118 THE SCHOOL BOOK OF FORESTRY 



been rapid. Germany still leads as one of the 

 most prominent countries that practices efficient 

 forestry. German forests are now said to be 

 worth more than $5,000,000,000. France has over 

 2,750,000 acres of fine publicly owned forests, 

 in addition to private forests, which yield 

 a net income of more than $2 an acre a year 

 to the government. The French have led 

 in extending reforestation on denuded mountain 

 sides. British India has well-managed forests 

 which cover over 200,000 square miles of area. 

 These timberlands return a net income of from 

 $3,000,000 to $4,000,000 a year. India now pro- 

 tects more than 35,000 square miles of forest 

 against fire at an annual cost of less than half a 

 cent an acre. 



Forest experts say that the United States, 

 which produces more than one-half of all the 

 sawed timber in the world, should pay more 

 attention to the export lumber business. Such 

 trade must be built up on the basis of a permanent 

 supply of timber. This means the practice of 

 careful conservation and the replacement of for- 

 ests that have been destroyed. We can not export 

 timber from such meagre reserves as the pine 

 forests of the South, which will not supply even 



