316 OUR FORESTS 



Values of the Forest. — We have learned that forests regulate 

 the water supply. Much organic soil is formed from rotted trees 

 and other vegetation. In some localities forests are used as 

 windbreaks and to protect mountain towns against avalanches. 

 In winter they moderate the cold, in summer they reduce the heat 

 and lessen the danger from storms. Birds nesting in the woods 

 eat insects and thus protect many valuable plants. The forest 

 gives a refuge for wild animals, particularly game such as deer, 

 elk, and antelope. There are now nearly 12,000,000 acres set 

 aside as refuges for wild birds and game, that they may not become 

 extinct as have a few native wild animals. The clear streams of 

 the forest are the homes of many of our best game fishes. And 

 perhaps best of all, the forest has become the playground for lovers 

 of the out-of-doors in our nation. 



In addition our forests have an enormous economic value. 

 Useful in so many ways, they are one of our great sources of 

 national wealth. 



Uses of Wood. — Even in this coal-burning age, wood is still 

 the most used fuel. Few buildings have been made that do not 

 use wood in their construction. Wood outlasts iron under water, 

 in addition to being light. It is cheap and, with proper care of the 

 forests, inexhaustible, while our mineral wealth may some day be 

 used up. Distilled wood gives wood alcohol. Partly burned 

 wood is charcoal. In our forests much of the soft wood (the conif- 

 erous trees, spruce, balsam, hemlock, and pine), and poplars, 

 aspens, basswood, with some other species, make paper pulp. The 

 daily newspapers and cheap books are responsible for inroads on 

 our forests which cannot well be repaired. It is not necessary to 

 take the largest trees to make pulp wood, hence many young trees 

 of not more than six inches in diameter are sacrificed. Of the 

 hundreds of species of trees in our forests, the conifers are prob- 

 ably most sought after for lumber. Pine, especially, is probably 

 used more extensively than any other wood. It is used for all 

 heavy construction work, frames of houses, bridges, masts, spars 

 and timber, of ships, floors, railway ties, and many other purposes. 

 Cedar is used for shingles, cabinet work, lead pencils, etc. ; hem- 

 lock and spruce for heavy timbers. Another use for our lumber, 

 especially odds and ends of all kinds, is in the packing-box industry. 



