AMERICAN FOREST CONGRESS 115 



to weep over the cake after it has disappeared, but to 

 get out the recipe book and make another. 



No one will question the soundness of the lumber- 

 man's belief that his method gets the greatest use out 

 of the tree. Though the old theory is now seriously 

 questioned if the standing tree encourages the summer 

 shower, the sawed shingle is necessary to protect the 

 head of the man from the thunder storm. Nothing in 

 the world can suffer a better fate than utilization. 

 When the tomato was the ruddy "love apple" of our 

 youth it was a beautiful object, but who will deny the 

 more potent attraction of the tomato stew? We are 

 compelled to admit that the mature tree must come 

 down. Once down, that particular tree is eliminated. 

 I am reminded of the question asked of the Swiss 

 guide by the tourist. He was gazing over the edge of 

 the precipice and remarked to the guide: "I suppose 

 people often fall from here?" "No," replied the guide, 

 "only once." A tree is felled but once and the next 

 and only thing is to replace it where that is practicable. 



That there has been a change of heart within recent 

 years on the part of American lumbermen toward the 

 forestry idea there can be no doubt. If you should 

 ask me to what I ascribe this sentiment I would say 

 that the most important step forward was made by the 

 disciples of forestry when they ceased to preach the 

 doctrine of indirect and deferred benefits and began to 

 demonstrate that direct benefits could be made to result 

 from forestry as a science and as a practice. Proper 

 forestry regulations and successful reforestation can 

 never be brought about except by a demonstration of 

 direct results. All that has been said about the influ- 

 ence of forests on climatic conditions, on watersheds, 

 bird life, etc., may be, much of it is, absolutely true, 

 but the great and vital question that appeals to the 



