Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-09
put everything in order for the
evenings. festivities.
C0m'r. Violette
Outlines Adequate
Forestry Program
In Biennial Report

State Forest Commission Neil l..
Violette. In his biennial report which
was filed with the Governor and
Council Monday declares that If the
State Of Maine will continue to i'm
prove its forest fire protection sys-
tom, protect its pine from the blister
rust aud weevil, its spruce and fur
from the spruce budworm, its Iarch
from the saw-fly and case borer, and
its poplar and birch from the tent
caterpillar. and will encourage the
planting of trees and natural re-
forestation by private owners, it
would seem that with these two fun
damental principles-~protectio and
re-forestation-we have forest
policy that Is adequate for the pres
rent.
ITO carry out these two principles"
continues Commissioner Violette in
/ the report, the State should
strengthen its forest fire protection
system. continue Its appropriation for
control Of the white pine blister rust,
continue and finance forest entomo-
logy work to control If not to prevent
insect raEages and to establish q new
nursery to meet the large demand
for planting stock that cannot be
taken care of at the State forest
nursery at Orono.
Removal Of Slash
IAN earnest effort has been made
by the department to enforce the
slash law to organized towns. In 1921
and 1922 many people were found
who'd i'd not know that any such law
existed and the few who did know
of 1t were in doubt as to it's effective
ness in lessening the fire hazard,
During 1928 and 1924, however. due
to persistent publicity and the efforts
OF two inspectors, the law has be-
come well known and to be consider
ed an advantage. This Is proven by
thief act that many letters have been
received by the department asking
that TIE law be enforced in specific
localities, 500 slash permits being
issued in 1928 and 674 in 1924.
Closely allied with the slash law
Is the law requiring portable saw
mills to have license During 1921
and 1929 many attempts at evasion
were encountered. but during 1923
and 1924. mills were licensed on nm
plication by the owners. 1t was found
necessary to suspend the operation
OF two mills for q short time during
a particularly dry period, and under
hazardous fire conditions.
s'eSsstStSAy
THE general policy followed in
carrying on the entomology work has
been to concentrate as much as pos
sible on determining the best eco
nomic control for the more serious
forest insect pests. There can be no
question but that insects are destroy
Ing many times the amount of timber
that fire destroys. The amount of
spruce and fir already destroyed in
the State Is appalling and is very
conservatively estimated at 40 per
cent.
This constant destruction of the
forest Is proving heavy blow to the
lumber ana pulp industry, particular
ly the small land owner. 1t is having
serious effect on stream flow, the
amount OF game, and the sporting
camp business. Large numbers of
inquiries are received each year from
hotels and sporting camps request
Ing aid in saving trees around their
buildings. as camps surrounded by
dead timber have lifted attraction to
the tourist. The vast quantities of
dead timber. which in large mum.
Der OF townships already amounts to
between so and so per cent of the
total. softwood stand. add very ma.
terially to the fire hazard.
During the past two years thous-
ands of acres OF poplar and white
birch have been stripped by the for
est tent caterpillar. Large areas
larch have been defoliated by the
!arch case bearer. In several sections
OF the State the larch saw-fiy is
again becoming numerous. This in
sect entirely annihiIated the larch
from Maine about 1883. and condi-
tions are again becoming favorable
for outbreaks. Many stands of Dir
and pine have been serious injured
and In cases killed by sawfiies.
Considerable progress has been
made during the last two years in
laying the foundation Tor effective
insect control work in the forested
regions OF the state. An extensive
forest type is being made which de-
notes the areas in which outbreaks
are likely to start up. These areas
are being carefully watched. A large
amount OF time has been spent with
the wardens. patrolmcn and lookout
men. acQuainting them with the ma
ture Of forest insect outbreaks. In
this way It q expected that early re-
ports OF outbreaks viii be received
so that1control measures can be
started before an outbreak assumes
epidemic form. There IL no more
excuse for widespread depredations