34 MISC. PUBLICATION 16 2, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



cent by lightning; 4.8 percent by railroads: 8.5 percent by campers: 

 1.7 percent by lumbering; 10.1 percent by miscellaneous agencies; and 

 8.6 percent were of unknown origin. There is need for still greater 

 effort in the suppression of forest fires, not only by the Federal and 

 State Governments, but by private owners ay well. Only about two 

 thirds of our total area of forest land is as } T et under any system of 

 organized protection, and much of this protection is still inadequate. 

 The suppression of fire is vital to our continued forest prosperity. 



Some deforested lands, of course, may be more valuable for other 

 purposes than for the growing of trees. On others, however, the for- 

 est is necessary for watershed protection or for the industrial pros- 

 perity of the region. In many cases lands have been entirely de- 

 prived of the ability to reforest themselves and to bring them back 

 to any degree of productivity man must lend nature a hand by 

 planting young trees. Since all land should be put to work growing 

 the crop for which it is best fitted it is certainly poor economy to let 

 forest lands lie idle, especially in view of the fact that our forest 

 needs are not appreciably diminishing. 



The Federal Government and the States cooperating under the 

 Clarke-McXary Act are each year reforesting a portion of their de- 

 nuded lands. Many plantings are also made by municipalities, lum- 

 ber companies and other industrial and private organizations, 

 schools, and colleges. Farmers are planting for the extension and 

 improvement of farm woodlands and windbreaks. The total area 

 planted by all of these agencies amounts to something over 100,000 

 acres each year. But millions of acres still need planting. 



Farmers and other landowners wishing to reforest their lands can 

 obtain advice and assistance from their State or extension foresters. 

 The States cooperating under section 4 of the Clarke-McXary Act 

 are authorized to grow and sell planting stock to farmers for the pur- 

 pose of establishing windbreaks, shelter belts, and farm woodlands 

 upon denuded or nonf orested lands. The United States Forest Service 

 is also ready to give information to those interested in tree planting. 



The vast extent of its forests has helped to make the United State? 

 the great industrial Nation it is today, but improvident and unregu- 

 lated exploitation has made inroads upon this source of prosperity. 

 We still cut our forests faster than we grow them. If this continues 

 indefinitely, it will mean that eventually we shall cease to be a forest- 

 producing nation. But forests will always be necessary to both the 

 economic and social life of this country. They can never cease to 

 play an important part in the American picture, because no other 

 agent can replace them as sources of industrial wealth, conservators 

 of water and soil, as recreation grounds and the home of wild life 

 and game. It will, therefore, always be essential that the people of 

 the United States maintain a forest growth sufficient to meet the 

 demands of the various forms of forest use. To do this, our remain- 

 ing forests must be used wisely; we must have adequate fire control 

 for forest lands, and wherever necessary, denuded lands must be 

 planted to trees. Only in this way may we expect to preserve for 

 all time an adequate portion of that forest wealth which has had 

 such a vital influence in shaping the destiny of the Nation. 



U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1933 



For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C. ----- Price 5 cents 



