PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY. SUBSCRIPTION, ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR. The attention of Nurserymen and others is called to the advantages of FOREST LEAVES as an advertising medium. Rates will be furnished on application. Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association 2 Report of General Secretary The National Forests 4578∞ Treasurer's Report One of Our Highlands Report of the Council of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. "Governor Brumbaugh's Message" Experiencing a Shortage in Local Timber Chips.. The United Sportsmen and What They Are Doing for Forests and Wild Life THE PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, 8 9 II 13 13 14 15 Labors to disseminate information in regard to the necessity and methods of forest culture and LIFE MEMBERSHIP, TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS. Neither the membership nor the work of this Association is intended to be limited to the State of Pennsylvania. Persons desiring to become members should send their names to the Chairman of the Membership Committee, 1012 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. President Emeritus, Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. Vice-Presidents, Robert S. Conklin, Wm. S. Harvey, Albert Lewis, Col. R. Bruce Ricketts, Samuel L. Smedley Vol. XVI.- No. 1 TH PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as second-class matter. PHILADELPHIA, FEBRUARY, 1917 EDITORIALS. HE Allied Fish, Game and Forestry Associations of eastern Pennsylvania had their meeting in Harrisburg, January 4th, 5th and 6th. The Pennsylvania Forestry Department and the Pennsylvania Forestry Association were represented in the meeting. Most, if not all, of the organizations of outers in the State had been invited, either: "to throw up their hands by casting to the winds the principles and objects of your Association;" or to "join with the other Associations of the southeastern section of the State in forming the views of a section whose geographic and climatic conditions are the same."' This would seem to be the proper place to say, that the reason why the Pennsylvania Forestry Association did not throw up its hands, is that for more than thirty years it has been aiding in bringing the sentiment of the State to the very point for which the Allied organizations are now earnestly laboring. To be explicit : The Pennsylvania Forestry is thirty-one years old; with the exception of one short-lived association, it is the oldest State Forestry Association in America. When it began its useful career the word "Forestry" was practically a new term in the country. The Association employed its agent to go over the State and give illustrated lectures, showing the deplorable condition to which lumbering had reduced a large portion of the Commonwealth. It also prepared and influenced the enactment of wise forestry laws. The bill creating the first Forestry Commission was drawn up in the office of the Association by its secretary, and through the direct influence of leading trade, commercial and educational agencies enlisted by the Forestry Association, that bill became a law. The present State Department of Forestry is the direct outcome of the report of that Commission and of the aid received from the "State Federation of Pennsylvania Women." When that Forestry Commission was created, the State owned not an acre of Forest Reserve. It has now more than a million acres ! Because of the influences, and the educational agencies of the Whole Number 177 Department of Forestry, the State has at last become awakened to the wickedness and the uselessness of forest fires. The claim of the citizens of the State upon its lands as outing grounds was first distinctly, authoritatively recognized in 1900, when the following notice was posted on State Lands: This Land Belongs to the State of Pennsylvania Destruction or Removal of Timber or other property is Forbidden Lawful Hunting and Fishing are allowed on State Lands; but Fires must not be started COMMISSIONER OF FORESTRY. Every year thousands of people go into camp on the State Forest Reserves, and are welcomed there. Hundreds of cabins, summer homes, and bungalows, for a mere nominal rent, have already, or will in the near future, be located on State Land. The first free Sanatorium for consumptive citizens of the State was instituted by the Department of Forestry on State Land, and out of it has been developed by the efficiency and wisdom of Dr. Dixon, a great charity which is a crown of glory to the Commonwealth. Before even the first State land for a game reserve was asked for it was offered by the Department of Forestry. That there is yet so small an area of State Reserve on the Ohio watershed is no fault of the Department of Forestry, or of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. It has been diligently sought for under exactly the same conditions as every acre of the existing reserves were purchased. These facts are plain to all who care to recognize them! Now, gentlemen of the Allied organizations, we wish you success in your plans, for they are in line with our own. We will aid you whenever, wherever possible, and we will sincerely welcome like help from you. