INTRODUCTION 



Any successful system of forest management must be based 

 upon reliable and complete knowledge of tbe property. Such in- 

 formation can best be secured by what foresters term a " recon- 

 naissance," or valuation survey. This means an examination of a 

 sufficient percentage of the area, under average conditions, to en- 

 able the forester to prepare a report of the whole based upon such 

 partial examination. This plan offers the most accurate, cheap 

 and feasible plan to secure reliable data. 



The information gained as a result of a valuation survey cor- 

 responds to the stock-taking or inventory of the business man or 

 merchant. Timberland is the stock in trade of the operating for- 

 ester. He cannot conduct his business along rational lines unless 

 he knows what that stock in trade is. He cannot plan timber sales 

 unless he knows how much timber he has to sell, and its location ; 

 or improvement cuttings, unless the condition of the forest is such 

 as to warrant them ; or reforesting operations, unless he knows the 

 areas which require them ; or securing financial assistance for 

 operating the tract until he can produce proof to convince capital 

 that he is able to offer adequate security. 



A valuation survey is the first logical step to be taken before 

 beginning to operate a tract of forest. Let us analyze what we ob- 

 tain from it: 



1. A written description of the land and timber on the tract 

 which shows the various types and classes of timber. 



2. Accompanying the written description a map which shows 

 (a) the location of the different forest types, their area and the 

 possible cut per acre; (b) the non-timbered areas, such as ponds, 

 lakes, swamps, burns, etc., upon which may be indicated the por- 

 tions needing reforesting; (c) and the topography including roads 

 and streams, which when considered with the location of timbered 

 areas and of markets enable the prospective operator to plan his 

 work in advance and estimate closely the cost of each step in the 

 work. 



With tlie aid of an accurate topographic forest map log roads 

 or railroads can be laid out, camps located, and the whole season's 



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