Plan to Meet Needs for Wood and Timber. 317 



natural regeneration as can be, we may learn the lesson of what 

 to expect. 



The sowings of 1905, an exceptionally wet season, were a 

 success, although even then the result was quite uneven; in 1906 

 the result was poor ; in 1907, again good ; in 1908, poor ; in 1909, 

 unsatisfacitory, although apparently weather conditions! 'were 

 favorable. In 1910 the extraordinary drouth of the season caused 

 total failure. Out of five years three failures ! 



While, in the Eastern States, weather conditions may not be 

 as severe, they are certainly as uncertain, and a successful natural 

 regeneration is largely a matter of luck. 



While then still confessing myself an eclectic, willing to employ 

 any method that promises satisfactory results, I have come to the 

 conclusion that Thomas Meehan was not so far wrong for a 

 large part of our territory and conditions. We may try our luck 

 first with natural regeneration, but if not successful at once, 

 instead of tinkering with nature we should, like wise men, force 

 the luck by planting. I wish then to go on record as holding the 

 opinion, that our needs of the future will not be satisfactorily 

 and adequately provided for until we take recourse to planting 

 operations on a large scale. 



This conclusion, based on observation of biological conditions, 

 is also borne out by a statistical inquiry. 



Referring again to the forest area condition we will find that, 

 if we go on as at present, within 20 years we will have reached the 

 point when our virgin timber, in which natural regeneration 

 methods might still be practiced, will be near its end, for we are 

 cutting now at the rate of 10 to 12 million acres per annum. 



Our needs then must be filled to the largest extent from the 

 so-called second growth and volunteer growth of our cut-over 

 lands, and the area capable of restocking only by artificial means 

 will have increased to probably 250,000,000 acres, over half of the 

 then remaining forest soil. We shall, indeed, be forced to plant, 

 whether we believe in the method or not ! 



Before now discussing the elements of a plan of procedure it is 

 needful to point out that it is useless to expect private enterprise 

 to undertake the task, at least not without considerable assistance 

 from the State. On account of the long time to maturity — not 

 less than 60 to 100 years — private interest cannot be expected 



