STATE BOARD OF FORESTRY.
Johns Hopkins University.

Ex-Officio Members:

Governor Albert C. Ritchie............................ Baltimore
Comptroller B. Brooke Lee............................. Baltimore
President J. H. U„ Frank J. Goodnow..................Baltimore
President M. A. C., A. F. Woods.................... .College Park
Edward B. Mathews, State Geologist. .................. .Baltimore

Appointed by the Governor:

Robert Garrett........................................Baltimore
W. McC. Brown. .................................... .Baltimore

State Forester:
F. W. Besley, Johns Hopkins University................Baltimore

The Board consists of the Governor, Comptroller, President of Johns
Hopkins University, President of Maryland Agricultural College, State
Geologist, and two members appointed by the Governor for a term of two
years. One of those appointed by the Governor shall be a practical lum-
berman and one known to be interested in the advancement of forestry.
(Ch. 294.1906.)

The State Board of Forestry was created and organized to protect
and develop the valuable timber and tree products of the State, and to
earn' on a campaign of education and to instruct counties, towns, cor-
porations and individuals as to the advantages and necessity of protect-
ing from fire and other enemies the timber lands of the State. While
the power of the Forest Department rests with the Board, the detail
work is in the hands and under the management of the State Forester,
who is secretary of the Board, and all correspondence and inquiries
should be addressed to him at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.
The State Forester has studied the timber interests of each of the twenty-
three counties in detail and the statistics and information collected are
published for free distribution, accompanied by a valuable timber map
to all who may apply. He will co-operate with counties, towns, corpora-
tions and individuals, in preparing plans for the protection, management
and replacement of trees, woodlots and timber tracts under an agree-
ment that the party obtaining such assistance pay at least the field ex-
penses of the men employed. A great work of the Forester is to use
means to prevent and to extinguish forest fires which are liable to de-
stroy annually thousands of dollars worth of young timber. For this
purpose there is a well established system of lockout stations, and of
patrol in conjunction with the U. S. Government. A force of about 120
men are distributed throughout the State, who are constantly upon the
watch to discover and extinguish fires; giving particular attention during
the danger seasons in spring and fall. The laws against setting out fires
are very strict. The State and the county divide the expense of extin-
guishing fires.

By a recent law the Board of Forestry is directed to care for ' ' road-
side trees" or those growing within the right-of-way of any public high-
way in the State, and no tree can be cut or trimmed by a corporation or
individual without a permit from a Forest Warden, after application to
the State Forester. The same Act makes it illegal to post commercial
advertising signs on trees, or along highways, and citizens are empowered
and Forest Wardens directed to remove them.

To advance the cause of forestry, the State Forester and his assist-
ants give on an average fifty free illustrated lectures a year before
schools, societies, and interested organizations. The Forester will welcome
inquiry on all forest subjects, and will gladly give information de-
sired if available.