38 



The Farmer and Forestry. 



By A. W. Nolan, Professor of Forestry, State University, Morgan- 

 town, W. Va. 



The most practical purpose of modern forestry is to conserve 

 the forests by wisely using them. The motive is not that of a 

 miser, to hoard and save for the sake of saving, nor is it to waste- 

 fully use with no thought of future generations ; but the idea of 

 modern forestry is to use the forests in such a way that there 

 shall always be a crop of trees coming on. It is a sad fate of the 

 fine old forests that it is to be cut down, but it must be, — civili- 

 zation needs the wood for homes, schools, churches and business.- 



Not long ago the writer rode" from Hendricks, West Va., to 

 Thomas, W. Va. and saw that ten miles of splendid virgin forest 

 of Hemlock, belonging to the Babeock Lumber Co. It is sad to 

 realize that this splendid forest must soon go, for the axe is al- 

 ready laid at the root of the tree, and yet we can censure no one, 

 — the trees are mature, they are in danger of fire and they will 

 serve the greater good perhaps in lumber. The wrong that is 

 sure to result from the removal of this grand old forest, is that 

 the land will be stripped so completely, the young growth de- 

 stroyed, and the soil so burned over and depleted that future 

 growths of such forests are made impossible within appreciable 

 time. The ever rising question comes again, is it practical for such 

 big lumber companies to harvest nature's crop and yet to leave 

 the forest in condition to regenerate itself? It is a question of 

 the conflict of pocket-book and patriotism, and it is for the big 

 lumberman to settle it as he wills. It is encouraging to note that 

 several large lumber companies of the country are practising for- 

 estry instead of destructive lumbering. 



Another great responsibility fot" the control of some of our 

 forests lies with the State and nation, thru the ownership of res- 

 ervations. Here we see forestry practised in its essence. Trees 

 are grown and harvested as a crop, and the forest remains per- 

 manent all the while. Even though the nation does own nearly 

 200 million acres of forest, and private and corporate interests 

 own many millions more the greatest bulk of our forests is owned 

 and controlled by the farmers. We must look to them for our 

 future timber supply. Are they using and conserving wisely this 

 great natural resource ? 



