Forests and What They Give Us 525 



Forests are important because they prevent floods, aid in 

 maintaining a uniform flow of streams, retard the washing away 

 of soil, assist in the formation of new soil, afford homes for wild 

 animals and birds and yield various products useful to man. 



The principal enemies of the forest are man, fire, insects and 

 fungous diseases. 



Forestry is a vocation whose object is the preservation and 

 restoration of forests. 



The United States began to take interest in the preservation 

 of its forests in 1875. The work is in charge of a division of 

 the Department of Agriculture, known as the Forest Service. The 

 forests were not protected until this service was organized. There 

 is still grave danger of the depletion of our forests. 



Our forest preserves are located largely in the westeni and 

 southern states, New England, Alaska, and Porto Rico. 



Among the duties of the Forest Service are the prevention 

 and control of forest fires, the protection of forest trees against 

 disease and insect pests and the enforcement of sanitary regula- 

 tions in all camps on the watersheds. 



Trees, like other green plants, require food, air, light, water, 

 and heat. Without these they cannot manufacture food or carry 

 on their life processes. 



Some trees attain great age and enormous size, notably the 

 Sequoias of California. 



In planting young trees, root hairs should not be broken, and 

 top branches should be pruned to prevent too great transpiration. 

 Care of trees after planting is essential. 



FACT AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS 



1. Name and describe briefly several trees you know. 



2. What uses are made of trees in your neighborhood? 



3. Explain how forests prevent floods. 



4. Explain how forests aid in the formation of soil. 



5. Describe methods of forest protection. 



6. What effect does the close growing of trees in a forest have on their 

 branches ? 



7. Suggest reasons for careful thinning out of natural forests. 



8. Why is it necessary that the forests have protection? 



