Future Forestry in Iowa 



G. B. MacDONALD 



Professor of Forestry, Iowa State College 



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Unlike most of the states, Iowa has a relatively small area 

 of non-agricultural land, in fact, about ninety per cent of the 

 State is adapted to the production of annual crops. For this 

 reason, if for no other, state or national forests will not be of 

 large extent. The areas which might best be used for timber 

 production are in relatively small units and far separated, mak- 

 ing their administration under national or state supervision more 

 difficult than in those states where considerable areas in one 

 locality are suitable only for tree growth. 



The fact that Iowa is more highly favored than her sister 

 states in having the highest percentage of soils of agricultural 

 value, should tend to stimulate better forestry on her timber 

 areas rather than to create a spirit of indfference toward them. 

 In some localities of the State we are led to believe that the 

 very prosperity of the land holder has created an attitude of 

 indifference toward the less productive areas. Numerous ex- 

 amples may be found where the lands which are turned with 

 the plow are handled in such a manner as to squeeze the last 

 cent from the soil, while adjoining areas, suitable for timber 

 production only, and capable of producing substantial returns, 

 are entirely disregarded. In brief, many land owners are carry- 

 ing at a loss areas which might be made productive if given a 

 little attention. 



Iowa's forestry problems are quite different from those of the 

 mountainous states. It is probable that provision may be made 

 in the future for both state and county forests of relatively 

 small area, but these features, although of great value, are not 

 of the first importance. The State is concerned more in the 

 connection which forestry has to the individual land owner. 

 Every farmer in Iowa should be concerned in the windbreak, 

 shelterbelt, or woodlot. 



There is another phase of forestry which has as its purpose 

 the better utilization of forest products which involves the using 



