2 THE BOOK OF FORESTRY 
Forestry and lumbering are not the same either, al- 
though conservative lumbering, the reaping of the forest 
crop, is a part of forestry. The average lumberman of 
today is not interested in the land after the present crop 
of timber is removed. He either cannot or will not hold 
the land for repeated crops of timber, and on this point 
the difference between lumbering and forestry hinges. 
City forestry, of which much is heard at present, is 
not really forestry at all It is caring for shade trees in 
the streets and parks rather than raising trees for lum- 
ber purposes. However, it is an extremely important 
phase of tree culture as shade trees and parks add much 
to the health and comfort of the city dweller. Besides, a 
man who is interested in the shade trees in front of his 
city residence becomes an easy convert to the cause of 
forest conservation, which means the proper use of our 
forest resources. 
So we see that forestry actually means using the 
forest, cutting out the mature and overripe trees and 
giving the little seedlings beneath more light in order 
that they may grow up and furnish the succeeding crop 
of timber. 
With the vast stretches of woodland that can be seen 
from the hilltops in nearly any country region of the 
United States the question arises: is there any need of 
raising timber crops? Will not Mother Nature always 
provide timber enough to furnish us with houses and 
furniture? Indeed forest conservation is needed for a 
variety of reasons which will be very briefly discussed, 
the most important being that in the United States there 
are vast areas upon which only trees will grow, and to 
allow them to le idle would be very poor management 
on the part of our Government. 
If land is too steep or rocky to cultivate or the rain- 
