164 JOURNAL OF FOKHSTRV 



Of course, adjustment of this knowledge is necessary to meet the 

 dififerent economic conditions and the difiterences in the character of 

 the forests that are dealt with. In as far as possible, the general 

 course in tropical forestry deals with these problems of adjustment. 



It is not too much to assume that a general course in tropical for- 

 estry has some direct and indirect value to the student who does not 

 contemplate practicing his profession in tropical countries. Problems 

 connected with future progress in better conservation of our forests 

 are intimately connected with the source of raw materials from the 

 forests the world over. In the general courses he obtains information 

 concerning the forests and forest conditions of European countries 

 but little about those of tropical countries. With more knowledge of 

 the nature and value of tropical forests he can better appreciate the 

 nature and value of our own forests. Many tropical forest products 

 are absolutely essential to our present economic life and are becoming 

 more and more so. Certain industries are wholly or partially de- 

 pendent on such products. Each year finds old industries turning to 

 the tropics for new sources of raw materials, and new industries de- 

 pending on tropical forest products are being established. Exaggerated 

 ideas concerning the nature of the tropics and their forests are afloat. 

 A sane view concerning the present importance of tropical forests and 

 the role that they are likely to play in the future is becoming essential 

 to a well-rounded course in forestry. It is believed that the course 

 that is given in tropical forestry has indirect cultural value, for a 

 knowledge of the relations that people of tropical countries have to 

 their forests, how they exploit and use them and look upon them, 

 gives an insight into the character of the people themselves, and the 

 more knowledge one has of our tropical neighbors and their problems 

 the better educated he is. 



