OUR FORESTS 29 
NATIONAL-FOREST ADMINISTRATION 
National forests are in reality huge timber farms, operated for 
the benefit of the Nation as a whole. Lying as they do in all the 
-forest regions of the country, they contain some representation of 
most of the important commercial timber species. The production 
of timber is one of the main reasons for their establishment, and 
the forests are managed so that they will produce a continuous 
supply. In them are, therefore, found stands of trees ranging from 
tiny seedlings to veterans of perhaps several hundred years’ growth. 
Mature or ripe standing timber which is not growing at a profitable 
rate and which should be cut to make room for the younger genera- 
tions, may be advertised and sold on the open market to the highesi 
bidder. All cutting, however, must be done according to forestry 
principles; trees being left to form the basis of future crops. Care 
is taken not to cut to such an extent as to impair the protective 
cover that the forest affords on the watersheds of streams, for the 
national forests are as important to the Nation as conservators of 
water.as they are for the production of timber. They also serve 
the public in many other ways—as grazing grounds for millions of 
cattle and sheep, as recreation grounds, and as homes for wildlife. 
The general manager in charge of each of Uncle Sam’s timber 
farms is known as the forest supervisor. The supervisor is directly 
responsible to the regional forester and with the latter plans the 
work of his forest. Upon the supervisor devolves the successful 
administration of the forest. He must see that a continuous supply 
of timber is produced and that the proper use is made of all other 
forest resources. And, too, he is responsible for the effective op- 
eration of the system of fire protection and control worked out for 
his forest. 
Every national forest is divided into smaller units, or ranger dis- 
tricts, each, under the supervision of a district ranger. The rangers 
manage their districts in accordance with the general administrative 
plans made by the supervisor and perform the routine work required 
in the supervision of timber sales, grazing, free uses, and special uses 
of the forest. They also look after the construction of roads, trails, 
bridges, telephone lines, and other permanent improvements. Rang- 
ers have supervision over the recreational features of the forests and 
see to it that recreationists do not abuse the privileges granted them. 
The most constant and difficult phase of the rangers’ work, however, 
is that involved in protecting the forest from fire. The forest 
ranger is therefore of necessity a hard-working, highly useful citizen 
and public officer upon whom rests much of the responsibility for 
the successful management of the national forests (fig. 17). 
RESEARCH 
‘The Government’s forest work does not end with the administra- 
tion of the national forests. Among other things, the Forest Service 
is doing extensive work in forest research, and conducts many inves- 
tigations designed to promote the best use of the forests of the 
United States, whether in public or private ownership. Some of 
these investigations concern the growth, management, and protec- 
