268 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc, 



the valleys is washed to the; mouths ot Lhc rivers, where it fills the 

 estuaries, before anythiug is attempted? Must floods and torna- 

 does devastate the State again and again, and yet again before 

 remedial action is taken? Does the responsibility for prompt action 

 rest with this great organization? 



Professor Fernow, of Cornell University, the highest authority 

 on forestry in this country, says: "The supply of timber will not 

 last another thirty jears, and even immediate adoption of proper 

 methods of management could not insure long continuance of the 

 supply at the present rate of consumption, which is 25,000,000,000 

 cubic feet a year. While it is now too late. to avert wholly the 

 calamities which follow forest destruction, there is yet time to 

 modify them. What is left of the virgin forests should be protected 

 and cared for and wanton destruction prevented. Few people 

 realize what the consequences of destruction would be. It means 

 that fertile valleys will become wind-swept, torrent-scarred deserts, 

 and vast ai-eas, now productive, will become incapable of supporting 

 human life. 



The coming generation will realize all tins and wonder that its 

 predecessors were so foolhardy." 



Pennsylvania embraces 28,987,000 acres. It is said that one- 

 fourth of this area is covered with the mountains of the Appalachian 

 system, in round numbers 7,000,000 acres. These seven million 

 acres should be covered and kept covered with forest growth. 



It will cost something to reclothe the hills, but there is always 

 money enough in a great state like Pennsylvania to carry on and 

 carry out all vital undertakings. What is too often lacking is self- 

 sacrificing, courageous, intelligent leaders. The tree which will bear 

 abundant and precious fruit must be planted by some one. We 

 cannot gather grapes from thorns nor figs from thistles. The rising 

 generation must have ample opportunity for securing advanced 

 and technical training. It cannot set the educational machinery 

 at work. Our children are benefited by the work begun by their 

 ancestors. Where, in all your broad State, can a student go and 

 receive such instruction as will fit him for the management, care 

 and economic development of forests? How many students in your 

 agricultural college are fitted to make an agricultural or soil survey 

 of the State? How many can intelligently advise the farmers as 

 to the best location for orchards, or the best varieties of fruits for 

 any given locality? How many teachers are there capable of teach- 

 ing the farmers' boys how to keep accounts? Is there a single 

 farmer in the State who can tell from his accounts, accurately kept, 

 whether it is most profitable to rear swine or sheep or produce 

 milk? If not, why not? Because adequate provision has not been 

 made for giving instruction in the principles and practice of account- 



