(UG JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



experts would differ greatly as to the location of such class lines. The 

 actual field-work of such a classification would be simple and its cost 

 might often be but a cent or so an acre. 



But, useful as such a segregation would be, it in itself falls far short 

 of furnishing data adequate for anything like a plan of development 

 for either the agricultural or the forest lands. Manifestly, in each 

 case, the most productive lands should be first improved. Different site 

 conditions will call for different species and treatment and forms of 

 management. To anticipate and plan such affairs requires a mass of 

 base data which can only be made available through a real siirz'ey. 



The sort of survey required will differ from existing practices only in 

 its comprehensiveness. It should embrace topographic, Geological, 

 geographic, agronomic, forest, and economic work at least. 



In each of these fields the technique is well developed. Already the 

 several groups have been very successfully combined in the land-classi- 

 fication work of the Forest Service, which has quietly developed 

 topographic forest and grazing survey methods to a remarkable degree. 

 The work of the Soil and Farm Survey is equally well established. 

 Individuals competent to do such work are easily available. Organiza- 

 tions are actually at work dealing with one or another of the phases of 

 the larger undertaking. It now remains to develop the procedure of 

 co-operative work under a really comprehensive plan. To accomplish 

 this will not be easy, for professional and departmental prejudices and 

 jealousies must be composed and conflicting interests must be placated. 

 Federal, State, and private interests are immediately and directly con- 

 cerned. Already the Reclamation Service, through its handling of the 

 "Lane Scheme," is beginning to function as a clearing-house for the 

 many interests affected. It is probable that the situation will develop 

 rapidly and it would certainly be well if everybody concerned might be 

 consulted in the beginning. 



The Society of American Foresters might properly undertake a 

 canvass of the situation. 



