IIG JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



New England by progressive diminution of capital stock and failure 

 adequately to produce forests is going in exactly the other direction, 

 losing ground every year. Before the war France was building up her 

 forest resources ; New England has been progressively destroying hers. 

 Before the war France was importing about 80 million cubic feet of 

 lumber. New England's imports exceed this amount. The forest and 

 wood-using industries of France furnished employment to over 700,000 

 persons, and because the forests were handled in a way to keep up pro- 

 duction by growth this employment was permanent. It was the small 

 industries supported from local forests that furnished employment to 

 so man}- people. 



England before the war felt itself quite independent in forest mat- 

 ters. Her command of the seas made it possible to import from many 

 competing countries. She didn't have to practice forestry. During 

 19 1 5 and 1916 the excess cost over previous years of importing forest 

 materials was 185 million dollars. The next year she had to stop im- 

 porting almost entirely. She then cut down her meager forests and 

 park timber, and finally had to rely on France, which was supplying 

 the needs of all the armies on the west front. England now plans a 

 great program of reforestation. She proposes to plant up over a mil- 

 lion acres in the next 40 years, spending during the first decade over 

 17 million dollars. England does not intend again to be caught without 

 home supplies. 



New England represents in many ways the most favorable condi- 

 tions for forestry in the country. The region is naturally endowed 

 with excellent types of forest, with valuable species, and a climate 

 favorable for tree growth. There is a large amount of land suited only 

 to growing trees. On account of the large number of wood-using in- 

 dustries, markets for forest products are excellent. Transportation for 

 moving these products is well developed. The public sentiment regard- 

 ing forestry is in advance of most other parts of the country. Yet even 

 under these favorable conditions, New England is not keeping pace 

 with the destructive influences that are depleting her forest resources. 



The situation is much more serious in other sections of the country. 

 We are still drawing upon original timber for our chief national needs. 

 We are not providing for a proper replacement of the old stock by new 

 forest growth. Most of the private timber is cut without anv regard 

 whatever for replacement. Destructive processes are permitted that 

 retard or actually prevent the succession of a good forest growth. 

 Region after region is exhausted of old supplies. Remnants of culled 

 forests and patches of second growth are for the most part not being 



