, 1925-04-02
Secretary Jardine
Approves American
Forest Protection

In commenting recently upon the
Presidents proclamation designating
the week of April 81 to May 3 as
American Forest Week, Secretary
Jardine emphasized the importance
Of forestry to the farmers and small
land owners. He declares that one
third of all forest land in the United
States is in the form of small wood
lots.
The president by his proclama-
tion has designated April 27-May 8
| as the period which should be observ-
ed this year Is American Forest
Week" said the Secretary THE De-
partment of Agriculture, through
the Forest Service, for four years
has carried the burden of making
this annual observance a matter of
national Importance. This year, I
am glad to say, a committee of pa
triotic citizens and organizations,
headed by Hon. Frank O. Lowden,
Of Illinois, has assumed the direction
of this annual educational campaign.
This does not mean that the De-
partment of Agriculture will in any
way slacken its efforts to bring Tor
estry home to every citizen. On the
contrary, this department will be
represented in the campaign by the
Forest Service, the Bureau of Plant
Industry, and the Biological Survey,
these three bureaus serving on the
general Forest Week Committee
along with the other organizations.
When American citizens more fully
realize the rapid rate at which this
Nations timber resources are being
exhausted, a national forestry policy
with Federal, State and local govern
ments all performing their part will
be assured. The Clarke-McNary For
estry Act opens the door.
about $4,000. 900 acres of idle
forest land in the United States must
be put to work growing timber crops.
Man-caused forest fires, which every
year sweep about 5000, 900 acres of
forest land, must be stopped by an
awakened public. Our productive
forests must be made permanent
sources of timber supply through in
telligent management.
Farmers, especially, should be
awake to u country's forestry
needs. One third of all our forest
land is in the form of farm woodlots
and small holdings. Farmers also
are the greatest single class of wood
users. These are sufficient reasons
why forestry is of prime Importance
to agricultural interests in all parts
of the country.
The observance of American For
| est Week in every American COM
munity will help put the United
| States on the road to what this No
! ton greatly needs-a real national
! pciiay pf fpraSfry
THE American Forestry Associa-
ton, the General Federation of Wo-
mems Clubs. the Izaak Walton Lea
que. the National Lumber Manufac-
turers' Association, and the United
States Forest Service have under
taken to act with Governor Lowden
in forming a general committee of
about 100 representatives of as many
national societies and associations.
Through these organizations 1t is eX-
pected hal every community in the
country will be deeply stirred during
American Forest Week to an appre-
citation of the dimensions and ur-
gency of the Nations forest problems
such as protection from fire and de-
structiye taxation. reforestation, ex-
tensions of forest areas, utilization
of the forests for r~ecreational and
industrial purposes, and the creation
OF conditions promotive of instead
Of deterrent to forest maintenance.