CHAPTER XXXVI 

 FORESTRY 



382. A Forest is a considerable piece of land covered 

 with large trees. Forests are directly important to 

 mankind as sources of fuel, lumber, heavy round timber, 

 .such as posts, piling, and telegraph poles; also, cooper- 

 age stock, tan bark, wood pulp for paper-making, rosin, 

 cork and many other useful supplies. They are also 

 important because of their good effect in regulating 

 stream flow, preventing the erosion of the land and, 

 probably, in modifying climate. 



383. The Need of Forests was not fully recognized 

 by the early settlers in timbered regions. The heavy 

 timber was looked upon as an obstacle to rapid progress; 

 but, in recent years, when railroads are at hand to haul 

 the forest products wherever they may be needed, they 

 are quite valuable. Before a piece of timbered land is 

 destroyed, the probable value of the annual harvest of 

 forest products should be carefully considered. America 

 is now repeating the forestry experiences of European 

 countries. The forests were first destroyed to make 

 room for the fields, gardens and orchards, and, as the 

 farming interest reduced the timbered areas, fuel and 

 lumber supplies became more difficult to secure. Then 

 the forest was looked upon as something of value that 

 should not be destroyed. Where the natural covering of 

 the hills and bottoms has been removed, the bad effects 

 caused by the washing of the soil from the hills and the 

 flooding of the valleys have been plainly seen. 



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