MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 



FORESTRY. 



BY DR. "W. J. BEAL. 



What is forestry? It is a business, like agriculture, an industry which 

 is concerned in the production of a soil crop. It is the art of managing a 

 wood crop so that it will make the best harvest of timber in the shortest 

 time at the greatest profit. In forestry, unlike agriculture, it takes many 

 years for the crop to mature and the crop is then a complicated one. The 

 above definition is nearly that given by Mr. Fernow. 



Forestry in the United States is now in its earliest stages, — in a mixed 

 or chaotic or undeveloped stage. In its most perfect condition, forestry 

 is not a science nor an art, but consists of a dabbling into several sciences 

 and several arts. On its scientific side it touches botany, chemistry,, 

 geology, meteorology, physics, geography, entomology; on the art side it 

 touches horticulture, arboriculture, lumbering, protection from fires, etc. 



In some parts of Europe, the growth of timber is already well sytem- 

 atized, but knowledge of the subject in all its details has been a subject of 

 slow growth. More than a hundred years ago, a few alarmists in Europe 

 prophesied an approaching dearth of timber. This agitation helped to 

 induce economy in the use of timber and to delay the evils predicted. 



Without giving the strictest attention to a systematic arrangement, let 

 us note some of the chief attainments already acquired by the leading 

 countries of Europe in the management of forests and the methods adopted 

 to accomplish such excellent results. 



It would seem that the government ownership and control of much of 

 the forests in the old country gave them a great advantage over our 

 newer country, where "private enterprise" accomplishes almost every 

 thing. There, even the woodlands of corporations, and of individuals are 

 subject to the laws of the country which specify how much may be cut in 

 each year. These laws are enforced by ofiicials well educated for the- 



