The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1915-01-15
what Forestry Has Done in Maryland

In 1906 there was organized in
Maryland a State Board of Forestry.
The Board had for it's executive
head State Forester, and ii was civ
en- him to devise ways and means OF
handling more wisely and with q
greater degree of profit the woodland
OF the State-Woodland which until
then had been entirely without that
judiCiOus management which imprOv-
es through use, and which for many
years had been deteriorating in quail
ity, while growing appreciably less
in area and quantity.
The forests of Maryland now cover,
in the aggregate, over two million
acres of land, thirty-five per cent. OF
the State. 10 set about the work of
improving so large a track was not
a small task. Studies OF the forests
in each county were made, fire pro-
lection system organized to cover
the State, and such other methods
were adopted as might aid In the
management and care of the forests
OF Maryland. "A start was made Id
1906. At the present time the Mary
land State Board OF Forestry has
reached permanent and substantial
footing. Its work has steadily in
creased, new responsibilities have
been added, and to-day its import
ance and usefulness are felt in all
parts OF the State.
In Western Maryland, the noun
tain section, the Board Is best known
for its system of protection from for
est fires. Seven observation or look
out stations are now located there in
advantageous places, where a view OF
the surrounding country may be had
for many miles. Forest fires, Ii they
spring up, may BE- easily seen and
quickly reported over a large area Of
wooded country. The State Forest
Wardens, thirteen OF whom act in
conjunction with the u. s. Forest
Service as Federal Patrolmen, keep
a strict watch over such country
throughout the dry seasons Of late
spring and fall. The State Forest
Wardens now comprise a force Of
135 men, selected for their ability to
perform the required duties of their
Office. In three years the loss in
Maryland from forest fires was re-
duced from $225,O0O to $4,000. For
est Fire Protection in Maryland
should be judged by what IL has &C
complished.
In other fields OF endeavor q def
mite program of work has been ar
ranged and carried out With any
new issue or work it almost always
becomes necessary, first or all, to
educate the people concerned to a.
full realization OF Its Importance and
real meaning of them. Since the or
ganization OF Forestry In Maryland
a campaign Of popular education has
been vigorously carried on in all parts
of the State. As an indication of
the growth in this one branch OF the
work, it may be added that in the
year just past twelve exhibitions and
demonstrations in Forestry were Civ
en- at as many State and County
Fairs; nineteen educational exhibits
have been sent to Public schools;
and siXty-two illustrated lectures
have been given before the churches,
schools, clubs, oranges, and other
organizations Of the State.
The State Board of Forestry has
acquired through purchase or gift
2,570 acres Of State forest In addi-
tiCn. there are several tracts Of
woodland, amounting to 1,038 acres,
which, by mutual agreement with
their owners, are now under the
management. and supervision of the
Board. This land il well distributed
over the State, and is being managed
with an eye to it, improvement
through practical, applied Forestry.
lit il held as a public park, where
residents of the State may, free Of
cost, enjoy the recreation and healthy
pastimes of outdoor life.
I'm 1914 the State Forester examin-
ed and prepared plans for the man
agement and improvement of twenty
one separate pieces of woodland, in
the aggregate zoos acres of forest,
which from now on will receive the
benefits Of improved handling and
more economic use. The forests of
the State have been mapped and est
mated, and complete reports prepared
for many OF the counties.
In the same length of time a quar-
ter of a million young forest trees
have been planted by the Board. 3d.
600 going toward the reforestation
of waste lands within the State For
est Nursery at College Park. Here
varieties of valuable trees best
adapted to local conditions of soil
and climate are furnished at cost to
land owners who may desire them
for the improvement of roads and
streets, or retaining waste lands
with forest trees.
The passage OF the Roadside Tree
Law (Chapter S24, Acts Of 1910 at
the last session OF the Legislature
was instrumental in placing all pub
licly owned trees under the super
vision and care of the State Board
OF Forestry, at the same time max
ing the unauthorized posting of adj
vertising matter within any right-of-
way a misdemeanor. In the six
months in which the trimming and
cutting Of Roadside Trees has been
done under the direct supervision Of
State Forest Wardens, a total of
$500 trees have been cut or trimmed
according to the best methods of
tree surgery. Not only those whose
property adjoins these trees along