:SOME ASPECTS OF SILVICAL RESEARCH AS AX AFTER- 

 THE-WAR ACTIVITY ' 



By Clyde Leanitt 

 Chief forester, Coininissioii of Conservation of Canada 



The object of my argument is to urge that provision be made for a 

 very material extension of silvical research work, particularly in the 

 East. I believe that, so far as the United States is concerned, the 

 Forest Service should definitely take the lead in this, on a very much 

 larger scale than has ever before been considered practicable, as a 

 measure of national preparedness for after-the-war conditions, and that 

 there should be a definite program of co-operation and collaboration 

 with State, educational, and private agencies to this end. The collabo- 

 ration suggested could readily become international, including Canada 

 as well as the United States. The furthering of such an object ofifers 

 to the Society of American Foresters an opportunity to render a public 

 service of prime magnitude. 



The war has brought to all the peoples of the world a keener realiza- 

 tion than ever before of the vital importance of the natural resources 

 in national economy. While this importance has been particularly em- 

 phasized by war conditions, it exists to an almost equal extent in times 

 of peace. The forest has shared with other natural resources in the 

 intensified public recognition of these facts. 



Clapp has pointed out, in Ameriean Forestry for July, that if justifi- 

 cation were ever needed for forest research work the war has amply 

 provided it. This unquestionably is true. Scientific research every- 

 where has received a tremendous impetus as a result of demands made 

 Tdv the war and in anticipation of economic i^eadjustment after the war. 

 Governments have appointed councils or commissions to encourage or 

 develop scientific and industrial research generally. All lines of indus- 

 trial research are receiving particular attention. Better methods are to 

 be developed for the wise utilization of natural resources. As Clapp 

 points out, this has already taken place to a remarkable extent in con- 

 nection with forest utilization, as witness the phenomenal increase in 

 the scope of the Forest Products Laboratory at ]Madison. 



^ Delivered before the Society of American Foresters at its annual meeting at 

 Baltimore, Md., December 28, 1018. 



