The need of drastic steps in our forestry program is not questioned by the majority of people who take time to consider the condition of our forest resources. Definite action on the part of the federal government and the state is conceded to be a necessity by those in closest touch with our economic pulse. The best means of accomplishing a nation-wide forestry program is a debatable question but the same end is desirable to all foresters and other citizens looking to the welfare of the country. It does not require the aid of the economist or forester to point out the shallowness of our present forest policy. We are somewhat in the position of the colored gentleman who turned down a good salaried job with the statement "No sah, I has a quarter in my pocket already." With our forest resources slipping away five or six times-as fast as timber is being produced, it is no wonder- that the public is beginning to be aroused. Even those who have no thought for the future are having their eyes opened by current lumber prices, freight rates and the shortage of some classes of lumber.

Because there are no records and data to show the exact acreage of the forests of China, the world in general has very little knowledge of her present forest resources. Owing to the lack of transportation which has kept the people from traveling from place to place, even the Chinese themselves know very little about their forests. Articles have been written by many to show how the Chinese in many parts of the country cannot even dig roots and pick up branches for fuel. The recent drought in Northern China leaves the impression that all Chinese mountains might be bare. Floods, occurring frequently in China as a treeless country. However, while these conditions are true for part of the country, they are not true for other parts. The shortage of timber in China, especially throughout these large treeless sections, is due to the lack of transportation facilities. What merchantable timber there is, is inaccessible to the market.