OUR FORESTS 113 



matter in the soil (the " duff ") forming the forest floor, thus pre- 

 venting the growth of forest there for many years to come. In 

 New York and other states fires are fought by an organized corps 



A forest in the far west totally destroyed by fire and wasteful lumbering. 



of fire wardens, whose cluty it is to watch the forest and to fight 

 forest fires. 



Other Enemies. Other enemies of the forest are numerous 

 fungus plants, insect parasites which bore into the wood or destroy 

 the leaves, and grazing animals, particularly sheep. Wind and 

 snow also annually kill many trees. 



Forestry. In some parts of central Europe, the value of the 

 forests was seen as early as the year 1300 A.D., and many towns 

 consequently bought up the surrounding forests. The city of 

 Zurich has owned forests in its vicinity for at least 600 years and 

 has found them a profitable investment. In this country only 

 recently has the importance of preserving and caring for our 

 forests been noted by our government. Now, however, we have a 

 Forest Survey of the Department of Agriculture and numerous 

 state and university schools of forestry which are rapidly teach- 



HUNTER, CIV. BI. 8 



