Forestry and the National Forests " 
cut, can be told by counting the concentric rings of growth on the 
stump, or by boring into the living tree with an instrument that re- 
moves a small cylindrical section on which the annual growth rings 
show. No average rate of growth can be given for the great variety 
of trees in the United States, but in the Southwest it takes common 
lumber species 150 to 200 years to reach a diameter of 20 to 23 inches. 
TIMBER HARVESTS 
Timber is a crop—one of our most important 
crops. It grows, ripens, and becomes ready for 
the harvest just as other agricu/tural crops. It 
should be harvested in season and another crop 
grown for the use of future generations. It must 
be protected from fires, from plant diseases, from 
insect pests, just as other agricu/tural crops are 
protected. 
—Henry C. Wallace. 
STUDY NO. 4 
NATIONAL FORESTS 
Location and extent of the national forests There are in the con- 
tinental United States nearly 150 national forests including two in 
Alaska. In addition to these there is one in Porto Rico, and the total 
net area is more than 157,000,000 acres. The largest national forest 
area in the United States proper is in California. The forests are 
located in 27 States, most of them being in the West. The first ones 
were created in 1897 from the unreserved public domain and at that 
time all were west of the Mississippi River. Now, however, through 
purchase under the Weeks law, national forests are being established 
on the headwaters of important streams in the eastern mountains 
from Georgia to Maine. 
Property of all the people——The national forests are the property 
of all the citizens of the United States. While the people in the 
immediate vicinity no doubt receive the greatest amount of direct 
benefit from the national forests, they are but cosharers in owner- 
ship. Every person who enters a national forest has broad rights 
and privileges, but the exercise of these must be consistent with the 
rights and privileges of every other citizen. Forests are for use, 
but not for abuse. The Federal Government, through the Forest 
Service, is protecting and managing the national forests for the 
good of the whole people. 
What the public forests are for—As provided in the basic law 
of 1897, national forests have for their objects the improvement 
and protection of the forests within their boundaries, the securing 
-of favorable conditions of waterflow, and the furnishing of a con- 
tinuous supply of timber for the use of the citizens of the United 
States. This calls for the utilization of all the resources which the 
forests contain in ways which will make them of the greatest service, 
and this means the greatest good to the greatest number in the 
long run. It means conservation through use and the national 
forests will be so managed ag to grow successive crops of timber on 
land best suited to timber production; they will exert their influence 
to prevent erosion and to control streamflow, to harbor game, and 
to furnish ideal recreation to all people who can reach them. 
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