MASSACHUSETTS 

 AND HER FORESTS 



OR the past twenty-four years I 

 have been employed as an official 

 in educational, experimental, and 

 demonstration forestry work in 

 New England, having been State Forester of 

 Massachusetts for the past thirteen years. 

 During this time it has been my avowed pur- 

 pose to do everything within mortal power 

 to accomplish something in establishing fun- 

 damentals from which forestry practices of a 

 permanent nature might be the outgrowth. 



There are few, if any, problems of greater 

 moment and more economic importance to 

 New England at the present hour than that 

 of forestry. There are those still living who 

 have seen beautiful primeval forests dotting 

 the hills and valleys everywhere throughout 

 this rugged and beautiful country. Year by 

 year these forests have succumbed to our mad 

 rush of uneconomic commercialism, until 

 today finds us in a sadly depleted and ir- 

 rational condition. 



THE FOREST PRIMEVAL 



It is always easy to point out mistakes after 

 they have happened; but experience, though 

 a dear teacher, should sober us at the present 

 time. Year by year the primeval forest has 

 been cut and harvested. Second growth, in- 

 ferior but valuable, has followed, where con- 

 ditions have been favorable, which, in turn, 

 has been utilized as soon as it reached mer- 

 chantable size. Demand for forest products 



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