PREFACE xi 



Forest problem has meant to the millions of people 

 who live near them; what it has meant to bring 

 civilization to the great forested empire of Uncle 

 Sam ; what it has meant to change from a condition 

 of unrestricted, unregulated misuse with respect to 

 the public domain, to a policy of wise, regulated 

 use, based upon the principle of the greatest good 

 to the greatest number in the long run. In the 

 early days before the Forest Service organization 

 became established, the people were said to have 

 "shot-gun titles" to timber or grazing lands on the 

 public domain, and "might made right" in the tru- 

 est sense of the word. This crude condition of 

 affairs gave way to wise, conservative use under 

 government control. Just as the farmer each year 

 sets aside a certain amount of his seed for next 

 year's planting, just so the stockman saves his 

 calves and cows and lambs for greater growth and 

 each year sees a part of his herd maturing for mar- 

 ket, and just so the forester, under the new system, 

 cuts only the mature trees and allows the young 

 timber to remain for greater growth and greater 

 value in the future, or, in the absence of young 

 trees, plants small trees to replace those removed. 

 The people of the West are convinced that a 



