3 



Go out ■ nto the open and dig into the soil of an unwooded slope and 

 notice the difference "between that and what you found in the woods soil. 

 Chances are you will find the soil on that unwooded slope dry and hard. Of 

 course,, you know what has happened, TOien the rain fell or the snow melted 

 on that open hillside, there was nothing to hold it hack. It just rushes 

 down hill. 



Mayhe if you look around on the open hillside, you may find places 

 where the soil, with no roots to "bind it, has "been washed away by the rain. 

 If there are any steep slopes in the neighhorhood, you may find deep gallies 

 dug into the ground. Trace where that soil goes that is washed down the 

 slope. 



rrnen you have noted those facts ahout the trees, the soil, and the 

 stream you "begin to see the relation which the forests of our country "bear 

 to the well-'being of our land. In a little strip of woodland and nei^"boring 

 cleared land, you may have an example in miniature of soil protection and 

 good streams, or erosion and flood damage, and get a clearer understanding of 

 the larger meaning of this Nation's forests to farm land and industry and 

 commerce. 



Or if you are of an investigative turn of mind, and want to find out 

 a"bout the past life in the woods, you may "be a"ble to detect in some stianip or 

 the end of the saw-log much of the story of the past of that woods. In the 

 varying thicknesses of the annual rings in written the fat and thin years of 

 the tree. In those rings, you may also find evidences of fires . and insect 

 attacks wl-.ich have occurred in the life of that tree. By counting the growth 

 rings, from the bark back to the scar left by the fire in some cases you may 

 be able to tell about what year that fire happened. 



In fact, whether you ar© a novice or a woodsman of long experience, 

 there is a lot that the trees can tell you. As for myself, 



"I will up and get me away where the hawk is wheeling 



Lone and hi^. 

 And the slow clouds go by. 

 I will get me away to the waters that glass 

 The clouds as they pass. 

 I will get me away to the woods." 



Al!ra'OUITGEIvIEI'CT; You have just heard a few suggestions on getting better ac- 

 quainted with the woods. This program has come to you from the United States 

 Jlepartraent of '"lAgri culture. Two weeks from today we will again go with Uncle 

 Sam's Naturalists into fresh fields and pastures new. 



