6 'PRIVATE FORESTRY. 



CONSTRUCTIVE FOREST POLICIES OF FRANCE AND ENGLAND. 



It happens that the area of forest land in New England is about 

 25,000,000 acres. This is almost the same as the forest area of France, 

 and in many respects the character of the forest has marked points 

 of similarity. France is producing by growth each year 50 per cent 

 more than New England. She has for years been improving her for- 

 ests and approaching a point where she can furnish most of her do- 

 mestic needs. New England by progressive diminution of capital 

 stock and failure adequately to produce forests is going in exactly 

 the other direction, losing ground every year. Before the war France 

 was building up her forest resources; New England has been pro- 

 gressively destroying hers. Before the war France was importing 

 about 80,000,000 cubic feet of lumber. New England's imports ex- 

 ceed this amount. The forest and wood-using industries of France 

 furnished employment to over 700,000 persons, and because the forests 

 were handled in a way to keep up production by growth this employ- 

 ment was permanent. It was the small industries supported from 

 local forests that furnished employment to so many people. 



England before the war felt herself quite independent in forest 

 matters. Her large merchant marine made it possible to import from 

 many competing countries. She did not have to practice forestry. 

 During 1915 and 1916 the excess cost over previous years of import- 

 ing forest materials was $185,000,000. The next year she had to 

 stop importing almost entirely. She then cut down her meager for- 

 ests and park timber, and finally had to rely on France, which was 

 supplying the needs of all the armies on the west front. England 

 now plans a great program of reforestation. She proposes to plant 

 up over a million acres in the next 40 years, spending during the first 

 decade over $17,000,000. England does not intend again to be caught 

 without home supplies. 



NEGLIGENT FOREST POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES. 



New England represents in many ways the most favorable condi- 

 tions for forestry in this country. The region is naturally endowed 

 with excellent types of forest, with valuable species, and a climate 

 favorable for tree growth. There is a large amount of land suited 

 only to growing trees. On account of the large number of wood- 

 using industries, markets for forest products are excellent. Trans- 

 portation for moving these products is well developed. The public 

 sentiment regarding forestry is in advance of most other parts of the 

 country. Yet even under these favorable conditions New England is 

 not overcoming the destructive influences that are depleting her forest 

 resources. 



