The Editor to the Reader

IN THE LIBRARY of the United States Department of Agriculture are 11,350-odd publications about trees and forests. Among the oldest of these volumes is the 120-page Sylva, or a discourse of forest-trees, and the propagation of timber in His Majesties dominions. . . . The English patriot and philosopher John Evelyn published it in 1664. It is full of warnings and advice : "Men seldom plant trees till they begin to be wise, that is, till they grow old, and find, by experience, the prudence and necessity of it."

One of the latest books in the library is Breaking New Ground, by the late American patriot and philosopher Gifford Pinchot. It is an autobiographical account of a pioneer forester's work for conservation of forests, soil, and water supplies.

To that goodly company, an average of 406 books, pamphlets, and articles about timber and its products is added each month. To that growing number also we are adding this Yearbook of Agriculture. An explanation of why we do so seems to be called for.

We have tried here to put into clearer perspective some items of history, importance, administration, and outlook that so far have been in scattered form. We have tried to explain another broad segment of the Department's work. We have tried to tell the essentials of choosing, planting, and growing trees as a farm crop, as a renewable national treasure, as a necessary part of country and city life. We have tried to make a book that is practical and useful for all Americans and interesting and inspiring for those who are unaware of the beauty and delight of the woods. We have tried to tell how and why to plant trees and care for them, and to offer a sort of forum to persons of divergent viewpoints, with all of which we do not necessarily agree.

Several hundred persons cooperated to produce this book. The names of many of them appear elsewhere. To many others in the Government Printing Office, the Department of Agriculture, and the Congress, grateful acknowledgment is made.

For help and loyalty beyond the terms of their job descriptions, thanks are due to Margaret V. Loyd, the editor's assistant, and Catherine F. George, of the Yearbook staff.

The drawings and charts were made by Rudolph A. Wendelin, Miss Leta Hughey, Linn A. Forrest, and Harry Rossoll, of the Forest Service; Sidney H. Horn, of Ames, Iowa; and Joseph H. Stevenson, of the Office of Information. Mr. Wendelin also made the end-paper maps, and Mr. Horn drew many of the illustrations at the heads of the chapters.

Leland J. Prater, of the Forest Service, supervised the taking of many of the photographs. Working with him were the following members of the Forest Service : Ross Angle, Herbert Armstrong, F. S. Baker, Paul S. Bieler, F. M. Cossitt, Duncan Dunning, Frank Flack, George Griffiths, P. Freeman Heim, Antonio A. Hernandez, Jay Higgins, Ashbel F. Hough, Roger Huff, C. R. Hursh, Wallace I. Hutchinson, Bluford W. Muir, Frederick Simmons, Harry Sperling, C. W. Straus, and Paul J. Zehngraff. Others whose photographs appear are Wilfred J. Mead, of the Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering; Bob Branstead, B. C. McLean, and Hermann Postlethwaite, of the Soil Conservation Service; H. Miller Cowling, Russell B. Clapper, H. J. MacAloney, John M. Miller, and J. E. Patterson, of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine; Ralph E. Lawrence, of Washington, and Dr. Curtis May and Edwin S. Menninger, who took the unusual pictures of tree flowers.

A word about the organization of the material in the Yearbook. We consider first the tree as a unit, a living thing; next, the tree as a member of a small group—in cities and around homes; finally, trees growing together in wood lots, groves, and forests, large and small. The main section of the book ends with chapters on specific problems and values—insects, fire, recreation, wildlife, forestry, and economic importance.

The last part is intended to furnish additional help—lists, charts, tables, a glossary of unusual terms, and references for reading—for those who wish to pursue the subject further. For many persons the fourth section will be the most useful of all.

ALFRED STEFFERUD.