PART II 

 FO11EST11Y 



RAISING OR KEEPING UP THE FOREST 



WE have learned something of different woods, of their 

 appearance knd composition, and how they are modified 

 by different climates, soils, and other conditions. We are 

 now ready to see what man does with the forest. 



When the pioneer settler in the backwoods clears his 

 farm he is anxious to destroy the forest as fast as possible, 

 for every acre of " clear land " is a big step toward inde- 

 pendence. In many places, especially of late years, he 

 has been able to sell at least the better kinds of logs ; but 

 in the most cases, now as formerly, the wood is wasted. 

 The trees are cut into pieces small enough to handle and 

 the neighbors are invited to a "log rolling"; they pile 

 up the logs" and branches into " log heaps," and when the 

 weather is suitable these log heaps are set afire. Fire 

 and plow prevent the return of the forest. 



This is not forestry; it is proper forest destruction, 

 such as goes on in the settlement of every forest-covered 

 country. The forest gives way to the field. 



41 



