320 
FOREST AND STREAM 
March 8, 1913 
One-half of its land area is timbered, contain¬ 
ing about 50,000,000 acres altogether. Russia has 
unquestionably the largest forest area in the 
world, and is the leading timber exporter among 
the nations of the globe. 
Like Germany and its near neighbors, these 
forests have been carefully guarded, and if their 
civilization reaches its goal, the time will come 
when it will realize the perfection attained by 
the countries to the west of it. Italy remains at 
the bottom of the list in the question of timber. 
Little of what there is has had scant considera¬ 
tion by the Government, and as a result nature 
has suffered. Furthermore, conditions for the 
perpetuation of the forests here are most unin¬ 
viting, the one big drawback being the nature 
of the soil, the major portion of which cannot 
be reclaimed. In Asia we note forest conditions 
both good and bad. India excels in her forest 
conditions and her system of protection against 
fire is perhaps the one nearest perfect. With her 
180,000,000 acres of timbered land, she is among 
the leaders of the world. In China we notice 
perhaps the greatest destruction of timber hold¬ 
ing singular distinction of having wilfully de¬ 
stroyed her forests, and as a direct result there 
has been famine and flood in the country from 
the earliest times. Not a stick of wood in China 
but that is found useful in one way or another. 
What brush and saplings are put on the market 
are made into charcoal. Reforesting has never 
been encouraged, and it is doubtful if it ever 
will find a place among the policies . of this 
mighty country. On the other hand, Japan has 
over 58,000,000 acres of forest land, and not 
alone has she one of the best forestry services 
in the world to-day, but for centuries she has 
conducted this feature to the very best of knowl¬ 
edge and utilization, proving the far-sightedness 
and shrewdness of this unique nation upon which 
the eyes of the world are constantly directed,- 
and from whom we expect unceasing progress. 
Returning to this country we find that Can¬ 
ada, the lady of the North, has something like 
260,000,000 acres of timber. Her wood exports 
are great, almost twice as great as that of the 
States. In this country the Government protec¬ 
tive systems, both as regards fire and reforest¬ 
ing, are the best that time and labor can make 
possible, and every year millions of young tree 
shoots are given to the settlers, free of charge, 
as an encouragement for reproduction. It has 
not been so very long that the United States 
has been directly interested in the perpetuation 
of our forests, but in the present day there is 
an awakened sentiment that is constantly grow¬ 
ing more distinct. The people realize the vast¬ 
ness of the proposition, and the yearly expendi¬ 
ture in this direction is great, indeed. 
Many years ago, when President Harrison 
recognized the importance of the situation in 
setting aside forest reserves, the idea was a 
gigantic one to be met with, and people did not 
take to it favorably, for the time and labor 
necessarily drew upon the treasuries for a vast 
sum of money. But to-day we can meet the de¬ 
mands of any project in this line, and the Gov¬ 
ernment is sparing no money in making perfec¬ 
tion possible. The establishment of a national 
forest reserve means much labor. The section 
must be mapped out by trained men, and there¬ 
after a perfect system of guarding it made pos¬ 
sible. Most of our forest reserves are in the 
mountain regions where they cover the moun¬ 
tain sides and protect the streams, and in many 
notable ways are a direct help to the land and 
its wealth. As has been noted previously in 
this article, the United States has at its disposal 
some 700,000,000 acres of forest land. This ex¬ 
tends throughout the Atlantic States and the 
Gulf region. In the Mississippi valley most of 
our hardwood is found, while the mountains of 
the west claim the greater portion of this wealth. 
Aside from the above there are 40,000,000 acres 
of timber in the Philippines, most of which is 
cabinet wood, and one of the most valuable as¬ 
sets of the country. Porto Rico has a national 
forest reserve. Conservation of forests is world 
wide in its appeal. Governments recognize the 
vital importance of protecting and aiding in its 
growth the vast wooded sections that make up 
so much of the globe’s area. They recognize 
that the land unfitted for agriculture may be 
utilized and reclaimed for reforesting purposes, 
and the future will see a great stride in this 
mighty movement. 
Use other avenues of getting business than 
Forest and Stream’s advertising columns by 
all means, but don’t overlook this resultful 
method by which you keep your proposition and 
its merits before the mind and eye of sports¬ 
men. 
The best time tew sett a hen is when the 
hen is reddy.—Josh Billings. 
V U 1) Ci H 
I THE PJIt4T.^ATIONAL EAN'i 
(c) JUDGE 
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First National Bank 
By James Montgomery Flagg 
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James Montgomery Flagg. Over 50,000 
copies of this picture in full color, 9x12, hand¬ 
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It now adorns the walls of hotels, clubs, offices 
and homes. 
We have still on hand a few copies of a recent edition. 
While they last they are offered to the readers of Forest 
and Stream at 25 c. each. You must act quickly in 
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