2 MISC. PUBLICATION 162, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



years of the nineteenth century, when the country's greatest source 

 of softwood timber was the extensive white pine forests of the Lake 

 States. In fact, it has been said that the forests of the Lake States 

 made possible the opening up and rapid development of the great 

 West. 



Although the forests of the North contributed largely to the rapid 

 development of our Nation, it was the great pine woods of the Southern 

 States that complemented the extraordinary industrial expansion 

 during the first part of the present century. Considerable cutting 

 was done in parts of this region during the early days of American 

 history, and after the War between the States the lumber industry 

 developed on a fairly large scale on the southeastern coast. The south- 

 ern lumbering industry did not reach foremost importance, however, 

 until the decline of the industry in the Lake States late in the nine- 

 teenth century. At that time southern pine became the leading lum- 

 ber-producing species in the L T nited States and has held an important 

 position ever since. Nevertheless, these magnificent forests have 

 passed their peak of production. Much of the timber used in the 

 United States today comes from the Pacific coast. The forests of this 

 region, together with such new growth as may develop in the South 

 and other parts of the country, under forest protection and good man- 

 agement, are those that will meet the timber needs of the next century. 



The forests have been and still are one of the Nation's most im- 

 portant natural resources. Not only do they play a leading part 

 in the economic and industrial life of the Nation today, they serve 

 us in many other ways. By checking the rains and melting snows, 

 they help to prevent erosion and floods and insure a steady flow 

 of water for power and domestic use; they are the source of many 

 products besides lumber; they are the home of much of our game 

 and wildlife ; they furnish innumerable opportunities for recreation ; 

 and last, but not least, they make this country a pleasanter and more 

 beautiful place in which to live. If we were to be totally deprived 

 of forests, we would suffer economically, physically, and esthetically. 

 In fact, it is doubtful if we could survive as a nation. It is there- 

 fore important that we know how to handle our forest wealth so 

 that it may be used to fill our countless needs and at the same time 

 continue a permanent natural resource. This can be done only by 

 learning the ways of trees and forests, what forestry is, and what 

 the practice of it means to the American people. 



WHAT THE FOREST IS 



The Forest Community 



A forest is far more than a mere group of trees. It is a highly 

 organized community of plants and animals living in close associa- 

 tion and in varying degrees of interdependence. The law of life in 

 the forest is the survival of the fittest, and the competition for existence 

 is keen. The forest itself is beautiful and useful, and has played a 

 vital part in the development of the human race. 



How a Tree Lives 



Trees are woody plants, growing from the ground usually with a 

 single stem. They are the largest members of the plant world, rang- 



