In 1884, the New York Legislature appropriated $5,000 to be used by the State Controller in the employment of experts to report a system of Forestry. He selected Prof. Sargeant, D. Willis James, W. A. Poncher, and Edward M. Shepard, Esq. The members have taken no salary, using the money only for their personal expenses and maps.

The Commissioners do not seem to have done anything for a system of forestry for the State, but made a report, looking chiefly to the preservation of the Adirondack forests. They recommend the appointment of a Commission, the first one to be chosen in " 1866," the members to serve without salary, but personal expenses to be paid; one Forest Warden at a salary of not less than $3,000, nor more than $4,500; two inspectors, salary between $1,500 and $2,500; one clerk, salary from $1,250 to 52,000. Forestry rooms, etc, are to be provided at Albany.

To give the Commission work to do, two Bills are proposed; one, " An Act for the preservation and care of the Adirondack Forest," the other "An Act for the speedy collection of taxes on the forest lands in certain towns," in the Adirondack region.

We have read this report very carefully, and feel that the State will be well repaid in the facts furnished. In regard to the recommendations, we see nothing to change our views, that forestry efforts in America should rather be in the line of planting new forests, than in the preservation of old ones. The report shows that in old forests, it is absolutely impossible to prevent forest fires. By a staff of officers and guards, such as the new laws prescribe, some few fires will no doubt be prevented, or ought to be; but the danger is but slightly corrected, and in spite of all, the forests will have to go As to the appointment of a Commission, in order to obviate the evils of the elective principle that underlies American institutions, all experience shows that it is " out of the frying-pan into the fire." They become in time, a greater mass of deadwood than the most famous old forest can present; and withal dangerous and expensive toys The Forestry question is a very difficult one to bring under practical legislation; but after reading this very intelligent report, we are more than ever convinced that the only effective legislation will be in the line of encouraging efforts by individuals or companies in planting new forests, rather than in sentimental and enormously expensive efforts to preserve the old and half-rotten ones.