572 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION December 



pean investigators by borrowing their may well prove of importance for the 



results. Both the natural and the ar- management of European forests. New 



tificial conditions which determine for- species will doubtess be made available 



est utilization are so different from for commercial use abroad, the vexed 



those found abroad that a new science problem of the influence of forests on 



had to be built up from its founda- climate should be brought toward so- 



tions. lution, and new methods of practise 



Americans may well feel proud of will be brought to light, 



the rapid progress made. That such Official recognition of the progress 



results have been secured is primarily achieved in experimental forestry in 



due to the liberality and foresight of the United States was made in the in- 



Congress, which has steadily support- vitation extended to the Forester by 



ed and provided for the work by in- Dr. A. Buhler, Director of the Royal 



creasing appropriations as success has Wiirttemberg Forest Testing Labora- 



been attained and capacity for expand- tory at Tubingen, Germany. In his 



ing usefulness has been proved. The letter Doctor Buhler said : "In inviting 



country is fortunate in the outcome, the United States to join the associa- 



for it is now in position to utilize wise- tion I am but expressing the general 



ly one of its greatest resources and to desire. You have accomplished so 



do what may be done to avert the na- much and have taken so capable a hold 



tional peril threatened by forest de- on investigations that the work of the 



struction. We have now a science and association would be furthered by your 



practise of forestry based upon Amer- membership." 



ican conditions, and are ready to enter The Forester's letter of acceptance, 



upon the stage of higher scientific re- approved by the Secretary of Agricul- 



search with the other nations repre- ture, is in part as follows : 



sented in the International Associa- "The Forest Service has always been 



tion. deeply interested in the admirable work 



Affiliation with foreign workers will of the European experiment stations, 



materially aid us on the way toward which have been such an important 



further goals. Better and better meth- factor in raising forestry from pure 



ods of practical management can be empirics to the position of a true 



devised as knowledge of the underly- science. Our own problems, though 



ing scientific problems becomes fuller, exceedingly vital to us, have until re- 



The United States will profit also cently had only a limited, local interest, 



through the criticism of its published and for this reason I thought best to 



results by the older and more experi- refrain from participating in the gen- 



enced foresters of Europe, since a part eral scientific work of the International 



of the plan of co-operation is the mu- Association. Now, however, a num- 



tual exchange and discussion of forest ber of wood-testing stations are well 



publications. The conventions of the organized, other laboratory work is 



association will give opportunity for well under way, and the 127,000,000 



the discussion of international prob- acres of forest reserves with whose 



lems, for personal contact with foreign management the Forest Service is 



leaders, and for promoting the feeling charged offer opportunities for many 



of fellowship among workers in a com- investigations which may contribute 



mon field which helps to draw the to the progress of our science, 



whole civilized world together. "I shall therefore be very glad to 



Foreign forestry will profit from have the Forest Service of the United 



our investigations, because no other States Department of Agriculture be- 



country has so wide a variation in cli- come a member of the International 



mate or such a wealth of forest flora Association of Forest Experiment Sta- 



as America. As we advance in knowl- tions, and promise as active participa- 



edge of silviculture we shall place at tion in its work as circumstances will 



the disposal of Europe facts which permit." 



