A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 



1501 



production is so low and where abandonment has gone so far that the 

 maintenance of the necessary public improvements such as roads and 

 schools can no longer be justified should be blocked up for public 

 forests. The same action should be taken on critical erosion areas 

 which cannot be handled satisfactorily in other than public ownership. 

 In the immediate future planting should largely be done on those 

 eas on which success will be fairly certain, and where accessibility 



areas 



for the use of the product is high, or on which a forest cover is imme- 

 diately essential to erosion control. Included under both of these 

 classifications will be part of the abandoned farm land east of the 



10 



Restocking naturally 

 in 20 years 



Restocking naturally 

 in 40 years 



20 30 40 



MILLION ACRES 



50 



60 



Unsatisfactorily stocked 

 at end of 40 years 



Provided for in 20 year 

 planting program 



FIGURE 1. Although natural restocking will reclaim for forest growth considerable portions of the present 

 unproductive acreage, a substantial 20-year planting program will be essential in most regions to bring 

 this vast area into a reasonable degree of productivity. 



Mississippi. As the work expands, successful ways and means will be 

 found, through research and experience, to plant progressively more 

 difficult areas at reasonable cost. 



The immediate regional needs for forest planting are explained 

 briefly in the following paragraphs. 



REGIONAL JUSTIFICATION 

 NEW ENGLAND AND MIDDLE ATLANTIC REGIONS 



The New England and Middle Atlantic regions constitute the most 

 densely populated section of the United States. As a result of early 

 settlement and improper management of agricultural areas, farm 

 land abandonment is now in advanced stages and presents a serious 



