40 Eleventh Annual Report 



forest grew tliere at one time. Such land should be forested. They 

 can be utilized for no other purpose. Then a forest planted there 

 will give the people living near it the same protection that it would 

 planted on a level, fertile field capable of producing excellent crops 

 of corn. 



The forests have proven themselves soil formers, soil fixers and 

 soil improvers. For this reason all the land too poor for farming 

 purposes should be reforested. 



Every year in this State a great amount of property is de- 

 stroyed and much suffering is caused by floods. All this might be 

 prevented by planting trees along the banks of the rivers, M^here 

 floods are frequent. The}' would absorb the moisture and thus pre- 

 vent the floods. 



Now, if the purpose of reforestation is carried out woodlots 

 must be established throughout the State. Every section of land 

 should have its ovni forest. Most sections have land which can- 

 not be well used for farming purposes, either because of its loca- 

 tion or the character or quality of its soil. All such lands should 

 be seized as an eminent domain and productive forests planted on 

 it. If such lands are forested and properly cared for very little 

 of our farming land need be devoted to the forests. But after the 

 forests are established they must be taken care of, for a neglected 

 forest is wore than no forest. 



In reply to the question, ''To what extent should Indiana be 

 reforested ? " I would say, briefly, so much that all the waste land 

 be utilized and the necessary protection against the natural ele- 

 ments be given. 



GLADYS JONES, 



Attica, Ind. 



Senior Class, Attica High School. 



TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD INDIANA BE REFORESTED? 



The forests of Indiana are being cut down so rapidly that if 

 some restraint is not put on this work of destruction the forests 

 will, in a short time, be only a remembrance among the ' ' Hoosiers. ' ' 

 The people in early days can be pardoned for cutting down trees, 

 for they had to do it to clear places for their homes and to pre- 

 vent beasts and enemies from hiding around. Besides they were 

 not taught the economical importance of the forests. There were 

 many trees then, but wood for fuel and lumber is becoming so 



