;;s 



AMERICAN MUSEUM GUIDE LEAFLETS 



lively small commercial value. There is little sign of the primeval growth 

 of elm, hickory, hard maple, white oak, ash and white pine. Moreover 

 many of these second growths are bent or broken, insect-infested, or burned 

 and decaying at the base. The reforesting has been according to a waste- 

 ful and slow struggle for existence. It is possible thai eventually the trees 



tynK 



FIG. 32. FOREST AT NEMO SOUTH DAKOTA 



Cut stumps low and obliquely to shed rain. This will do much toward ridding 

 the forest of breeding places for insects. 



Americans no longer cut off an entire crop of 100 to 200 years' growth with no 

 care for future crops. The problem is to bring a forest to its fullest producing 

 capacity 



dominant in the original forest might creep in and displace these, but the 

 result would be a matter of many years. To turn such woodlands into 

 profitable investments is the problem of their owners. Yet scientific forestry 

 to-day is reported in practice on only seventy per cent of publicly owned 

 forests of (he United States, and probably on less than one per cent of those 

 privately owned. 



Certain fundamental suggestions are applicable to woodlands of any 

 kind or size in any part of the country. 



1. Clean out dead brush and dead trees, utilizing this material before it 

 i> wholly wasted, and also leaving the forest in a condition better to with- 

 stand fire (Fig. •!()). Cut out insect-infested trees. 



