LAND CLASSII'ICATION 225 



even though under the most favorable possibihties only one per cent 

 of it v^ould be developed as fruit land in the next 100 years. Such 

 objections to land classification can be readily overcome by showing 

 that forest forms the most economic and profitable immediate use for 

 certain land, and this work should be made a leading tool for public 

 agencies to use in the development of forestry along stable lines. 



Expenditure of money for fire protection, the most important pres- 

 ent work of forest agencies as a whole, can hardly be justified for 

 cut-over lands unless they have been definitely classified as land 

 economically best fitted for growing forest, at least for the next gen- 

 eration or rotation. It may be argued, however, from a broader point 

 of view, that fire protection is essential on all cut-over lands to pre- 

 serve the fertility of the soil for any future use that is to be made of 

 the land, whether for timber or agriculture. 



SOME CRITICISMS OP PRESENT EOREST POLICIES 



Present forest policies seem inadec[uate from the standpoint of land 

 classification with reference to economic land utilization, which, it is 

 believed, furnishes the most fundamental basis for promoting forestry. 

 In Colonel Graves' circular on "A Policy of Forestry for the Nation," 

 land classification is mentioned among responsibilities the public should 

 assume, but its importance and significance warrant still stronger em- 

 phasis than it receives there. In the Capper report on timber depletion, 

 land classification work may, perhaps, be indicated in the chapter on 

 "Federal Legislation Needed" under caption No. 5 on "Survey and 

 Classification of Forest Resources." The report, however, does not 

 specifically recognize land classification as an important working basis 

 for the promotion of forestry. 



Instead of a survey of forest resources or timber census, the writer 

 believes it more important to have a broad and detailed survey of all 

 lands in the country for purposes of land classification, to determine 

 especially land to be recommended as economically best suited for grow- 

 ing of forests, public and private, at least for the next generation. 



Some foresters stress the importance of working out the total area 

 of land needed to produce an abstractly figured demand for forest 

 products, on the basis of a per capita consumption of forest products 

 of over 10 to 1, as compared with France and England, for the purpose 

 of getting public backing for a program of compulsory forestry on 

 private timberlands. The major premise or primary basis for advo- 



