EDITORIAL 



485 



yellow tinge than spruce newsprint, but otherwise seems 

 to be equal to that used by many large metropolitan 

 dailies. 



Information is still lacking as to the exact species 

 referred to as "spruce pine," and this confusion as to 

 botanical identification prevents drawing conclusions as 

 to the field which is actually opened up by this experi- 

 ment. It is stated that spruce pine "has no practical use, 

 and has been going to waste as a valueless product until 

 the Age-Herald demonstrated its use for the manufacture 

 of newsprint paper. It never gets larger than eight or 

 ten inches in diameter " It is reported further that "these 

 trees grow plentifully on high rocky soils in the Warrior 

 River section and throughout the northwestern part of 

 Alabama." There are some half dozen trees which in the 

 confusion of popular names are called spruce pine, but 

 this particular species is probably either Finns glabra or 

 Pintis Virginia. If the former, its range and, therefore, 

 the supply, is distinctly limited; if it is Pinus Virginia 

 or scrub pine, which is called spruce pine in parts of the 

 South, the supply is much greater. 



Whatever the exact species it seems logical that if one 



pine of a pitchy nature can be made into newsprint the 

 same process with modifications could be applied to any 

 or all of the southern pines, thereby creating an enor- 

 mous supply of pulpwood, which in the small trees has 

 limited value for other purposes, and with the further 

 great promise that if loblolly pine (Pimis taeda) can 

 be included in the list it offers greater possibilities for 

 rapid and profitable reforestation than other species in 

 the eastern United States. 



Future developments along this line will be awaited 

 with interest. If it is found feasible to establish paper 

 mills near this source of supply the practical utilization 

 of pine for newsprint would seem assured. On the other 

 hand, if the process is not perfected, continued opera- 

 tion of paper machines with resinous wood too expen- 

 sive, or a satisfactory quality cannot be maintained, the 

 laboratories will have to continue their investigations until 

 a sound commercial basis is established. In any event, 

 there is not likely to be any radical shift of pulpwood from 

 the North to the South, but rather a supplementing of the 

 northern resources and ultimate promise of continuous 

 production from the fast-growing loblolly pine. 



CALIFORNIA'S FORESTRY WORK 



'T'HE California Legislature of 1921 did more to ad- 

 -* vance the cause of forestry in California than could 

 have been exppected in view of the popular demand for 

 economy in state expenditures, and the movement for re- 

 organization of the state goverment. The latter was the 

 cause of a hard fight to hold the state board of forestry 

 just as it was but succeeded and there is no change. The 

 board stands as provided in 1919 with one member rep- 

 resenting the timber industry, one of the livestock indus- 

 try, one the grain and hay industry and one at large, 

 "which shall supervise and direct all matters of state 

 forest policy, management and protection." Just as im- 

 portant as that is the fact that the personnel of the 

 board is unchanged, former Governor George C. Paroee 

 being the chairman. That leaves everything in the very 

 best shape for progress., 



A concurrent resolution providing for a survey of 

 land that can be afforested or reforested, with an ap- 

 propriation of $10,000 will lead to good results, as it 

 will lay the foundation upon which to ask for a good 

 appropriation in 1923 for the purchase by the state of such 

 lands, thus starting the work of providing perpetual for- 

 ests. This will show owners of such lands what can be 

 done and without any doubt many of them will begin the 

 management of their forests in such a way as to perpetu- 

 ate them. With the state and the federal Government 

 showing the way and co-operating with timber owners 

 there should soon be practical and successful continuous 

 yield management under way in California. 



The salaries of the state forester and his deputies were 

 increased and $35,000 was appropriated for a state for- 

 estry nursery. Also $300,000 ws appropriated for the 

 State Redwood Park in Humboldt and Mendocino coun- 

 ties, and this means that at least that much more will 

 be expended for the same purpose, insuring a fine area 



of great redwoods to be preserved. A bill providing for 

 instruction in the public schools in fire prevention and 

 suppression will be a great help in keeping the import- 

 ance of this work before the people and haveing the young 

 folks grow up with right ideas on the subjects. 



The changes in- the game laws are important because 

 they make the open seasons later in the year in most 

 of the timber counties, so that the hunters will not be 

 turned loose in the woods until after the first rains. The 

 appropriation for forest protection to be used by the 

 state board of forestry is $75,000, an increase of $50,- 

 000 over 1919; also there were special appropriations 

 of $50,000, most of which will be used in the southern 

 part of the state. Many of the counties have already 

 made provision for funds for fire fighting which will 

 bring the total up to $300,000. With the funds available 

 for the United States Forest Service and with fire fight- 

 ing measures inaugurated by owners of timberlands the 

 state should be well protected. 



Practically all the timber operators have entered into 

 an agreement with the state board of forestry to dis- 

 pose of their slash, each to do it in the most effective and 

 economical way and then report results to the board 

 at the close of the year. This will be used as a basis for 

 such rules as may be needed in the future, the operators 

 all agreeing that the time has come to dispose of all 

 slash in order to prevent fires that would destroy the in- 

 coming timber after cutting. '" " 



The California Forest Protective Association, a wide 

 awake and progressive organization, has been of great 

 assistance in developing the forestry interests of the 

 state and predicts increased attention to forestry meas- 

 ures by timberland owners by the general public in the 

 future. 



