FORESTRY QUARTERLY. 



Vol,. I. January, 1903. No. 2. 



OUTIvOOK OF THE TIMBER SUPPIvY IN THE UNITED 



STATES.' 



As Cotta pointed out a hundred years ago, forestry is a child of 

 necessity. It is only when the wood supplies grown by unaided 

 Nature are exhausted or near exhaustion, and when it becomes 

 apparent that reproduction is not replacing the harvested virgin 

 crop as rapidly as required, that forestry — systematic utilization 

 and reproduction of wood supplies — becomes necessary. 



While much has been said and written regarding the influence 

 of forest cover on climate and waterflow as calling for the appli- 

 cation of forestry, it should be understood that these considera- 

 tions apply mainly to specified localities, that some of the claimed 

 beneficial influences are often questionable or at least unproven, 

 and that moreover, the forest effects may be secured incidentally ; 

 the supply question remains uppermost, and is the more important. 



It behooves, then, every forester to find justification for his art 

 and for his own existence in the answer to the inquiry which will 

 bring out the fact that natural supplies are waning, and are not 

 being replaced as fast as consumed. 



Such inquiry involves knowledge on one hand, of the consump- 

 tion of wood products in the given country, the possibility and 

 probability of substituting other materials, and the opportunity of 

 supplying it wholly or in part, by importations and, on the other 

 hand, knowledge of the amount of standing timber ready for use, 

 the condition of the forest areas, as far as promise of reproduction 

 is concerned, and the rapidity with which such new growth may 

 become available. 



' Presented before Section I, American Association for the Advancement 

 of Science, Washington, D. C, 1902. 



