THE WORK OF THE FORESTER 



AT a meeting of the board of directors of the Ameri- 

 can Forestry Association, held in New York on April 

 12, the work of the forester of the association was dis- 

 cussed and plans outlined for the remainder of the year. 

 Ovid M. Butler, the association's new forester, submitted 

 a report which was approved by the directors and which 

 will form the jjeneral plan of his work during the sum- 

 mer and fall. This plan contemplates more or less con- 

 centration by the forester upon specific situations. 



Mr. Butler pointed out in his report that in view of the 

 many diversified fields inviting the activities of the for- 

 ester for the association, he felt that most effective re- 

 sults could be accomplished by following a definite plan 

 with definite objectives and departing from that plan 

 only when urgent situations arise. Otherwise, he held, 

 the time and efforts of the forester will be badly scattered 

 and thinly spread over a broad surface, thus being un- 

 productive of large or definite results in studying eco- 

 nomic situations or in assisting in needed forestry de- 

 velopments of broad scope. 



"From the many fields of activities open to us," said 

 Mr. Butler, "I have endeavored to place my finger on the 

 one or two of greatest possibility from the standpoint of 

 broad national need. Considering the depleted character 

 of the eastern forests and the rapid shrinkage now tak- 

 ing place in the southern forests, there can be no question 

 but that the twenty-five million acres of cut-over forest 

 land in the lake states and the forty million acres of simi- 

 lar land in the south must be classed as regions of out- 

 standing importance in supplying our future needed 

 growth. The possibilities of forest growth in these two 

 regions are very great, but with the exception of one or 

 two states, there is unquestionably less actual forestry 

 being accomplished than in the eastern and northeastern 

 and in the far western states. The need for a proper pub- 

 lic conception of the economic aspects of forestry, for 

 forestry education, forest laws and information on the 

 forest growing possibilities of vast tracts of land suitable 

 only for growing forests, is, I think, more highly con- 

 centrated in the lake states and the south than in any 

 other parts of the United States." 



Mr. Butler will divide his time between the south and 

 the lake states as, in his judgment, will best serve to 

 advance his objects. It is the plan to cooperate with 

 local forest agencies in just as far as possible, assisting 

 them in working out their larger problems and in bring- 

 ing home to the j)ublic their economic interests as now 

 affected or threatened by local and national forest de- 

 pletion. The board agreed that the forester for the asso- 

 ciation should devote himself to i)roblems and situations 

 of large import rather than to general representation 

 which must necessarily be of more superficial value. 



The question of the forester's attendance at meetings 

 was discussed by the board. Mr. Butler pointed out 

 that practically all the forester's time might be spent in 



representing the association at meetings which in one 

 way or another were of a forest character, but that such 

 a policy would preclude the accomplishment of the real 

 purposes for which the forester should stand. The asso- 

 ication's forester should, however, endeavor to attend 

 meetings which are of special importance. 



In discussing legislative situations and the opportu- 

 nities for the association to be of great help in that direc- 

 tion, Mr. Butler in his report stated: "That leads me to 

 suggest the desirability of strengthening the association's 

 propaganda or legislative work. I have mentioned this 

 to Mr. Ridsdale and I think we are agreed that we need 

 to organize better for this work. We should not only 

 maintain an up-to-date list of all forestry and allied or- 

 ganizations in the country but we should keep an index 

 of practically all organizations, commercial and other- 

 wise, whose interests dove-tail into the forestry situation 

 in one way or another. We should have these organiza- 

 tions classified in such a manner that when any particu- 

 lar subject or measure needs legislative support, we can 

 immediately put our fingers upon those organizations 

 whose interests are most directly involved and whose suij- 

 port will therefore be most responsive to telegraphic sum- 

 mons or written communication." 



Action by the board of directors on Mr. Butler's report 

 also carries with it the working out of a definite legisla- 

 tive and editorial policy with respect to forestry. This will 

 be done by a sub-committee of the board to be appointed 

 to advise with the forester as his work develops. As to 

 the need of such a committee, entirely aside from the 

 formulation of definite policies, the forester's report 

 stated : "Many matters aj^e certain to arise from time to 

 time on which I will want advice. Such an arrangement 

 will be very helpful to me and to my work and it will 

 establish, I think, closer contact with the board and the 

 forester, a thing desirable from all standpoints." 



In another part of his report, the forester stated : 

 "Another subject I should like to touch upon, not in the 

 way of a recommendation at this time but as something 

 for us all to be thinking about, is the question of associa- 

 tion affiliations. Forestry sentiment is developing very 

 rapidly. Established organizations of all kinds are be- 

 coming more and more interested in forestry while new 

 forestry associations are coming into being. There are 

 today county, state and interstate forestry associations. 

 I believe that the American Forestry Association should 

 supply the machinery by which these and other organi- 

 zations may unite their strength on forestry problems 

 and function in a much larger and stronger way. I ap- 

 l)reciate that the financial aspect of any affiliation plan 

 must be very carefully considered, but if the association 

 can offer something definite, if it can make a clear show- 

 ing of advantage to the local organizations, I think we 

 shall find the latter in a very receptive state of mind," 



