INDUSTRIAL FORESTRY 231 



forest land that are being protected and put on a productive 

 basis is still a drop in the bucket compared with die millions 

 of acres where more or less destructive lumbering is the rule. 

 Many foresters believe that this condition will correct itself as 

 economic conditions change, while other foresters hold that 

 some form of government regulation will be necessary before 

 forestry on private lands is generally adopted. 



This much is certain. Private forestry will be generally 

 adopted under one of two conditions when it becomes man- 

 datory or when it can be shown to pay. 



But the question "Will forestry pay ?" must be answered like 

 so many questions in life, "It all depends." Under good aver- 

 age conditions of climate, soil and accessibility to markets 

 forestry will pay. That can not be said too emphatically. For- 

 estry is rapidly becoming the cheapest source of forest pro- 

 ducts. It will some day be the only source. Of course there will 

 always be certain favored localities where forestry will pay 

 richly and there private forestry is already taking hold. There 

 will also always be remote infertile regions where private for- 

 estry can never hope to pay and where it will probably be 

 the function of Government to grow timber crops if the land 

 is to be used at all. 



But between these two extremes lie millions of acres covering 

 every degree of forest condition and location where private 

 forestry will offer more or less attractive financial opportunities. 

 The picture of tomorrow will probably resemble conditions 

 that today exist in European forests. There the material that 

 takes a short time to grow, such as ties, mine props, posts, 

 and small size lumber, is grown on private forests. But the 



