<i82 JOURNAL OF" FORESTRY 



region, figures which are appHcable only to the one site quaHty on 

 which they were gathered. 



And yet, despite its faults, it is felt that in some ways the author's 

 attitude toward silvical studies is correct and praiseworthy. We have 

 here the simple recital of a number of carefully made observations, 

 mainly objective and stripped of didacticism. The unbiased inference 

 and a priori assertions which have been, perhaps inevitably, a charac- 

 teristic of many of the old bulletins dealing with American silviculture, 

 are here much less in evidence. There is a freedom from academic 

 theory and conjecture that is refreshing. It is such definite informa- 

 tion as is here given, supported, however, by good descriptions not 

 only of the stand and type but also of the site, which are of value in 

 silvicultural practice. It is from such data that the practicing forester 

 must get his ideas and working knowledge for the silviculture he 

 should use in the woods. 



For there can be no set way of handling, silviculturally. either a wild 

 woods or a piece of badly mutilated forest. The composition or den- 

 sity and often both, change with nearly every acre ; age classes, 

 amount of advance reproduction, sites and types intermingle. It is 

 futile to say that for any forest property of say 20.000 acres, such as 

 we find usually in the United States, a particular silvicultural method 

 must be used for every acre. The method of cutting should be adapted 

 to suit the exigencies of the spot, and not infrequently on an 80 acres 

 the shelterwood, the selection, the seed tree, and the clear cutting 

 methods may all be used to some extent. On a timber sale in such 

 woods, the silviculturist is dictated to by the conditions of the forest 

 and his operations are guided by his knowledge of silvical conditions. 



The Forest Service in California now does essentially this thing 

 (Marking Principles. April 1, 3 919). These principles say about this 

 to the marker : 



"Here are the figures concerning the growth and the reproduction 

 for the types and sites you are working in, and here are a few ideas 

 as to what will happen after cuttings are made. It is the best infor- 

 mation we have at hand. Nobody in the office can tell you exactly 

 how to mark that timber. We have confidence in your silvicultural 

 ability. We want to get rid of the old stuff and yet get young trees 

 of good species a-coming on. Do your best, and please do not dis- 

 regard the figures we have given you.'' 



"Yellow Birch in the Adirondacks" is of value in so far as it at- 

 tempts to give such plain figures and simple ideas regarding the forest ; 



