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true aspects. In order to perpetuate this annual yield of the wood-lot 

 it is not sufficient that the existing stand continue to lay on wood, for 

 every time a tree dies or is cut the stand becomes thinner and more 

 open. Under normal or natural forest conditions, young saplings are 

 constantly springing up to replace the veterans and fill in these gaps. The 

 forest is densely stocked with trees of all ages and sizes. Very little 

 grass is on the forest floor, and but little underbrush. A carpet of leaves, 

 slowly decaying into humus, keeps the soil moist and permeable to water. 

 The forest thrives, and the trees are healthy, sound, and vigorous. 

 Many wood-lots in southern Illinois well cared for by their owners, 

 show such conditions. 



But on woodland areas which are grazed by cattle, horses, or sheep, 

 a change sets in almost immediately, and continues progressively as long 

 as the practice is maintained. The stock devour readily all the leafy 

 foliage within reach, and this includes all seedlings and young saplings 

 not too tall for them to get at the crowns. Their trampling hardens the 

 soil and decreases its moisture content. Under these conditions, the re- 

 moval or death of an old tree is not followed by a thicket of vigorous 

 young reproduction, but instead a permanent opening is formed. These 

 openings extend, and grasses, resistant to grazing, form a sod which 

 makes it difficult or well-nigh impossible for tree-seedlings to start, or 

 else favors the less valuable species, such as ironwood or elm, instead 

 of oaks, tulip-poplar, and basswood. 



The process of degeneration may be prolonged over a period of half 

 a century, but the forest is doomed as certainly as if it were allowed to 

 burn over every year or two. With the final cutting of the last decre])it 

 veterans, the revenue for the woodland ceases, the forest capital is bank- 

 rupt, and the only possibility of annual income lies in continuing the 

 practice of grazing which has brought about this destruction, mean- 

 while possibly permitting the barns to deteriorate because the high price 

 of lumber makes the cost of their replacement prohibitive. 



It is certain that such a policy is self-determinative. The forest 

 land is not being used as such, and the future forest revenue is being 

 sacrificed for the sake of an immediate return for grazing, which in it- 

 self does not constitute a complete or efficient use of the land. The gen- 

 eral policy indicated by these facts is the separation of forest from pas- 

 ture. The two uses are actually incompatible. The forest will not re- 

 produce in the presence of grazing, yet its presence depresses grazing 

 values. The continuance of this policy is a deliberate rejection, whether 



