MARYLAND WEATHEE SERVICE 379 



until under more conservative forest methods better production is 

 secured, we must be content with a greatly diminished timber supply. 

 This general survey of the forest resources of the State and the 

 present consumption of timber reveals some striking facts. (1) The 

 present yearly growth is not sufficient to supply more than one-third 

 of the present consumption. This means that there is a heavy de- 

 mand upon the forest capital, which now is so greatly depleted as 

 to be unable to meet the demand, and consequently there is a falling 

 off in the lumber production. (2) The cut-over forests have been 

 left in such poor condition that their future productiveness is seri- 

 ously impaired. Most of the present stand of timber is poor in 

 quality and of low yield as compared with the production of forest 

 judiciously managed. (3) Eepeated forest fires in most of the tim- 

 bered sections of the State are accountable, in a large measure, for 

 the poor quality of forest produce and the low yields, by checking 

 the growth, and causing defective trees. (4) The present stumpage 

 price of timber is not high enough to thoroughly encourage conserv- 

 ative forest management. Prices, however, are rising rapidly, and 

 the practice of conservative forestry is beginning to receive some con- 

 sideration. When the price of lumber reaches the point that will 

 not only cover the cost of logging and manufacture but will also in- 

 clude the cost of growing the timber careful forest management will 

 be the universal practice. In other words as soon as the time comes, 

 — and it is coming rapidly — when stumpage prices will represent the 

 cost of replacing the trees themselves there will be sufficient induce- 

 ment to care for our forests as they should be cared for. 



