INTRODUCTION XXXV 



use in the best manner the forest lands within their respective 

 borders. 



Vast areas of privately owned lands, formerly in timber, are 

 now non-productive. They are not suitable for agricultural pur- 

 poses, and as a result of fire and lack of foresight there is no hope 

 for a future crop by natural regeneration. The states, counties, 

 cities, and villages should purchase large bodies of these lands 

 for state and communal forests and re-establish forest growth 

 upon them. 



12. REFORESTATION BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT 



The present area in National Forests, although in the aggre- 

 gate very large, can produce but a small fraction of our wood 

 requirements. Large areas are without trees of commercial value, 

 much of the remainder is of value primarily because of the pro- 

 tection afforded mountain streams, while only about 100 million 

 acres are covered with timber of merchantable character. 



The application of silvicultural methods in cutting operations, 

 together with protection from fire and over-grazing, will do much 

 to increase natural growth. Often, however, the conditions for 

 natural regeneration are very unfavorable, so much so that a 

 long term of years must intervene before anything like a complete 

 stand of desirable species can be attained if left wholly to natural 

 seeding. Here, then, is a large and distinct field for seeding and 

 planting. Furthermore, with due attention to methods, reason- 

 able success should be attained at moderate cost. 



The work of reforestation on these areas by seeding and plant- 

 ing is now well under way. The policy of the Forest Service is 

 to introduce seeding and planting wherever natural regeneration 

 cannot be successfully attained within a reasonable time. In 1905 

 when the National Forests were transferred from the Department 

 of the Interior to the Department of Agriculture and placed under 

 the supervision and management of the Forest Service, but little 

 seeding or planting had been attempted. A little experimental 

 work had been done in southern California, but otherwise the 

 entire field was untouched. Soon after the National Forests were 

 placed under the Forest Service, extensive nurseries were estab- 

 lished in several of the western states. Although the results of 

 this pioneer work were not always successful, the information 

 gained was of large value. The National Forests were divided into 



