44 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 



here submitted. On the better lands of this terri- 

 tory farming can be engaged in with profit so that 

 such conditions simply limit the field of operation 

 and confine the farmer to the growth of particular 

 crops, yet with the opportunity for fairly good re- 

 turns. 



In their investigation the Committee saw many 

 different kinds of land; some of the very lightest 

 sand; some sandy loam; and some clay loam. 

 They also found large areas which were very rough, 

 covered with gravel, stone and huge boulders, yet 

 anyone who would condemn all the lands in the pro- 

 posed forest reserve by reason of these observations 

 would be unfair to this section of the State. Never- 

 theless, there are large areas- in fact, a major por- 

 tion of the lands which the Committee have had 

 an opportunity to investigate which they believe 

 to be better adapted to forestry than to farming. 

 Most of these lands will not be called into use by 

 tillers of the soil for many years to come. 



There can be no good reason why, if these lands 

 are used by the Forestry Department, it will in 

 any way interfere with the agricultural development 

 of Northern Wisconsin. Neither is there any reason 

 why the settlement of the good agricultural lands 

 should interfere with the forestry policy. There 

 is ample room for both, and the development of 

 the one should but assist in the development of 

 the other. Wherever forestry is being carried on, 

 in other States or in other countries, it is conducted 

 hand in hand with the agricultural advancement. 

 The farmers of Pennsylvania are ardent supporters 

 of the Forestry Commission. 



There should be no dispute between those inter- 

 ested in the general welfare of Northern Wisconsin, 

 whether interested in making it a rich agricultural 

 region or interested in the reforesation of its poorer 

 soils and rough lands such as cannot be profitably 

 used for farming. Agricultural writers, even those 

 who are interested in the agricultural development 

 say that twenty-fiv^ per cent of all the lands in 



