TIIK IM>IA.\A l'(ti:i;sr I'KOI'.I.K.M. 



I'.KAJA.MIN WA] 



])()r(;i.A.ss. 



Euicrson Iloimli Iims rcciMitl.v ]M)iiil('(l out that, we iirc living in a fool's 

 paradise and tliat llio tiiiio had arrived when we woidd have 1o taUe some 

 measures to proteet and if juissihle perpetuate our vaiiisliiim sujiplies of tim- 

 ber, coal and other natural resources. 



The forest problem and the idea of making some provision for a futuir 

 timl)er supply has for many years been before the public in a sort of half 

 h(>arted way and it has been a source of inspiration for many half bakeil 

 reformers who had turned to reform as a tired business man turns to golf. 

 It lias become a plaything for politicians and as a result there is no real 

 pi-ogress in timber conservation to be seen. 



It has recently been advocated that the solution of the problem in Indiana 

 consisted in tiie purchase of some vast but vague number of acres of waste 

 land and then reclaiming this land by the planting of trees. Such a project 

 would be most admirable from the stand iioint of the political "reformer" 

 foi- it would i)lace in his hands a considerable amount of public money — 

 and if there is anything that the avera.ge politician likes to do Ix-tter than 

 anything else it is to handle public funds. 



Michigan forest land in which all young growth has been Icilleil. 

 been replaced by asters, fire weed and bracken ferns. 



Trees have 



We are fortunately not in the dark as to the iKissible success of such a 

 program for there have already been planted in Indiana (luite a number of 

 "forest plantations". It has been the writer's good fortune to visit many of 

 tliese plantings and to secure data on the rate of growth, the value of tlie 

 land, the possible return, etc. Without exception not a single plantation of 



