78 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRTCULTURE. 



THE FOREST PROBLEM ONLY ONE PART OF A GENERAL NATIONAL PROBLEM 



OF LAND UTILIZATION. 



In reality, the problems of forestry and the better regulation of 

 the grazing resources on the public domain are merely phases — 

 though very important phases — of the broad problem of land utiliza- 

 tion. As the timber is cut millions of acres are thrown out of use. 

 Some of this land is now suitable for use as farming land, some of it 

 will be needed for that purpose in the course of time, but most of it 

 is permanently unsuited to use for farming purposes. Of the arid 

 or semiarid open public grazing lands, relatively little is physically 

 capable of growing crops except where irrigation may be possible, 

 no matter how pressing the national need for crop land may become ; 

 and under present conditions it is steadily declining in capacity for 

 use for the onlj' form of use to Avhich it can be put, while being held 

 open for entry under the homestead laws. It is clear that a proper 

 distribution of our reserve areas between the three uses — forests, 

 grazing, and crops — implies some kind of policy of giving direction 

 to the utilization of our land resources. 



LAND UTILIZATION POLICY. 



"\^Tiile many of the agricultural difficulties of the past three years 

 have been due in part to surplus production resulting from over- 

 stimulation during the war, it is evident that before A^ery many years 

 our population will have grown to a point which will enable it to 

 consume not only all we produce at the present time but considerably 

 more. "Wliere this increased production is to come from and how our 

 national land resources may be best used is therefore a matter of 

 major importance. Some two years since I appointed a depart- 

 mental committee, consisting of representatives of various bureaus, 

 to consider present and future needs for crop land, forests, and pas- 

 tures; the extent and location of areas that can be made available for 

 these various uses; and the governmental policies that should be 

 adopted to adjust use to needs. 



The more immediate problems of the adjustment of type of use 

 to climate, soil, and economic conditions in the semiarid regions 

 of the West have received the major part of the attention of the 

 section working on land utilization problems. Particular attention 

 has been given to the Great Plains as a whole and the spring wheat 



