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order to conserve them substitutes must be used. There are going to waste in our Forest Preserve enormous water powers which should be utilized, and their use would greatly conserve our coal supply. However, such steps cannot be taken because sufficient dams to store the water and produce the necessary fall would flood some State land. The actual results are amply set forth in the annual report of the State Water Supply Commission.

The proper use of our great Forest Preserve is a matter of vital importance and its wise use is a public benefit. The restrictions imposed by the present Constitution do not seem to secure the greatest benefits. There rests upon the people of this State, on account of the importance of these matters, a great responsibility,- a responsibility which cannot be shirked.

INVESTIGATIONS

We have already referred, in this report, to the utilization of unused land by growing forest crops. Such crops are of various kinds and adapted to different soils. In order to assist landowners in this State who are interested in producing wood crops which could be harvested at a profit in a short time an investigation of osier culture was made. The growing of osiers for the basket willow industry is not new in this State and has been carried on extensively at several places. According to the census of 1900 there were in this State 366 acres devoted to growing willows; the value of the raw product for that year was $22,585; while $69,000 worth was consumed within the State; and the manufactured product was worth $228,096.

The State of New York in 1907 led the other States of the Union in the production of willows and our farmers are making money from this culture. There is, however, much information that should be gathered and the result carefully studied. In order to make a success of the work it is necessary to produce a good grade of rod, which can be accomplished by using the proper method. To extend and improve the industry an investigation has been made. This work was done by the late E. Seymour Woodruff, a forester of this Department, whose sudden death has prevented the preparation of a report at present.

Mr. Woodruff also made a study of the wood distillation industry in the Catskills, but this report also has been delayed by his untimely death.

170 FOURTEENTH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER.

We are often called upon to give advice to owners of wood lots. The time has arrived when such land should be given attention, and it is most profitable to do so. These lands are just as deserving of proper management as any of our best agricultural soils, except that such management would be less intense. We must consider these wood lots at present as the future source of valuable wood supplies. At present almost no attention is being given them and Nature has full charge. It can be said that Nature is no more capable of managing these lands than she would be to practice agriculture. Forestry is growing wood crops the same as agriculture is producing food crops. Nature is too wastful, erratic and too slow to be allowed to take her own course in growing forests. The forces of Nature need directing. Planting is necessary in some cases, thinning out the growth in other places. Steps should be taken at once to secure reliable data in regard to this work and make practical demonstrations in different parts of the State in order to give our landowners proper advice. The value of forests to the community is so great that any expense in this work will be repaid a hundred times over. When the private owner has been shown that forestry methods are more profitable than the plans now in vogue, then our forests will be preserved, and increased as an investment. It has been the policy of this Department to give advice as far as our time will permit. The work will be continued, and, if possible, such information should be combined in a report for general use.

Very respectfully,

ALBANY, December 31, 1908.

C. R. PETTIS,

State Forester.

For the year 1909

HON. JAMES S. WHIPPLE, Forest, Fish and Game Commissioner:

SIR. The first topic to be touched in the yearly report of this Department of the Commission would, of course, be nothing else than the closing of the service of Col. William F. Fox as State Superintendent of Forests. For twenty-four years Colonel Fox was the guide and guardian of the forestry interests of this State, being Superintendent of Forests since the creation of the office. During that time, New York took the initiative among the states in three important directions first, in fire protection under public authority; second, in the acquisition of a State forest preserve; third, by the encouragement of tree planting on an extensive scale. In all this advance, Colonel Fox had a most important part. Amidst the eddies and cross currents that swirled around him, he stood quiet and watchful, seizing whatever came within his reach for the benefit of the State's interest in forestry. He grasped firmly the big movement of his day the acquisi

tion of land by the State and his judgment in the minor matters connected with its acquisition is now being vindicated. His fine personal qualities are best testified to by the fact that he is sincerely mourned by all his subordinates and associates. A more general sketch of his life and services will be found elsewhere in this volume.

The duties of the office were taken up by his successor in the very last days of June.

Blister Rust of Pines

The first matter to engage attention was a disease of white pine introduced in the spring on planting stock imported from Germany. White pine is recognized as the most valuable and promising forest tree of the northeastern States and anything that seriously threatens it is of great

moment to the country. During the past few years white pine groves have been suffering from a "blight" whose damage apparently is fortunately now on the wane. This new trouble came to us with a record of serious damage in Europe and all the chances of multiplication and destruction that an importation threatens. Discovered by Mr. Pettis of this Department on stock imported from one of the great German firms, from whose nurseries shipments had been made to many of the eastern States, the situation was thought threatening, and on June 28th a conference of eastern foresters and agricultural authorities was called by yourself to consider it. The result of the deliberations held was the conclusion that plantations of stock from this nursery ought to be inspected and strict precautions taken in the matter of future importations. It is too bad to check in any degree the strong and wholesome movement for forest planting that in all this section of the country has just fairly started, but it is far better to do this than to jeopardize in the least degree our white pine resources, both natural and planted.

During the season just passed, the foresters of this office have, in cooperation with employees of the Agricultural Department, carried out the inspection work outlined for the season; and next spring the supplementary work required will be prosecuted.

Mr. Pettis contributes an article to this report on the scientific aspects of the subject and on the protective work as carried out or planned.

Highlands of the Hudson Forest Reservation

The New York Legislature in the session of 1909 passed a bill which, in effect, creates a district in which the perpetuation and improvement of the forest growth is declared to be of public importance; and in which provision is made for promoting this purpose by providing for a resident forester, and extending over the reservation in general terms, certain protective and regulative principles. This law is something of a novelty in American forest legislation. It attempts to secure an end, declared to be of public importance, through regulation of the owner in the use of his own land. In this respect, it is entirely in line with the practice of older countries; and, without doubt, similar regulation will, in time, have to

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