A NATIONAL POLICY FOR FORESTERS 



By RusseIvIv Watson 



Assistant Professor of Forestry, University of Michigan 



"It is fear, little brother, it is fear." 

 "He either fears his fate too much 

 Or his deserts are small, 



And dares not put it to the touch 

 To win or lose it all." 



Most foresters do not thoroughly beHeve in forestry — to hear them 

 talk. Reports and articles of foresters, and the trend of discussions 

 regarding national policies of forestry show this. They do not believe, 

 apparently, that timber is a commodity that is vitally needed in our 

 American civilization. They do not believe that an adequate supply 

 of timber is necessary if we are to retain our position in the front rank 

 of the world's nations. It is not realized that it takes much land and 

 a real growing stock of trees to produce this commodity in the anounts 

 required. 



It is certain that most foresters do not believe that forestry should be 

 practiced as a business in the United States. In Europe, it is admitted, 

 forestry is recognized as a business, but not so here, and not for many 

 years to come. 



Pessimism is in order. It is considered "practical" to be pessimistic 

 over the success of timber growing. No trees can be planted, it is felt, 

 without serious risk of losing them through insect and fungus attacks, 

 and therefore it is doubtful if we ought to plant trees at all. One for- 

 ester who has been stung severely by the white pine tip weevil in his 

 plantations is now in such a state of hysteria that, it is said, he even 

 doubts that he doubts. Fires run over forests, and some good foresters 

 have actually thought seriously of abandoning a million acres of excel- 

 lent timber growing land because of the fire hazards. White pine blis- 

 ter rust and chestnut blight are rampant, and no known means of con- 

 trol. It is felt by many that since these two trees are doomed that 

 any trees may be, and that all should be abandoned. The destruction 

 of the forests by the lumbermen is deplored. Yet this is taken as a 

 matter of course, as an act of God, just as many people in northern 

 Minnesota consider the forest fires of that region. 

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