Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1915-01-14
Editor.


In 1906 there was organized IN
Maryland State Board of Forestry.
The Board had for its executive
head State Forester, and il was
given him to devise ways and means
Of handling more wisely and with a
greater degree Of profit the wood
land Of the State-woodland which
until then had been entirely without
that judicoias management which
improves through use, and which
for many years had been deteriorat-
ing in quality, while growing APP
preciable less in area and quality.
The forests Of Maryland nov
cover, in the aggregate, over two
million acres of land, thirty-five
per cent Of the State. To set about
the work Of improving so large a
tract was not a small task. Studies
Of the forests in each county were
made, FIRE protection system or
gained 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 in 1906. At the
present time the Maryland State
Board Of Forestry has reached a per-
manent and substantial footing. Its
work has steadily increased, new re-
sponsfbilities have been added, and
today It's importance and usefulness
are lett in all parts of the State.
In Western Maryland, the noun
tain section, the Board is best known
for its system of protection from
forest fires, Seven observation or
lookout stations are now located
there in advantageous places, where
a view OF the surrounding country
may be had for many miles. Forest
fires, if 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 L. S. Forest Service as Federal
PatrOlmen, keep a strict watch over
such country throughout the dry
seasons Of late spring and fall. The
Forest Wardens now comprise a
force of 1875 men, selected for their
ability to perform the required
duties Of their Office. In three yeSrs
the loss in Maryland from forest
fires waI reduced from 1925, 900 TO
$4,000. Forest Fire Protection in
Maryland should be judged by what
IL has accomplished.
In other fields of endeavor a def
mite program of work has been ar
ranged and carried out. With any
new issue or work il almost always
becomes necessary, first of all, to
educate the people concerned to a
full realization of its Importance
and real meaning to them. Since
the organization Of Forestry in
Maryland a campaign of. popular
education has been vigorously car
ried 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 demonstra-
tions in Forestry were given at as
many State and County Fairs; nine
teen educational exhibits have been
sent to Public Schools; and sixty
two illustrated lectures have been
given before the churches, schools,
clubs, oranges and other organiza-
tiOns of the State.
The State Board of Forestry has
acquired through purchase or gift
1870 acres of State forest. In adj
dition, there are several tracts of
of woodland, amounting to l,O3s
ARES, which, by mutual agreement
with their owners, are now under
the management and supervision of
the Board. This land is well dis
tributed over the State, aud is be-
ing managed with an eye to its i'm
provement through practical, APP
piled forestry. 1t is held as a pub
lie park, where residents of the state
may, free of cost, enjoy the recre-
alton and healthy pastimes of out
door life.
In 1914 the State Forester ex-
amined and prepared plans for the
IF twantvo,,a sa,,o-o.,