HENRY E. HARDTXER, PRES., LOUISIANA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 



SOUTH'S TIMBER DISAPPEARING 



By Henry E. Hardtner, 

 President Louisiana Foresfrv .Issocial ion 



IT is a well known fact that the 

 forests of the South will be com- 

 ])letely exhausted inside of fif- 

 teen years at the present rate of cutting. 

 I have studied forest conditions in 

 every Southern State and have con- 

 versed with well informed lumber oper- 

 ators and timber owners and am fully 

 convinced that the ])resent supi)ly of 

 virgin timber is nearing exhaustion. It 

 is sad for one who has grown up in the 



forests and who saw them in their vir- 

 gin splendor to witness their complete 

 destruction. Yet. w^e must consider that 

 the trees are ripe and full grown and 

 should be utilized to the best advantage, 

 and that it is not criminal to denude 

 these magnificent forests. Where we 

 deserve censure is in failing to enforce 

 reforestation on lands chiefly valuable 

 for timber culture. 



The present rate of cutting timber for 



