1342 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



(3) A thorough study of the tax situation, which in 

 large numbers of the states makes not only undesirable, 

 but in most places impossible, the holding of the timber 

 land by private individuals with the view to maintain 

 such lands in forest crops. Forest taxation laws, so far 

 as feasible, should be uniform throughout the states, and 

 certainly throughout definite timber regions, so the same 

 advantages may accrue to all individuals throughout 

 the region, and certainly throughout the individual states. 



(4) A very definite plan for the purchase of lands 

 by the states to be retained as a nucleus for extensive 

 state forests in the future, such purchases to be backed 

 by adequate appropriations. 



(5) Increase in appropriations on the part of the 

 Federal Government for co-operation with the states 

 under the ^\■eeks Law, looking to adequate fire protec- 

 tion to the forests within the state boundaries. 



(6) Increased purchases on the part of the govern- 

 ment in the eastern part of the United States particularly 

 of lands for national forests. 



(7) Rigid legislation in regard to the cutting of 

 timber, brush disposal, replanting areas suitable for tim- 

 ber crops and other measures necessary to the perpetua- 

 tion of the forests of the nation. 



(8) Regulation of the disposal of timber more in 

 accordance with the law of supply and demand, and less 

 in accordance with the exigencies of local conditions in- 

 duced by taxation and other features. 



The question of freight rates and transportation loom 

 large in the present problem. And such matters as 

 organization within the trade to avoid waste, effective 

 marketing both at home and abroad and to avoid over- 

 cutting of present available supplies demand nation-wide 

 studv and concerted effort of all interest involved. 



A FOREST POLICY BADLY NEEDED 

 BY ELLWOOD WILSON, PRESIDENT CANADIAN SOCIETY OF FOREST ENGINEERS 



A DISCUSSION of the proposals of U. S. Forester 

 •^*- Henry S. Graves for a national forest policy is 

 most appropriate. 



The time has certainly arrived when the exploitation 

 of forest lands must cease and they must be managed for 

 sustained yield. The cutting over of timber lands, leav- 

 ing them in an unproductive state, cannot be allowed to 

 continue. The theory that a man can do what he likes 

 with his own property, unless his use of it damages his 

 neighbor or the public welfare must be applied to private 

 owners of timber. The speculative purchase of virgin 

 timber lands, the rush to cut and market the cut, denuding 

 the lands and overstocking the markets, may have made a 

 few timber "barons" but has in no sense been a benefit 

 to the country at large. The time has now come when 

 we must imitate the countries of Europe which have 

 passed through the same crisis. 



Whether Colonel Graves' program is just the right 

 one or not is not certain, but the idea of regulation is 

 absolutely right. The timber lands of the country must 

 be kept productive and those lands which are suitable 

 only for tree growth must be made productive. It is a 



question whether the mere regulation of cutting will 

 make such lands productive, probably in many cases 

 artificial regeneration must be resorted to, but in any case 

 the country at large must take the question up and find 

 a solution for it. The most satisfactory plan would be 

 for the holders of timber to realize the situation and by 

 consultation with foresters initiate steps to perpetuate 

 their timber, thus acting not only in their own interest 

 but in that of the country at large. 



It would seem that the whole matter was one of 

 education and that an intensive propaganda should be 

 commenced and carried on. One very good way of 

 bringing home to lumbermen the necessity for better 

 methods is through the banks which advance them money 

 and who hold their bonds and other securities. Boards 

 of trade are also interested, also rotary clubs. News- 

 papers of course shotdd be reached, especially in locali- 

 ties where timber lands are situated. School children 

 should be reached not only because they are future 

 citizens, but because they often educate their parents. 

 Other methods will readily suggest themselves to those 

 with experience in such work. 



TERMS USED IN FARM FORESTRY 



T^HE increased interest in the subject of private for- 

 -*■ estry, particularly with reference to farm forestry, 

 has brought about the general acceptance of the term 

 "woodland" or "woods" instead of the original one of 

 "woodlot." 



A large proportion of the woodland in the eastern 

 United States is in irregularly shaped tracts, spreading 

 out over ridges, ravines, slopes, swamps and poor lands, 

 whereas "woodlot" carries the idea of a small sized, regu- 

 larly shaped, and, in a large section of the country, 

 fenced tract. When applied to the large or irregularly 

 shaped tracts, it is obvious that the word inadequately 

 describes the conditions. "Woodlot" probably originated 

 in New England and seems fairly well established there. 



.So long as only conditions like those in New England were 

 considered, "woodlot" was accejjted as adequate, but in 

 the last few years farm forestry has been developing 

 rapidly throughout the country. The private forestry 

 movement is of tremendous importance not only to the 

 owner of woodland, but to the whole community in which 

 he lives or in which the timber occurs. It is extremely 

 desirable that the success of the movement should not be 

 hindered by the use in forestry literature of a term which 

 does not fit the conditions. 



"Woodland" and "woods" are more satisfactory, more 

 expressive, and avoid the possibility of creating confusion 

 in the minds of thepeople over most, sections of the country 

 where the word "woodlot" has never been in local use. 



