12 Miscellaneous Circular 75, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture 



But, even this expanded business, after all, is only the clean-up and 

 salvaging operation designed to remove the last of the old crop of 

 timber. All of these harvesting operations are conducted with the 

 same end in view, namely, the improvement of the conditions of 

 growth of the second crop. Artificial planting is the forester's last 

 resort. Natural reforestation is the end to be sought. Fortunately, 

 throughout this district nature reforests abundantly when given in- 

 telligent assistance. Culled stands must make way for stands that 

 will grow ; diseased and decadent trees must be removed ; young 

 stands must be thinned ; else competition will strangle all. 



In working out methods, the foresters are confronted with many 

 problems both economic and technical. The same problems must be 

 faced by the land owner who wishes to cut his woodlands with an 

 eye to the future. It is found that the intensit}' of forestry practice 

 is governed rather sharply by the demands for available products; 

 there is much to learn about the proper treatment of individual 

 stands; and, before all else, the fire problem must be effectually 

 solved. Some progress is being made. The rapidly changing char- 

 acter of the scrub-oak areas on Massanutten Mountain, in the western 

 part of Virginia, and the greatly increased amount of white-pine re- 

 production in the Natural Bridge county, in northern Georgia, and 

 in many other places, bear witness to the value of protection from 

 fire. Increased sales have made it possible to place considerable 

 areas in excellent shape for rapid growth. 



The timberland owners of the region might and should have more 

 first-hand knowledge of these things, gained through better ac- 

 quaintance with national forest officers and visits to the national 

 forests. These forests are representative of nearly every type and 

 forest condition. They should be considered as forest laboratories 

 in which problems common to Federal, State, and private manage- 

 ment of forest lands can be worked out cooperatively and to wise 

 conclusions. 



