xlii INTRODUCTION 



the National Forest policy, which provides for a 

 future supply of forest products as well as a present 

 supply; which provides for work and homes and 

 schools and churches for future generations as well 

 as for the present ; which provides for a permanent 

 industry and not one that vanishes with the ex- 

 ploitation of the resources of a region as snow van- 

 ishes under the warm rays of a spring day. Lum- 

 bering even to-day is merely the removal of every 

 vestige of timber that has any sale value. But for- 

 estry, which is practiced on the National Forests, 

 removes only the mature trees, leaving the young 

 growth to be cut at some future time. Lumbering 

 has been and is to-day forest destruction; forestry 

 is forest conservation under a system of wise use. 

 Lumbering is followed usually by fire, and often 

 by an entire impoverishment of the region in which 

 it is carried on because it destroys both the mature 

 tree and the young growth ; under a system of for- 

 estry, cutting is followed by young, green forests 

 which are protected from fire for the benefit of 

 future generations. Such a system leaves the re- 

 gion and the industry in a permanent, good condi- 

 tion. The county under the old system receives no 

 more taxes after its wealth is gone ; but each county 



