202 INSTBUCTION IN FOBESTEY. [Jak., 



abstract matter of science, but an immediate practical matter of 

 importance, fitting for the discussions of a practical Congress like 

 this. Forestry means three important things. Forests are to be 

 preserved, not merely for their own sake, and not for tlie sake of any 

 sentiment whatever, but for the use of man. They are the enemies 

 of forest preservation who are always saying that forests are made 

 for man anrl not man for the forests. You should not exhaust the 

 forests for your ow.n immediate benefit without thinking of those who 

 come after you. Let us at once admit that^ though forests may be 

 made for man, yet, at the same time, they are made for his very 

 judicious use. Wh;\t, therefore, are the three points to which forestry 

 should be directed ? First, to the preserving of forests : the great 

 object is not to lose your forests ; once lost, it is a matter of the 

 greatest difficulty to replace them by planting. Therefore, preserve 

 what you have received from a bounteous Providence. The second 

 point is the judicious use of the trees. The analogy of interest and 

 capital in finance applies to our forests. We should utilise our forests 

 in the same manner as that whereby a financier would use his capital 

 — that is, make the best use of our talent by putting it out at 

 interest. We are undoubtedly entitled to draw interest from the 

 forests, but we should take only a reasonable quantity fi'om them for 

 our daily use — that, and no more. If we do more than that, we are 

 adopting the very process which the spendthrift adopts when he lives 

 upon his capital. The trees must by such means come to a final end ; 

 whereas, if judiciously managed, forests might yield an abundant 

 interest — far more than any paltry 5 or 10 per cent. — for the use of 

 man, and a national capital would thereby be preserved intact. The 

 third object of forestry is undoubtedly planting. Although I have 

 said that you cannot by planting replace vast forest lands, yet you 

 may do much good, as has been done in India, by acclimatising many 

 new kinds of trees. 



You see, then, what forestry means; and, I think, if you have 

 followed me in my general allusions to other countries, you will 

 perceive that forestry ought to exist for three objects : first, the 

 preservation of the national wealth ; secondly, the retention of 

 moisture in the soil, preventing the vegetation being destroyed ; and 

 for preventing the carrying away of the soil by rains and iioods 

 (because, recollect that forests act as a kind of binding power in the 

 soil, the roots and radicles acting like a network or reticulation, or 

 like veins and arteries, holding the ground together). The second 

 object is, therefore, the retention of moisture and the pi'eservation of 

 rich soil. The third object is the moderation of die climate. 

 Although you do not experience the want of modi'mii), of climate 

 here in England, you should feel for your fellow-counus d en and your 



