126 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



woodlots and plantations, and expert advice upon request to all 

 who need it. 



PRESENT FOREST POLICY. 



The forest policy of the State has been wholly destructive. 

 The work of the future should be wholly constructive. One or 

 two large concerns of the State have made some recent attempts 

 to improve their methods with a view to a second crop of timber, 

 but the efforts have been rather spasmodic and aimless. During 

 the year 1906, an investigation of the Ozark region was made un- 

 der my direction by the Forest Service, U. S. Department of Ag- 

 riculture, in co-operation with the Missouri State Experiment Sta- 

 tion. Some good data was secured as a basis for future activities 

 but the funds were too limited to permit of an exhaustive study. 

 I am informed that Governor Folk has appointed a Forestry Com- 

 mission consisting of Dr. W. H. Black of Marshall, Dr. Hermann 

 von Schrenc of St. Louis and Mr. David A. Latshaw of Kansas 

 City. I am not familiar with the plans or scope of this commis- 

 sion. 



Considerable interest throughout the State has been recently 

 manifested in the forestry movement. Part of this is due to the 

 general awakening over the country to the necessity for conserving 

 our natural resources. Special credit is due the University of 

 Missouri and to the Missouri Federation of Women's Clubs. The 

 time is opportune for a definite constructive forest policy. 



A PROPOSED POLICY. 



Assuming that the advantages and necessity for forest con- 

 servation and extension are clearly evident, the important question 

 arises as to proper means to the end. It is characteristic of the 

 American people to be long suffering until, as it were, the limit of 

 elasticity is reached when we suddenly undertake to change tho 

 work of decades by summary legislation. In such times, there is 

 danger of going to extremes and of following ill advisers. 



My advice to the people of Missouri on the forestry question 

 is to begin at once, but proceed slowly. The methods of a cen- 

 tury cannot be revolutionized in a day and it cannot be expected 

 that a people who for years have been busy destroying the forests, 

 should suddenly concern themselves with forest protection and 

 tree planting. This change must come gradually, but because of 

 the slowness of the movement, there is all the greater reason for 

 immediate action. 



