FORESTRY IN THE AMERICAN TROPICS 



By JOHN GIFFORD. 



IT SFEMS to me that forestry shorn of mathematics and theory is the 

 growing of trees primarily for fine lumber. Except in a few places 

 devoid of wood of any kind, it is a mistake to plant trees for fuel wood 

 alone. Not only sawlogs, but sawlogs of such quality that they will bring the 

 very highest price on the market should be the aim of foresters. Fuel wood 

 we have in excess and soft coal is so abundant and so cheap that stock in a 

 soft coal company at the present time is a very poor investment. In the 

 major portion of this country under normal conditions the limbage and 

 waste ought supply all fuel demands. 



It certainly does not pay to hire expensive men to look after cheap stuff 

 on cheap land. A dollar is simply a token for a certain amount of human 

 effort, and although in Europe materials are carefully conserved, there is a 

 woeful waste of human labor. We waste materials, but we certainly save 

 effort by the use of labor-saving machinery and up-to-date tools. 



There are economic laws that govern development, and I think it is safe 

 to say that agriculture and forestry must develop hand in hand. In other 

 words, there must be a rural population. The cheapness and abundance 

 of land is due, of course, to a sparseness of population in the country. Our 

 census gives us little hope. Were it not for the incoming tide from elsewhere 

 our rural population would decidedly decrease and land would decrease in 

 value accordingly. The newcomers who settle in the country hardly offset 

 the drift to the cities. 



I have been interested of late in the handling of lands and in keeping 

 tab on the prices of land throughout the South, including the W^est Indies. 

 I have been impressed with one thing the ridiculous price that much of it 

 sells for regardless of what covers it. I will give but one instance of many 

 letters which I have received in reply to advertisements in local papers : 160 

 acres, 70 acres in cultivation, 40 acres pasture, balance in fine oak timber; 

 one six-room house, one three-room house, two hen houses, a granery, smoke 

 house, seed house, cow shed, a shop, two good barns, 300 bearing fruit trees 

 and vineyard, near to church and school, rural mail delivery and telephone; 

 fine water and a very healthy locality. Price, $1,000 ; on easy terms. 



You will naturally say, just as I have said many times, that there must 

 be something wrong. A careful investigation will show that in nine cases 

 out of ten the old neighbors have gone to the towns, the newcomers are not 

 liked, or rather not understood, and the children are dissatisfied. 



We may hope for change in time, but time is the important element. 

 Unfortunately, good growth is usually slow growth. This discourages private 

 enterprise and is the main reason for governmental control of a certain part 

 of our forested area. After ten years of experience in the American tropics 

 I have unlearned much that was laboriously taught me in school and have 

 come to the lamentable conclusion that our knowledge of tropical American 

 trees from a silvicultural standpoint is so meager that it hardly counts. 



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