232 FORESTS AND MANKIND 



larger timber trees that require nearly a century to mature 

 are grown for the most part by Government, since it alone is 

 free from the burdens of taxation and interest. 



Meanwhile, in this country a number of companies are 

 already protecting their timber lands from fire, and leaving 

 seed trees to supply another crop. These are the first elementary 

 steps of forestry and although they will not, of themselves, 

 produce ideal forests, they are, nevertheless true conservation 

 measures for forestry begins with fire protection. Other com- 

 panies are limiting fire protection to the uncut timber and leav- 

 ing the cut-over areas and young growth to shift for them- 

 selves. This is not to be confused with forestry. It will not add 

 one tree to our next crop of timber. It is merely a form of tim- 

 ber insurance. 



Private enterprise is already making important contributions 

 toward forest problems in the field of research. Through study 

 and experimentation they are learning new uses for unused 

 species and are yearly perfecting methods of manufacture to 

 reduce waste. 



Investigations into methods of logging often result in dis- 

 coveries that not only mean a saving for the lumber company, 

 but leave the ground in better condition for forest renewal. 

 Not long ago a federal forester made an investigation for a 

 lumber company into the cost of cutting and manufacturing 

 lumber from trees of various sizes. His report showed that by 

 leaving trees below a certain size the company could save 

 money; that every log they cut and manufactured below this 

 size resulted in financial loss. The company adopted the for- 

 ester's suggestions at a saving of about two hundred thou- 

 sand dollars a year. The small trees previously taken are now 

 left to mature and serve as seed trees and as the nucleus of a 



