FQREWORD ix 
our mature tim- 
ber and for our 
young growth, 
and with re- 
stocking of our 
idle lands by the 
agency of seed- 
ing or planting, 
the situation as 
to future supply 
may be wonder- 
fully improved 
here in Maine. ROBUST SPRUCE SEEDLING GROWING IN 
In fact, it OLD FIELD ABANDONED FIVE YEARS. 
would seem that Under the edge of the spruce, at the left, is a 
the natural for- thrifty young white pine seedling trying to grow 
est conditions on the same spot. With a five-acre field to settle in 
given us to these two youngsters might better have chosen loca- 
tions a few feet apart at least. 
work with are Photo by Maine Forestry Dept. 
much better | 
here than in many other parts of the country. And in considering 
future supply we may begin to include grades and species of lumber 
never thought of as merchantable in the past. There is increasing 
demand for our hardwoods; and while we say that the hardwoods 
are not easily transported, we may safely forecast that a consid- 
erable demand will certainly bring much hardwood to market. 
But for the present our chief concern is for the perpetuation of 
our more valuable soft wood species. We have in Maine no great 
areas of barren land. On our cut-over lands, in most instances, 
the natural reproduction of the soft woods is indeed remarkable, 
and if afforded proper protection, must give a very satisfactory 
yield. It is true that we have certain areas that have been burned 
over successively and these acres are not reforesting themselves 
with merchantable species. Also we have in certain sections areas 
of abandoned farm lands to consider. While the majority of these 
old abandoned fields are being reclaimed for forest growth by nat- 
ural reseeding, there are many acres where a dense growth of 
bushes and hardwood sprouts have fairly taken possession of the 
soil and any harvesting of merchantable timber is obviously so far 
removed that we must consider such tracts as waste land. 
In addition to stated areas that may be classed as waste land 
there are many other idle acres lying about. Some times on cut- 
over lands where reproduction on the whole is satisfactory, there 
