370 JOURNAI, OF FORESTRY 



tection forests where no cutting whatever would be permitted, and 

 for the lower areas a system of cutting for continuous production 

 to be prescribed by the State forestry department, an adequate system 

 of protection from fire, the planting of certain areas, and such other 

 requirements as might seem necessary. 



Forest taxation at present is not a problem in the South. Eventu- 

 ally, however, the yield tax principle may be adopted, and if so, its 

 application should be made obligatory, which would tend to prevent 

 the shifting of taxes from the forest land to other property of the 

 same owner. 



Last, but really of first importance, is research. I say last, because 

 it is not necessary to hold up the activities mentioned above until the 

 results of research may be known. On the other hand, without 

 research we can only reach a certain stage beyond which we shall 

 be groping in the dark. The South offers practically a virgin field. It 

 would seem that the States and the Federal Government should con- 

 duct the work on a co-operative basis, along some such lines as those 

 suggested recently by Leavitt and Toumey. I agree with them that the 

 Government should make a specific appropriation for forest research 

 in co-operation with the States. 



In this brief paper I have endeavored to give some idea of forest 

 conditions in the Southern States, the obstacles to be overcome, and 

 the activities which should be undertaken. I have not attempted, for 

 lack of space, to go into the details which would be involved in putting 

 the program into effect, the various methods of co-operation, and 

 the like. The point to be borne in mind is, that since the States and 

 the Federal Government in the first instance made the mistake of dis- 

 posing of their lands to such an extent as to make it absolutely im- 

 possible for the small population of these States to develop adequately 

 and use the land, and since as a result large areas are now lying un- 

 productive, the States and the Federal Government have certainly 

 some obligation in the matter, or at least until the owners can reason- 

 ably be expected to handle the land properly, and should at once 

 endeavor jointly, with the owners, to remedy the harm done. The 

 thought I wish particularly to leave with you is the hope that some 

 dav the Federal Government will recognize in a big way its obligation 

 in helping to solve the forest problems of this region, as it is helping 

 to solve the agricultural and road problems, by taking the lead and 

 joining with the States and the private owners in a concerted effort 

 to make and keep productive the enormous areas of waste land. 



