212 FIRST YEAR COURSE IN GENERAL SCIENCE 



is an organized body of trained men working in the Forestry 

 Division of the Department of Agriculture. Several states 

 also and many individuals have reserved forest land for the 

 purpose of scientific management. A forest can be made 

 to yield a steady income by right methods of cutting trees 

 of a proper size without injury to smaller ones, by careful 

 removal of material which would be fuel for accidental fires, 

 and by replanting areas which have been cleared. 



State agricultural schools and some universities have 

 established Schools of Forestry to fit men for the position 

 of foresters. To be qualified for the position, a man must 

 know, among other things, the requirements of different 

 kinds of trees as to soil, temperature, light, and water; the 

 methods by which each kind of tree distributes its seed; 

 the conditions which favor the growth of trees from the 

 seed; and the kinds of trees which grow best together. 



234. Forest Enemies. The enemies of the forest, which 

 the forester must recognize, are fire, reckless lumbering, 

 sheep grazing, wind, insects, squirrels, and mice. Each 

 enemy must be fought by the best means available, and 

 these the forester must be able to discover and use. The 

 methods used by the official foresters can be employed with 

 profit by every owner of a wood lot. 



235. Forests and Rainfall. Much has been said about 

 the effects of forests upon rainfall, climate, and floods. It 

 has not yet been proved that the presence of forests increases 

 rainfall or changes climate, but there is no doubt that the 

 removal of forests from large areas helps to cause floods 

 in times of great rainfall. The soil of a living forest is deep 

 and spongy, and prevents the rain water from flowing 

 immediately into streams; and the surface of the leaves 

 upon the trees and undergrowth holds part of the fallen 

 rain. Thus the streams are not so suddenly filled to flood 

 heights. With the protecting forest removed, the ground 

 becomes hard; and when the soil can hold no water, the 



