38 FORESTRY ALMANAC 



OZARK TRAILS, Kansas City, Hannibal, St. Louis and Memphis to Denver, Las 



Vegas and El Paso. 



RIVER TO RIVER ROAD, Davenport, Iowa, to Omaha, Nebraska. 

 SOUTH WEST TRAIL, Chicago, Illinois, to El Paso, Texas. 

 WHITE RIVER TRAIL, Springfield, Mo., to Ponca City, Oklahoma. 

 YELLOWSTONE HIGHWAY, Denver, Colorado, to Yellowstone, National Park. 



THE BOY SCOUTS AND FORESTRY 



One of the most important means of assuring a continued senti- 

 ment in support of the forestry movement is the mobilization of the 

 young people, and perhaps the most consistently active organization 

 in this direction is the Boy Scouts of America. With woodcraft and 

 forestry, and other outdoor achievements of knowledge, a part of the 

 Scout's study for which he receives merit badges, this organization 

 of young Americans has already accomplished a great deal. 



In several states, the forestry and conservation officials call freely 

 upon the Boy Scouts for assistance. The Conservation Commissioner 

 of Massachusetts has declared that he will grant to any troop a per- 

 mit to make camp in a State Forest, knowing that the camp will be 

 left in good order and no unquenched fire will be left to burn the 

 forest. The Scouts have, in fact, made a name for themselves in 

 forest fire fighting, particularly during the war when they were 

 recruited to patrol the trails in the National Forests, replacing the 

 men who had gone to war. On one occasion they located many black 

 walnut trees needed by the Government for airplane construction. 



In many States the Boy Scouts are organized under the State 

 Fire Warden as forest guides, having official recognition from the 

 State. In New Jersey, Connecticut or Pennsylvania, for example, it 

 is not uncommon to see a diminutive Scout directing a gang of husky 

 amateur fire fighters. The Scouts have cut many miles of trail, making 

 fire fighting easier. Living as much as they can in the forest, they 

 study the kinds of trees, the diseases that affect them, and acquire 

 both an acquaintance and affection for them. They wear their merit 

 badge for efficiency and knowledge in the branch of forestry with 

 great pride, and they constitute an important potential force in carry- 

 ing a comprehensive national forest policy to its conclusion. 



