The Editor to the Reader 



IN THE LIBRARY of the United States Department of Agriculture 

 are 1 1,350-odd publications about trees and forests. Among the oldest 

 of these volumes is the 1 20-page Sylva, or a discourse of forest-trees, and 

 the propagation of timber in His Majesties dominions. . . . The English 

 patriot and philosopher John Evelyn published it in 1664. It is full of 

 warnings and advice : "Men seldom plant trees till they begin to be wise, 

 that is, till they grow old, and find, by experience, the prudence and 

 necessity of it." 



One of the latest books in the library is Breaking New Ground, by the 

 late American patriot and philosopher Gifford Pinchot. It is an auto- 

 biographical account of a pioneer forester's work for conservation of 

 forests, soil, and water supplies. 



To that goodly company, an average of 406 books, pamphlets, and 

 articles about timber and its products is added each month. To that grow- 

 ing number also we are adding this Yearbook of Agriculture. An explana- 

 tion of why we do so seems to be called for. 



We have tried here to put into clearer perspective some items of history, 

 importance, administration, and outlook that so far have been in scattered 

 form. We have tried to explain another broad segment of the Depart- 

 ment's work. We have tried to tell the essentials of choosing, planting, and 

 growing trees as a farm crop, as a renewable national treasure, as a neces- 

 sary part of country and city life. We have tried to make a book that is 

 practical and useful for all Americans and interesting and inspiring for 

 those who are unaware of the beauty and delight of the woods. We have 

 tried to tell how and why to plant trees and care for them, and to offer a 

 sort of forum to persons of divergent viewpoints, with all of which we do 

 not necessarily agree. 



Several hundred persons cooperated to produce this book. The names 



vn 



