264 FORESTRY 



in many places. Forests are also of great value in any region, 

 as they break the force of the prevailing winds. 



Aside from commercial uses, national forests are of great value 

 as places of recreation, for campers, hunters, fishermen, and 

 health or pleasure seekers. They are, in a certain sense, the 

 great open-air playgrounds of the nation, where all may come in 

 contact with nature and enjoy its beauties. 



National forests also serve as vast game preserves, in which 

 many species of game are protected that in a short time would 

 become extinct because of the slaughter inflicted upon them 

 by hunters. The buffalo, or American bison, would long ago have 

 become extinct but for the protection afforded him in some of our 

 national parks. 



Reforestation and Tree Planting. In the open prairies and 

 regions where the forests have disappeared steps should be taken 

 to set out trees and to start forests. This has been done on a 

 large scale in Europe, and there is no good. reason why the same 

 thing cannot be done in this country. Palestine and Mesopo- 

 tamia, once very fertile and productive countries, are now almost 

 barren because of the destruction of the forests. Trees modify 

 the climate to a certain extent, and their removal in the countries 

 mentioned is in part responsible for the barren condition that now 

 exists there. The same is true in other countries. 



Trees should be set out along the public highways, along the 

 boundaries of farms, along small water courses, and wherever 

 their presence does not prove detrimental in any way. Every 

 pasture should contain at least a few trees to make shade for 

 stock during the warm season of the year. It would also be well 

 to set in trees all waste and broken areas of the farm that cannot 

 be cultivated to advantage. Every farmer should grow enough 

 trees to keep him supplied with fence posts, and other small timbers 

 as they are needed. The kind of tree to be planted will depend on 

 the locality and climate. Suggestions can always be had from the 

 Director of the State Experiment Station in each State, or from the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, at Washington, D.C. 

 In some of the Western States the eucalyptus and the catalpa have 

 been grown successfully and have been especially valuable for 

 fence posts. 



