CHAPTER II. 



PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



ADVANTAGKS OF FORESTED WATER-SHEDS. 



Forestry has two distinct objects: 



1st. The management of the forest so as to secure the largest 

 returns consistent with permanence of crop. Under such a system 

 the ripe timber is judiciously marketed and the other products econom- 

 ically treated. 



2nd. The guarding of water-sheds as natural forest reservoirs 

 to secure perennial flow of springs and streams and to prevent torrent 

 and flood action. 



A denuded water-shed delivers the rainfall on it suddenly 

 and always with detritus, such as sand, gravel and boulders. This 

 fills the lower channels and is often deposited upon agricultural lands 

 to their great damage. This is the feature of forestry that is of para- 

 mount importance to Southern California and to much of the 

 arid West. To these main objects of forestry there are cog- 

 nate interests that may properly come within the scope of 

 forestry. Of these the provision for mountain resorts and 

 for the preservation of fish and game are of importance to us. But 

 the most important is the storing of the surplus winter rains in arti- 

 ficial reservoirs. The Federal government is committed to this action. 

 It has reserved numerous reservoir sites in Southern California from 

 sale and private development. It is consequently bound to go on and 

 provide these reservoirs for the development of the country. Under a 

 Judicious land policy this can be di-ne without any permanent cost. 

 The increased v-alue of otherwise desert lands will pay for the reser- 



