FIFTH NATIONAI, CONSERVATION CONGRESS 373 



prevail in many companies. These and the many similar activities are the most 

 tangible indications we have of the crude beginning of private forestry on a com- 

 mercial scale. 



FAR FROM AN IDEAL SYSTEM. 



The ideal in private forestry work need be given little space, because it will 

 be attained only by evolution and will not be seen by anyone who is interested in 

 forestry problems today. Merely to show how far we are from an ideal system, 

 it may be interesting to outline briefly what we would find in such a forest. It 

 would be necessary, first, to assume that the State in which the forest was located 

 had provided wise forest legislation under full enforcement, and a system of 

 forest taxation which encouraged rather than hindered forest production. We 

 would also have to assume ample transportation facilities and a ready market for 

 practically all forest products. 



With these conditions existing, we would find that the woods operations were 

 based on a complete topographic and type map, supplemented by volume tables 

 indicating the amount and size of the timber by species. The mill output would 

 be adjusted to the amount which the forest could safely produce each year, with- 

 out reducing its productive capacity, and the cutting area would be confined quite 

 strictly to the definite limits decided upon. In the woods every tree felled would 

 be carefully worked up so as to produce the maximum number of logs in the 

 lengths which would bring the highest value when sawed. After the logs were 

 taken out, the tops would be converted into cordwood and the refuse remaining 

 carefully piled for burning. Under a system previously decided upon, provision 

 would be made for new growth either by leaving seed trees, cutting in strips, or by 

 some one of the various regeneration systems best adapted for the local conditions. 



The sawmill would be equipped with machinery to eliminate hand labor as 

 much as possible, and the logs would be sawn by the finest and thinnest bands to 

 prevent waste. There would be no burner in connection with the mill, and slabs 

 and odd pieces not available for lumber would be worked up into various minor 

 wood products for final disposal. The waste which could not be worked up into 

 marketable form would either be used as fuel or, if coniferous wood, turpentine 

 would be extracted ; or, if hardwood, converted into by-products through destruc- 

 tive distillation. In other words, both in the woods and in the mill, close utiliza- 

 tion would be practiced, and definite plans followed for growing successive timber 

 crops, not merely a second crop. 



Fire protection would be an essential and continuous part of the system, the 

 forest would be patrolled and fire watch kept from lookout stations, and all the re- 

 fined methods practiced which assure a minimum number of fires starting and the 

 prompt suppression of those which occur. 



ACTUAIv CONDITIONS TODAY. 



Turning from our ideal privately managed forest to a consideration of condi- 

 tions which actually confront lumber manufacturers today, we find a state of 

 affairs not altogether encouraging to private operations. Private timberland own- 



