64 OUR NATIONAL FORESTS 



trees. Title to this will be secured by exchange for 

 government owned lands. 



HOW YOUNG FORESTS AR,E PLANTED TO REPLACE 

 THOSE DESTROYED BY FIRE 



Reforestation and the Timber Supply. More 

 than 15,000,000 acres of National Forest lands 

 which are capable of producing timber and valuable 

 chiefly for that purpose have been denuded of their 

 original tree growth. These lands are not adapted 

 to agriculture and possess but a small value for 

 grazing. In their present condition they are prac- 

 tically unproductive barrens. 



It is probable that one-half of this area will re- 

 forest itself naturally through the reseeding of 

 burns, and the encroachment of tree growth upon 

 natural openings, parks, grass lands, and brush 

 lands. This natural extension of the forest on such 

 areas is progressing at the estimated rate of 150,000 

 acres annually. The remaining half of the de- 

 nuded area, 7,500,000 acres, must be reforested by 

 artificial means. This land is unquestionably 

 adapted to growing timber and useful to the nation 

 primarily for that purpose. Every year that it lies 

 idle the country suffers a great financial loss, for 



