Even before the war, there was a great deficiency of timber in parts of Europe.

It amounted to 16,000,000,000 board feet a year and was supplied by Russia, the United States, Canada, Sweden, Austria-Hungary and a few other countries of western Europe.

If we can regulate cutting and replenish our forests as they deserve, there is a remarkable opportunity for us to build up a large and permanent export trade.
[Illustration: YOUNG WHITE PINE SEEDED FROM ADJOINING PINE TREES] The Central and South American countries now have to depend on Canada, the United States and Sweden for most of their softwoods.
Unless they develop home forests by the practice of modern forestry, they will always be dependent on imported timber of this type.

South Africa and Egypt are both heavy importers of lumber.

Africa has large tropical forests but the timber is hard to get at and move.