8 MISC. PUBLICATION 290, U. 8S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
be classified for the purpose of determining those which are chiefly 
valuable for agriculture, has resulted in practically all agricultural 
lands within the national forests being homesteaded. 
Mineral deposits within national forests, except such forests as are 
purchased under the act of March 1, 1911, are open to development 
exactly as on unreserved public land unless otherwise provided by 
special acts of Congress. 
: E=2 3754 
FicurE 4.—Forest officer scaling timber on the Idaho National Forest. 
MANAGEMENT OF TIMBER RESOURCES 
Ripe standing timber on the national forests is sold at a fair 
price. Anyone may purchase timber, but no one may obtain a mon- 
opoly of it or hold it for speculative purposes. It is desirable to sell 
the mature timber on the forests when it is no longer growing at a 
profitable rate and should give way to younger trees and seedlings 
which will constitute succeeding crops of timber. Not all timber 
in the national forests is subject to sale. Wherever trees have a 
higher value for scenic, recreational, or other uses, they are pre- 
served. ) 
Purchasers of timber are required to observe such restrictions as 
will insure cut-over areas being left in the best condition for future 
growth. Experienced foresters estimate the quantity and quality 
of national-forest timber and its approximate value. In fixing the 
value all factors which affect the cost of lumbering, such as acces- 
sibility, number and kind of improvements necessary, as well as 
general market conditions, are taken into account. Minimum prices 
are then set which allow the purchaser of national-forest timber 
