The terms of those first appointed are until the first Monday in
May, 1924, and thereafter for two years from the first Monday in May.
Ch. 29,1922.

The Department of Forestry was created and organized to protect
and develop the valuable timber and tree products of the State, and to
carry 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 of the timber lands of the State. While
the power of the Forestry Department rests with the Regents of the Uni-
versity, acting through the Advisory 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 1411 Fidelity Building, Baltimore.

Scientific Staff:

F. W. Besley, State Forester .. . Baltimore
Karl E. Pfeiffer, Assistant State Forester . Baltimore
Walter J. Quick, Jr., Assistant Forester Baltimore
Richard C. Kilbourne, Assistant Forester College Park
H. C. Buckingham, District Forester Cumberland
C. F. Winslow, District Forester . . . Laurel
Kenneth J. Seigworth, District Forester . Salisbury

The State Forester has studied the timber interests of each of the
twenty-three counties in detail and the statistics and information col
lected are published for free distribution, accompanied by a valuable
timber map to all who may apply. He will co-operate with counties,
towns, corporations and individuals, in preparing plans for the protec-
tion, management and replacement of trees, woodlots and timber tracts
under an agreement that the party obtaining such assistance pay at
least the field expenses of the men employed. An important work of
the Forester is to encourage methods of preventing and extinguishing
forest fires which annually destroy thousands of dollars worth of young
timber. For this purpose a forest protection system has been established.
The state is divided into three districts, each in charge of a District
Forester, assisted by seven part-time District Forest Wardens and 650
Forest Wardens. There is also a system of 18 lockout towers for detect-
ing forest fires and 18 forest guards to respond promptly to fire calls.

The laws against setting out fires are very strict. The State and
County divide the expense of extinguishing fires.

The Department also administers ten state forests, comprising 37,300
acres in nine different counties. The main. purpose of these forests is
for timber growing and watershed protection, but they also serve as a
recreation ground for the people of the State, being visited every year
by thousands for camping and other forms of recreation.

The Roadside Tree Law directs the Department of Forestry to care for
those trees growing within the right-of-way of any public highway in the
State, and no tree can be cut or trimmed by a corporation or individual
without a permit from the Forestry Department, after application has
been made to the State Forester. The Forestry Department cooperates
with the State Roads Commission in tree planting along state highways.
A State Forest Nursery) established in 1914, furnishes trees at coat
for forest planting and for planting along roadsides.

STATE WEATHER SERVICE.
Name. Postoffice.

Edward B. Mathews, Director . .. .. . Baltimore
John R. Weeks, Meteorologist, U. S. Custom House .. . . Baltimore