EDITORIAL 



The Tasks Set Before Us and local need not feel that their work 



is done. The best is yet before them, 



'"pHE forestry movement in America but they must not be content with the 

 has passed its first propagandist old methods of agitation and propagand- 

 stage. The awakening of public inter- ism. They must set before themselves 

 est has come ; schools, colleges and uni- definite tasks, educational and practical, 

 versities are taking cognizance of this Sound knowledge and wise laws, train- 

 subject; a national forest service, in ed men to administer, and an informed 

 which we may take pride, has become citizenship to support them are what 

 a permanent part of the administra- we need now. 



tive branch of the government ; many of The general movement for conserva- 

 the states have established similar de- tion of natural resources, which is be- 

 partments ; we are fast coming to a ing broadened into a general overhaul- 

 knowledge of our forest resources, their ing of our economic methods, has taken 

 possibilities and requirements. a strong hold upon the country. The 



In bringing about all this the Amen- details of its application may be criti- 



can Forestry Association, which holds cized by interested persons, but the 



its thirtieth annual meeting in Washing- people believe in it. In this movement 



ton on the twelfth and thirteenth of because of its broad relationship and 



January has had a large and honorable because it led the way, forestry occu- 



part. It led the way in the organiza- pies a central place, 



tion of the people to secure these results This is the way the American For- 



and its influence, guided steadily by estry Association looks at its work, with 



the leaders of the movement, has been its face to the front, preparing for a 



potent for good through all these years, larger usefulness even than in the past. 



We are facing a new period of real To the work of education much atten- 



constructive work. Our original thesis tion must be directed and in this num- 



the need of scientific forestry is con- ber of the magazine will be found, we 



ceded among intelligent citizens. The believe, the most complete and authori- 



next steps are those of education and tative list that has yet been published 



of the rounding out of our forest policy, of the schools, colleges, and universities 



establishing the latter, when the right in the United States that teach forestry 



way has been determined, through well- in some form. We expect to publish 



framed state and national laws. much material of a directly educational 



The first task- that of arousing the character during the coming year, 

 people \vas not easy. The second is In addition to such work, we wish 

 more difficult and demands the applica- to see a rounding out of our national 

 tion of highly trained effort. But the and state forest policy along the broad- 

 means are at hand for this. The For- est lines, so that waste land in this 

 est Service commands the efforts of country of ours will be reduced to a 

 highly trained specialists, whose work minimum and water, soil, and climate 

 is partly educational as well as adminis- preserved by ample and well managed 

 trative. The same is true of the state forests under national, state, municipal, 

 services in those commonwealths which and private ownership, 

 have progressed so far as to have them. Is not the task sufficient and worth 

 The various associations, national, state while ? Do you not want to share in it ? 

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