RECLAMATION OF WASTE LAND. 435 



means, and that neglect will spoil even the best forest. The 

 forbears of the present generation have ravaged in the ample 

 woodland assigned to them by Providence to such an extent 

 that lumbermen have declared the best part of the forest 

 to have been clean thrown away. Under President Roose- 

 velt's decidedly bold leading, heartily supported by the 

 expert guidance of Mr. Gifford Pinchot, Forester of the 

 United States, vigorous efforts have been, as they are still being 

 made to repair the mischief done. The United States 

 Government now controls approximately 148,000,000 acres 

 of forest. By far the principal portion of forestry work 

 done in the United States accordingly falls to the share of 

 the Government. The Federal Government has in con- 

 sequence long since formed a special Section of Forestry, 

 forming part of the Department of Agriculture, and does 

 not stint the means required for setting the forest in order. 

 Particular solicitude is expended upon the rearing of expert 

 scientific foresters. That Section, besides attending care- 

 fully to the national forest service, in the words of the 

 present Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, " at 

 the request of the States, makes examinations of their 

 local conditions and conducts other studies needed to frame 

 forest legislation and formulates a State forest pohcy. The 

 cost of such work is shared by the State and the (Federal) 

 Service. The Service also co-operates with private owners, 

 especially small ones, in States which have no State foresters, 

 by furnishing advice, with or without field examinations, 

 concerning the best methods for managing and protecting 

 their holdings. The cost of such examinations is borne 

 by the owner." 



Add to this Germany, of the forestal arrangements in 

 which country I shall still have to speak, and some of the 

 minor countries, in which due attention is paid to forestry — 

 for instance, Finland, where the national importance of 

 forestry (63 per cent, of the area being under forest) has 

 forced the matter upon landowners' notice and special 

 arrangements have been made for forest insurance, partly 

 by Co-operation — and it cannot be said that we have no 

 precedents to guide us. The Netherlands have likewise 



