28 THE CAROLINA MOUNTAINS 
ply of nitrates, mineral fuel, and phosphates which 
darkly haunted the imagination a short time ago 
only to vanish before the searchlight of science. 
Even now the form of the giant bamboo is hovering 
on the horizon, and If the stately Oriental or our own 
cornstalks do not feed to repletion the voracious 
maw of the paper-mill, hope assures us that some- 
thing else will arrive to do It before our grand forests 
have sent their last sigh over the valleys and moun- 
tains of the New World. Which distant hope does 
not lessen our present responsibility ; and It Is consol- 
ing to know that the whole country Is waking up to 
the need of preserving our forests before It is too 
late, vigorous and effective means having In many 
places already been taken to that effect, state law 
and the growing Intelligence of private owners 
combining to place large tracts of woodland under 
the care of trained foresters. 
How many of us realize that well within a genera- 
tion there have been created more than one hundred 
and fifty national forests in the United States, em- 
bracing over one hundred and ninety million acres? 
Besides this a dozen states have already adopted the 
policy of creating state forests, and as proof of the 
vital Interest taken In the subject, more than a score 
of universities and colleges are now providing courses 
in forestry. The public schools are also beginning to 
give instruction In the underlying principles of for- 
estry, thus preparing the future citizens of the 
nation. Indeed, who to-day can escape knowing the 
meaning and value of the forests ? Even the Southern 
