracts of land has been
abandoned in recent years, and these
are rapidly being covered with timber
The same is true to some extent of
Prince Georges and Calvert counties.
In other sections of the State we find
the reverse of this is true, a good deal
Of forest land have lately been taken
over for agricultural purposes.
The organization of body of forest
wardens twa years ago has turned out
to have been an excellent move and
these men have done good work along
the line of collecting data They have
also been able during the last few
months to keep down the loss through
forest fires. We have not suffered as
have some Of the adjacent States in this
respect. There have been some fires in
Allegany and Garrett counties, but they
were soon gotten under control. You
see, the wardens have the power to
employ men to help them in time
of great emergency. Just now there
are big fires in West Virginia, but |
don't think there is much danger of the
flames spreading into Maryland
Il expect to start on a rather extern
sive trip through the Eastern Shore
about the first of November. and will
make careful examination of all wood
lots in that section. A good many APP
plications are beginning to come to us
from farmers and landowner who de-
sire to take advantage of section of
the State Forest Laws, which provides
that the State forester shall, upon re-
quest and under the sanction of the
bOdid VI lOlCotiJ' corporate WIFI
counties, towns, corporations and in
dividuals in preparing plans for the pro-
lection, management and replacement
of trees, wood lots and timber tracts.
under an agreement that the parties OBJ
tanning such assistance pay at least the
field expenses of the men employed in
preparing the plans.
THE forestry department at the
State Agricultural College is doing a
good work in an educational line and |
will soon begin the work Of preparing
the lectures which will deliver there
during January, February and March.
Last session 81 young men took these
courses. ~ Baltimore Sun.
When in town don't pass me by but