190 



the school yards iu the main are as destitute of trees as they were ))efore 

 arbor day \Aas projected. 



All of this shows interest : it further shows a willingness to expend time 

 and effort and money in tree planting, but it also shows with equal clear- 

 ness that tliere has lieeu enthusiasm without kno\\'ledge, and that in In- 

 diana the first steps in forestry from the standpoint of results are yet to be 

 taken. Incidentally it may be remarked that tree planting is not neces- 

 sarily forestry, it is merely a single phase of forestry. 



I'or the purpose of this paper we may omit tlic loiisidiTatioii of orna- 

 mental planthigs, whether of streets or lawns or parks, and eoiifine the 

 di.seussion to tlie wood-lot and to the denuded area which is to lie refor- 

 (!sted. In the management of the wood-lot from the standpoint of conserva- 

 tion three things are sought: (1) The largest amount of timber per acre 

 that the land will cari-y ; (2) the best quality of timl)er possil)le; {:',) the 

 production of this maximimi quantity and optimum (juality in the .shortest 

 time possible. If these ends are accomplished there is evidently need of a 

 tecluiical kno\Aledge which is usually not i)osses-;c(l by llic landowner, 

 and which in the multiplicity of his activities he has no time t(j acquire. 

 If the largest qunntity ard best r|uality jiossilih^ is secured lioiii a given 

 area it will be because those species of trees are selected which are adapted 

 to the conditions of soil, of moisture, and of climate. It will also be in 

 liart because of species equally adnpted to a given locality, those which 

 make the more rapid growth, are m<»re innnune to insect and fungus in- 

 va.sion, which are le.ss sensitive to unfavorable climatic conditions, have 

 l;een chosen for encouragement. In a. general way conditions which make 

 for a vigorous and healthy growth make al.so for the best (piality of tim- 

 bei-, whether we consider weight or strength or direction of tibre or 

 beauty of grain. In tlie large range of species av.-iilable. in the variety, 

 indeed, found in the average wootl-lot. Iiow many l.-mdowneis li:ive a snf- 

 ficientlj' accurate knowledge upon these [toiiits to enable them to select 

 species for encouragement with such cert.iinty as to insure profitable re- 

 turns? Taking the plantings referred to above, the failures came from 

 lack of knowledge, not from lack of interest or eiitiiusi.-isni. .Most of the 

 plantings were of ))lack locust ( r hanly cataljia. planted, probably, with the 

 purpose of short rotation jnanr(geinent for jiost or lie stnlf: Imt \ery often 

 locust was jilanted on grouml wbicb in all reason should have been jilanted 

 to catalpa and cat:il]ia was jilanted on ground lai' bett<'r suited to locust. 

 The i-esnlt. of course, has been failure more or less (omplete. with loss of 



