The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-03-29
FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1899
REPORT OF THE STATE FORES
TRY DEPARTMENT

REPORT OF THE STATE FORES-
TRY DEPARTMENT
We are in receipt of the annual
report of the State Department of
Forestry, covering the year Oct. l.,
1927, to Sept. 80, 1928. The intro
duction to the report states:
The year has marked a distinct
advance in forestry work along all
lines, but more particularly in forest
protection and reforestation. 1t has
been possible, through the increase
in appropriations for protection and
a large allotment from the Federal
Government, to extend the field or
ganization, to give better supervi-
sion, to keep in closer contact with
the work of the forest wardens, and
to build up better esprit de corps
in the service generally. Efficiency
has been greatly increased by the
employment, during the fire season,
of additional fire patrolmen or
smoke chasers; by equipping the
wardens with additional fire fighting
tools; by securing better co-opera-
ton from private owners in fire pre-
vention: and by more effective CO.
operation with the railroads under
the Safety Strip law, with the result
that the size of the average fire has
been greatly reduced in acreage,
with corresponding reduction OF
damage. Since this was accomplish
ed, during what may be considered
two normal fire seasons, the results
are most gratifying.
Interest in forest planting is de-
veloping rapidly, as indicated by the
numerous requests for forest plant
ing stock and the number Of plan
tations made during the year. These
exceeded over one hundred. The
State Forest Nursery, which distrib-
utes this stock at cost to landowners
of the State. has been unable to meet
the demand, but in the next year it
rs expected that the nursery VII
lreach an output of one million
trees, and it will be built up in the
next two years to approximately two
million trees annually, which should
be sufficient to take care Of norma
years even, with the stimulated in
Eterest that is now shown in refores
tation.
The next important advance IL
forestry should be along the lines Of
extending the State Forests to in
clude large areas of forest land, par
lticularly in Western Maryland, thai
are now non-productive, but which
acquired as State Forests at a low
cost per acre would be built up into
source of revenue to the State, II
timber production, watershed pro
lection, and recreation areas. Plan:
have been formulated for presenting
this matter for legislative action il
1929.
The Department is constantly en-
deavoring to assist the private own
ers of woodlands in every way posi-
BILE, and has kept up the plan started
many years ago. This consists OF
making an examination of the wood.
land when requested by the owner
and discussing with him on the
grounds plan of management
This plan is then written up in the
form of a report, with recommends
tions, and submitted to the owner
One hundred examinations of this
kind were made during the past tis-
cal year in seventeen counties, and
covered S,761 acres of land, or an
average woodland of 8S acres.
If the preliminary examination
shows that there is sufficient timber
ready for cutting to make Timber
operation practicable, then further
assistance is offered in selecting the
trees for cutting, estimating the
amount and value of the timber to
be cut and plan of operation.
Twelve of these seelctive markings
and estimates were made in eight
counties. with an average of Sc acres
per marking. In addition, three es-
Inmates in three counties of 2O4
acres. or IS acres per estimate, were
made.