148 B. E. Fernow—The Battle of the Forest. 
The battle of the forest in this country is now fought by man, 
the unintelligent and greedy carrying on a war of extermination, 
without the knowledge that their victory may lead eventually 
to their own destitution ; the intelligent and provident trying to 
defend the forest cover and endeavoring to prevent its removal 
from such lands as cannot serve a better purpose, and to restrict 
the use of the balance to such rational harvest of its material, 
without injurious effects on soil and water conditions, as will 
insure an ever reproducing crop and a permanent national re- 
source. 
While man may study the geography of the earth as it exists, 
here is about the only opportunity for him to make geography, 
to shape the surface conditions of the earth, and even to some 
extent influence its climatic conditions. 
> Stil 
