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greenbriars littering the floor, means more to the people than all 

 the explanation about silvicultural development and economic use of 

 the soil, and they will appreciate any effort we may make along this 

 line. 



Almost all of the operations so far carried out have been along the 

 routes of public travel. Here the people see and appreciate the fact 

 that something is being done. So with the necessity of getting the 

 public's attention. Since the people will appreciate the development 

 of natural beauty, do you not think this another reason for the ad- 

 vancement of improvement work? 



And now will this work pay ? There is an idea somewhat prevalent 

 among the people that the real object of improvement work is the 

 immediate return to be derived from the sale of material. That this 

 idea is erroneous we all know. The real value of improvement work 

 lies in the increased value of the remaining stock. In many cases 

 improvement work can be made to pay for itself and in some cases to 

 yield a profit. But where the need for advancing the work is great, it 

 would be better to do it at a small immediate loss than to neglect it and 

 lose the increase in value of the stock. As for plantation work it 

 will more than pay for itself in the future. 



Most of the states are taking up work in forestry, Pennsylvania per- 

 haps in the lead. She has gone into it deeper and more business like 

 than any of the others.* There is still a lot of criticism and abuse by 

 people who do not know anything of the subject. 



On our work will depend the disarming of these critics and their 

 change to friendliness. As before stated, most of the criticism 

 is on the ground that there is nothing of any value resulting from 

 the work. By advancing improvement work as rapidly as possible 

 and showing by actual results that there is something being done, we 

 will make and hold them friends. 



While we all concede that improvement work is a necessity, we 

 must not forget the need for another phase of the work, perhaps as 

 important. I refer to protection. All improvement will count for 

 nothing if we are to have it destroyed by fire. Every year thousands 

 of acres are burned over. What will it benefit us if our work is to 

 be obliterated within a year or two? While paying, therefore, all 

 possible attention to the work of improving the lands, let us see that 

 lands and work are properly protected. 



