FUTURE FORESTRY IN IOWA 17 



soil fertility, can hardly be expected to provide for shelterbelts, 

 windbreaks or woodlots which produce their returns in protec- 

 tion and products largely in the future. 



The man who owns his quarter or half section is the man who 

 is interested in providing these extras which not only add to the 

 value of the property and increase profits, but also make the 

 farm more habitable. In the native woodland, which may not 

 be in direct connection with the farm buildings, there would be 

 the same tendency toward degeneration through tenancy. Either 

 the tenant would make use of the products of the woodlot for 

 his own ends, at the expense of the woodlot, or he would damage 

 it by over grazing. In case the natural woodland is to thrive* 

 under tenancy it will only be under strict regulations from the 

 owner. 



WHAT IS NEEDED 



Iowa's needs in forestry matters are largely educational. The 

 State should provide for these needs either through the educa- 

 tional institutions, the experiment station or by a commission. In 

 any event, funds should be made available for carrying on ex- 

 perimental or demonstration work which would assist the farmers 

 and timber owners in solving their problems. This work might 

 well be placed under the supervision of the Director of the State 

 Experiment Station, since a number of lines of forestry experi- 

 mental work have already been taken up by thisorganization 

 and the results are being published for distribution. 



The following lines of work are needed : 



1. Providing for the examination of woodland tracts, after 

 application has been made, for the purpose of proposing methods 

 of scientific management. 



2. Providing for making planting plans to assist land owners 

 in reforestation or afforestation work. 



3. Providing for suitable planting stock or trees for commer- 

 cial plantations, which may be purchased at a reasonable cost. 

 This might be accomplished in one of two ways, either by induc- 

 ing the commercial nurseryman to provide for furnishing small 

 trees in large quantities at a fair price, or by having the trees 

 grown by the State and furnished at cost to planters who have 

 made application in advance. A number of the states have se- 

 cured good results by the latter method. 



