Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-07-20
What Forestry Has Done.

Many people in this country think that
forestry had never been tried until the
Government began to practice it upon
the National Forests. Yet forestry IL
practiced by every civilized country in
the world except China and Turkey. 1t
gets results which can be got in no other
way, and which are necessary to the
general welfare.
What forestry has done abroad is the
strongest proof of what it can accom-
plish here. The remarkable success OF
forest management in the civilized coun-
tries of Europe and Asia is the most for
chile argument which can be brought in
support of wise forest use in the United
States.
The more advanced and progressive
countries arrive first and 90 farthest in
forestry, as they do in other things. In
deed, we might almost take forestry as
yardstick with which to measure the
height of a civilization. On the one
hand, the nations which follow forestry
most widely and systematically would be
found to be the most enlightened ma
tions. On the other hand, when we ap-
piled our yardstick to such countries as
are without forestry, we could say with
good deal of assurance, by this test
alone, "Here is q backward nation"
The countries of Europe and Asia,
taken together, have passed through all
the stages of forest history and applied
all the known principles of forestry.
They are rich in forest experience. The
lessons of forestry were brought home
to them by hard knocks. Their forest
systems were built up gradually as the
result of hardship. They did not first
spin fine theories and then apply those
theories by main force. On the contrary,
they began by facing disagreeable facts.
Every step of the way toward wise forest
use, the world over, has been made at
the sharp spur of want, suffering, or
loss. As q result, the science of forestry
is one of the most practical and most
directly useful of all the sciences. 1t Is
serious work, undertaken as q measure
Of relief, and continued as safeguard
against future calamity.
The United States, then, In attacking
the problem of how best to use Its great
forest resources, Is not in the position OF
a pioneer in the field. 1t has the expe-
rience of all other countries to 20 upon.
There Is no need for years of experiment
with untried theories. The forest prin-
ciples which hundreds of years OF actual
practice have proved right are at its com:
mand. The only question is, How should
these be modified or extended to best
meet American conditionsp In the man.
agement of the National Forests the
Government is not working in the dark.
Nor is 1t slavishly copying European
countries. It Is putting into practice. In
America, and for Americans, principles
tried and found correct, which will In.
sure to all the people alike the fullest
and best use of all forest resources.
Take the case of Germany. Starting
with forests which were in as bad shape
az many of our own which have been
recklessly cut over, 1t raised the average
yield of wood per acre from 20 cnbic
feet In 1880 to 65 cubic feet in 1904. Dur.
ing the same period of time 1t trebled
the proportion of saw timber got from
the average cut, which means, in Other
words, that through the practice Of for
estry the timberlands of Germany are ol
three times better quality today thar
when no system was used. And In fifty
four years 1t increased the money re-
turns from an average acre of forest
sevenfold.
i In France forestry has decreased th.
danger from floods, which threaten X