II. Forest Policy and Silvicultural Suggestions. 
FOREST POLICY. 
As has been explained already, there exists in Southern New 
Jersey a vast area of land which is in a deplorably unproductive 
state. It is sufficient to say that in the hands of private owners, 
under thé circumstances which at present exist, the future of a. 
large part of this land is not bright. A change of some kind is 
necessary, and this must come either in the form of a change 
of ownership or of the circumstances which fetter ownership. 
The only way in which the ownership may be quickly and 
materially changed would be by State purchase. It is question- 
able whether under the circumstances State ownership would 
be justifiable, and whether, even if it could be easily accomplished,. 
it would improve the situation. The State ownership of forest 
land in New Jersey is only justifiable on the ground that the 
presence of forests is necessary for purposes of protection 
against the destructive forces of nature, for pleasure parks or 
for the purpose of preserving the beauty of certain unusually 
beautiful or wonderful localities, such as the Palisades. 
It is generally conceded in this country that State ownership 
of forest land for revenue is unnecessaty. The American people, 
in fact the Anglo-Saxon race as a whole, has a wholesome aver- 
sion to the participation of the State in industries for the pur- 
pose of revenue. 
Many claim that even in cases where the forest exerts no very 
marked influence in a protective way against the destructive 
forces of nature, that the State ownership of forests is justifi- 
able on the grounds that it requires. so long for trees to mature 
that private individuals are unable to grow and handle them 
satisfactorily to themselves or to their neighbors. 
This argument, however, does not always hold good. Were 
aman to plant the seed and then wait for the forest to mature, 
even the most ardent forester would become impatient. Were 
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