74 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



ture, the remaining supply in our forests can last only thirty 

 years longer, when not only our exports must cease, but also 

 we shall not even have enough for home consumption. Think 

 what such a shortage would mean, and then ask yourself how 

 it can be prevented. There is but one way — by forestry. The 

 term forestry has a very indistinct meaning to the greater part 

 of the American public. ]\Iany of the people think that it is 

 something new on the continent because it has been treated 

 systematically and scientificalh only within the past few years. 

 However, thev are mistaken, for forestry in this countrv is not 

 new, it is as old as our human life. It does not have to be in- 

 troduced into the United States, but rather its methods must 

 be reformed. In the beginning, let us have a clear under- 

 standing of what forestry is. "It is not the science or natural 

 history of woodlands nor the science of preserving wood- 

 lands, nor the science of planting trees. It is a combination of 

 these three arts;"' it is the art of managing and utilizing for- 

 ests for the greater benefit of all the people concerned, both at 

 present and in the future, and its only end is usefulness. Its 

 principles are the same in every country and are based on nat- 

 ural laws, which are at work everywhere and at all times. 

 Thus, the original part of the whole sul)ject is largely the 

 problem of how to apply these laws to fit the local needs. We 

 turned t(j it about a score of years ago and have made great 

 progress, thanks to the lessons which we have drawn from the 

 experience of European countries. 



All countries no matter what their differences in size, 

 climate, population, or industries, have turned to forestry at 

 some period of their development, and it is a curious fact, that 

 with but one exception— England the more advanced nations 

 have arrived first at the necessity of its use and proceeded far- 

 ther in its science. It is practiced with beneficial results in all 

 the countries of the world except China. Until recently our 

 own country ranked nearly with China in this respect, and it 