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association was formed for a definite purpose. It has been the motive power that (in the words of Dr. Fernow, the most distinguished forester in America) led to "the only statesmanlike forest policy possessed by any State in the Union." It cannot throw up its hands and quit, for more than a hundred life memberships have claims upon it. It has received for maintenance by gift and by legacy thousands of dollars which it cannot alienate, but it can welcome you to membership within its own body, or as organizations to federation with us. Come! There is work enough for all. J. T. R. * DR. ROTHROCK's editorial in the December number of FOREST LEAVES, presenting a short summary of the record of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, contains a fitting reference to our past president, John Birkinbine, who for so many years faithfully guarded and forwarded the work and interests of the Association. And now it is for us all who love and have loved and appreciated Dr. Rothrock himself,-who have sat at his feet and learned from him lessons of patriotic endeavor, of unselfish and heartfelt devotion to the public service, to pay him tribute of our esteem and affection, and of our admiration of his great qualities of head and heart, always working for others and for the public good,-rarely, if ever, for himself. It has been my great and valued privilege to know him for a life-time,-since far back in 1871, when he was a young physician at Wilkes-Barre, and I a colliery clerk at a Colliery out on the Plains nearby. Service such as he has quietly, unobtrusively, unselfishly, rendered to our State, is unequalled in its record of absolute altruistic endeavor a record of negation of self-of devotion to ideals, and as it happens of very practical ideals,-of public service. By it all he has won the love of those privileged to know him well, and the esteem of his fellow citizens of this old Keystone State. We, who have been admitted to learn from him and to follow, though afar, in his footsteps,-feel a great loss in his insistence on retirement from the presidency of our Association; but he has well earned the right to rest from responsibility, and we know that. his big heart and his devotion to forestry will ensure to the Association and the forestry interests of the State the benefit of his oversight and care as long as he lives. So we hail him as our President Emeritus-honored and loved,—a leader who is so instinctively looked up to and followed that whatever position he may elect to fill he is and will be the leader of leaders in the Forestry Cult of our State. H. S. D. Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. T THE annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association was held at 1012 Walnut St., Philadelphia, on Monday, December 11th, 1916, at 3 P. M. President J. T. Rothrock in the chair. The Report of the Council, Address of the President, also Reports of the General Secretary and the Treasurer were read. These will all be found on other pages. The Nominating Committee presented a ballot, and stated that it had added a new official, viz.: Dr. J. T. Rothrock, President Emeritus. It was duly moved and carried that the new office be approved. Mr. Irvin C. Williams and Mr. Oliver C. Hillard were appointed tellers of election, and on collecting the ballots declared that the following officers were unanimously elected : President Emeritus, Dr. J. T. Rothrock. Albert Lewis, Col. R. Bruce Ricketts, General Secretary, Samuel Marshall. COUNCIL. Adams County, C. E. Stahle. Beaver County, Robert W. Darragh. Blair County, Jos. S. Sillyman. Clarion County, Jos. M. Fox. Delaware County, Miss Martha M. Brown, Joseph Elkinton, Greene County, A. H. Sayers. Lancaster County, Horace L. Haldemann, Mrs. Eckley B. Coxe, William R. Ricketts. Lycoming County, Arthur B. Wells. McKean County, Elisha K. Kane. Mifflin County, D. Kerr Warfield. Monroe County, Dr. Wm. R. Fisher. Montgomery County, Isaac H. Clothier, Dr. H. M. Fisher, Miss Mary K. Gibson, Dr. J. Newton Hunsberger, Montour County, H. T. Hecht. Northumberland County, C. Q. McWilliams. Philadelphia County, Dr. J. M. Anders, Owen M. Bruner, W. Warner Harper, Mrs. Geo. de B. Keim, Pike County, John E. Avery. Wayne County, Alonzo T. Searle. Westmoreland County, Hon. Lucien W. Doty. York County, Samuel Small, Jr. Dr. Henry S. Drinker was then presented as President, and in a few words pledged his continued support and best endeavors in the cause to which our Association is devoted. The Auditing Committee reported that the books of the Treasurer had been examined and found correct. Prof. R. W. Hall spoke of the necessity of securing more members. The Boy Scouts win a point by having a knowledge of a certain number of trees, and if they could be interested it would be advantageous, as they are the coming citizens of the State. In reply to a query as to the reported prevalence of the White Pine Blister Rust in the Pocono Lake Preserve, Mr. I. C. Williams stated that it was not known in that region. He then gave a description of that disease, also of the white pine weevil, an insect which burrows into white pine shoots. Mr. Geo. H. Wirt, Chief of the State Bureau of Forest Protection, referred to forest fires, and the educational work which is being done in order to have people realize what the annual loss by forest fires means. Although this is usually given at from $500,000 to $600,000 the damage to the young trees and soil, together with other losses, means a direct loss to the State of many times this sum. In addition human lives were also sacrificed. There were evidences of a growth of public sentiment which was shown in some cases by voluntary payment by offenders, of losses incurred through forest fires. In other cases, where there was sufficient evidence, those starting forest fires would be prosecuted. Mr. Joseph Johnson stated that a vigorous campaign should be made at Harrisburg to secure sufficient appropriations for forestry work, and thought these could be secured. On motion adjourned. Arrangements have been completed for cooperation between the Department of Forestry and the State Highway Department in planting shade and fruit trees along the State Highways. The Department of Forestry will grow the trees from seed in its big nurseries. They will be transplanted into areas set aside for the purpose, and when they have reached suitable size the trees will be turned over to the Highway Department and private good-roads organizations for planting. Missouri has been planting fruit and nut-bearing trees along state roads for a number of years. Many of the trees are now bearing, and very little of the fruit is stolen. The idea is favored by Governor Brumbaugh. |