Pollard: Conservation, the National Issue 141 



proved that otherwise unprofitable areas may be converted into 

 timberland affording profitable returns within a reasonable time. 

 It has also shown that to a limited extent tree planting can be 

 carried on in the plains, even without irrigation ; and the allied 

 science of botany has aided in the selection of the species best 

 adapted to any given situation or requirement. Reforestation is 

 also practicable in connection with the national reserves; for at 

 the present time they include many barren areas resulting from 

 repeated fires or indiscriminate cutting or grazing, and these, 

 unless artificially planted, will never become reforested. The 

 government is pressing this work to the extent of its resources, 

 having already established about twenty-five nurseries for the 

 production of growing stock. This number is entirely insuffi- 

 cient, and it would seem that here is an excellent opportunity for 

 active cooperation by the various states concerned. If each state 

 were to establish such nurseries as might be required for the 

 growing of stock to replenish and reforest the national reserves 

 lying within its borders, such work to be performed under the 

 supervision of the state forester, it would leave the federal bureau 

 free to use all its resources for the administration and care of 

 the reserves. 



As it is the duty of the government to encourage the develop- 

 ment of farm lands in the West, even at the sacrifice of some 

 timber, so in the East, where farming on a large scale is no longer 

 profitable, it should offer every inducement to private owners of 

 large tracts of woodland to administer them according to modern 

 forestry methods. The federal bureau has accomplished much 

 good in this direction by giving expert advice and instruction and 

 even supplying materials free of charge. But the states are ham- 

 pering the work of conservation by the excessive taxes that are 

 levied on timberlands, making it unprofitable for the land owner 

 to hold them as an investment. Such taxes, out of all propor- 

 tion to land values, have done much to retard the development of 

 economic forestry. In many European countries a small tax is 

 levied on the land itself and the products thereof are taxed only 



