WHY GROW TIMBER? 13 
forests. Yet this destruction was wholly unnecessary, and it would 
not have taken place had the Chinese people understood the role 
that forests play in the economic life of a nation. For the United 
States to follow in China’s footsteps in this respect would be an 
inexcusable crime against future generations. Tor, unlike coal, iron, 
and most minerals, timber can be renewed like any other crop after 
the original supply has been consumed. Moreover, it is renewed 
largely by natural forces which in proportion to the effort expended 
produce greater values than any other use of many million acres of 
land. Promptness in utilizing these forces will prevent the con- 
version into idle, nonproductive wastes of great areas capable of 
yielding continuous crops of timber. 
We must grow timber because nature unaided will not grow it 
for us in sufficient quantities, nor can the deficiency in our supplies be 
made up from sources outside our country. It is immediately urgent 
that full timber crops be grown wherever cut-over land is available 
for this purpose. It is of vital interest, not only to the landowner, 
the timber operator, or the manufacturer of forest products, but to 
every citizen who in one way or another has already felt the first 
effects of the timber shortage which improvident and unregulated 
exploitation of our forest resources is bringing upon us. 
