226 WEST VIRGINIA EXPERIMENT STATION. 



portion of the surface to the action of the sun, drying winds 

 and floods, would have the effect of drying up the streams and 

 springs, and reducing the general moisture of the air and soil. 

 This, together with the large area covered by sod, would offer 

 favorable conditions for the multiplications of insects which 

 breed in, and are destructive to the sod, and in connec- 

 tion with long continued drouths, much of the sod would 

 be destroyed by them. The dead and decayed sod would ex- 

 pose the soil to the eroding action of heavy rain storms. The 

 destructive floods and torrents which are inevitable conse- 

 quences of clearing the forest growth from mountain areas, 

 would carry the soil away from the highlands and devastate 

 the valleys, so that the final result, so far as agriculture is con- 

 cerned, could easily become a poverty stricken and practically 

 irreclaimable region. 



Whether or not this deplorable condition will be realized, 

 depends as we have already indicated upon the owners of the 

 land, and the interest they will take in the future of the forest 

 area of the State. ! do not think it will come to the worst, but 

 nevertheless, it is a possible condition for present residents of 

 the region to keep in mind and guard against. 



THE IMPORTANCE OF PERPETUATING THE FOREST RESOURCES OF THE 

 AREA AS A SOURCE OF WEALTH TO ITS INHABITANTS AND THE STATE. 



While the private and incorporated owners of the land and 

 timber in the section of the State that we have designated as 

 the spruce area, have a perfect right to do as they like with 

 their property, and while it is proper and advisable to develop 

 and utilize the matured forest products, it is even more impor- 

 tant that the present owners, their successors and the State 

 should make some provisions for the perpetuation of the 

 wealth of forest resources in this region, and thus prevent 

 the disastrous results which are sure to follow a total de- 

 structions of the forests without an attempt at reparation. 



It has been stated by good authority that 20 to 25 percent, of 

 a country should be covered by forests as a necessity. 

 It is evident, however, that the spruce area in which nearly all 



