THE FUTURE. 4a 



lock has been dying out quite rapidly in most parts of this area; 

 this process wUl certainly continue and unless the old standi 

 are cut, much valuable material will be lost. 



Hardwood lumbering will continue for a long time, though 

 probably at a very variable rate. As things are now, the pres- 

 ent cut of 4-500 milhon feet per year can be continued for 

 more than 50 years unless settlement and consequent clearing^ 

 should progress at a very unusual pace. 



The outlook for the forest itself has been indicated in the pre- 

 ceding. The hardwood forest is being reduced by logging and 

 clearing, the pineries are disappearing and fires assist the de- 

 struction of both besides burning out the swamps. 



As pointed out, both white and red (Norway) pine are per- 

 fectly capable not only of continuing as forests but of reclothing 

 the old slashings, but are generally prevented from doing so by 

 fire. 



The hemlock ig in a process of natural degeneration and even 

 the hardwoods, though thrifty and intact as forests, seem to fail 

 on most cut-over lands wherever fire has run. Thus about SO' 

 per cent, of the burned over lands are today devoid of any val- 

 uable growing timber; producing firewood at best. Another 40 

 per cent, of the 8 million acres of cut-over lands are entirely 

 bare. And this unproductive area is rapidly increasing in ex- 

 tent under present methods. 



Counting that 100 feet B. M. could be grown as the possible 

 annual increment per acre on lands which are left entirely with- 

 out care, save the protection against fire, the State of Wisconsin 

 loses by this condition of affairs a round 800 million feet B. M. 

 of a marketable and much needed material. This loss is pri- 

 marily a communal loss, a damage to county and state, for the 

 individual owner does not suffer; the land is bought for the 

 timber and when this is cut the land is only held if it appears- 

 that a low tax assessment and opportunities to sell, etc., will 

 promise more profit in holding than in abandoning it. 



