MEN OF THE TREES 



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American continent the standard of living is higher 

 than in many other countries, and therefore the de- 

 mands made upon the forests are proportionately 

 greater. This is the age of paper. Our civilization is 

 built largely upon the use of paper and this is one of 

 the main products of the forest. 



Although considerable attention is now, at length, be- 

 ing given to reafforestation, it will be many years before 

 the trees which are now planted become mature and 

 ready for utilization in the form of pulp. 



To provide for the interim period it may be necessary 

 to seek for substitutes for the manufacture of paper 

 pulp from other sources. Such substitutes will generally 

 be found to be dearer. Take for example Savanna Grass. 

 A large area has to be covered to obtain any consider- 

 able bulk. It has to be baled and it cannot be floated 

 down rivers, for it would rot in transit. It therefore has 

 to be sent by rail which is more costly. Trees are the 

 ideal material from which to make paper. They grow 

 high and considerable bulk can be obtained over a small 

 area. The fibres of the tree are packed tightly by nature 

 and when the tree is felled it can be floated at little cost 

 to the pulping mill. There may, however, be an interim 

 period, in which it will be necessary to seek for substi- 

 tutes to be used in the manufacture of paper-pulp. The 

 uses for paper-pulp are rapidly increasing. As an ex- 

 ample of their wide range one might cite the increas- 

 ing popularity of beaver-board, which finds it way into 

 the manufacture of a very wide range of articles, from 



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