UMASS/AMHERST 
 
 31E0bbDDSaDmS3 
 
LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS 
 
 AGRICULTURAL 
 
 COLLEGE 
 
 so u Rc c na ss . SosL.^Y. PrcjT«3io^./Wi 
 ?. l8S3-lill 
 
 S 
 
 73 
 B27 
 

 Protection of the Forests of the 
 Commonwealthr^ 
 
 The necessity for a law nmre compreliensive than can now be 
 found upon the Statute Books of Massacliusetts for the protection 
 of forests against fire, has long been felt by all persons interested 
 in forest property. The damage inflicted every year by forest 
 fires in this Mate is very large. The damage is not confined to 
 the actual destruction of trees. Forest fires destroy the forest, 
 the fertility of the soil, and consequently its capacity to reproduce 
 the forest gn-wtli tlius desti-oyed. The gradual deterioration in the 
 composition of the forest, the result of fire, represents a more 
 permanent and serious loss to the State than the destruction of a 
 single forest crop. The frequent occurrence of forest fires 
 destroys confidence in the value of forest property. A community 
 in which no real effort is made to prevent or control forest fires, 
 has little encouragement to improve or extend its forests. The 
 fear of forest fires makes investments in forest property insecure 
 and undesirable ; it prevents forest planting, and causes the 
 premature cutting of immature forests. Any attempt to improve 
 •the forests of the State is useless until they can be secured greater 
 immunity from fire. 
 
 The law already sufficiently provides for the protection of the 
 forest against fires originating in malice and wanton recklessitess, 
 by the following sections : \ 
 
 \ 
 
 
PuiiLIC StATUTKS. ClIAI'TER 203. 
 
 Skption 5. Whoever willfully and maliciously burns or otherwise 
 destroys or injures a pile or parcel of wood * * * or any standin;? tree 
 * * * of another shall he punished by imprisonment in the State prison 
 not exceeding five years, or by fine not exceeding five hundred dollars 
 and imprisonment in the jail not exceeding one year. 
 
 1882. CHArTKK 163. 
 Section 1. Whoever wantonly and recklessly sets fire to any mate- 
 rials which causes the destruction or injury of any growing or standing 
 wood of another shall be punished by fine not exceeding one hundred 
 dollars, or by imprisonment in jail not exceeding six months. 
 
 Forest fires rarely originate in malice but in carelessness, and 
 f 
 provision is needed for the prevention and punishment of sucli 
 
 carelessness. 
 
 A Committee acting under authority from the Massachusetts 
 Horticultural Society, and after having heard the opinion of many 
 persons interested in the matter, have determined to present the 
 accompanying bill for legislative action. 
 
 We invite the co-operation of all interested in the agricultural 
 prosperity of Massachusetts in securing its passage. 
 
 It must not be forgotten that legislation in advance of public 
 sentiment cannot accomplish any very marked results, and unless 
 the commercial and climatic value of the forest to the community 
 is appreciated, the mere passage of a law will not greatly 
 decrease the number of fires. The forest will only find perfect 
 ])rotection in general appreciation. 
 
 CHARLES S. SARGENT, 
 
 Chairman. 
 
 FlJANXIS H. ArPLETON, 
 
 Secretary of Committee. 
 BOSTON, 13th FEunuARY, 188G.