CONSIDURATIOXS IX SILVICUU'URAL KKSKAKCII 875 



with this matter until we obtain actual experimental records of those environ- 

 mental conditions that fashion a forest.'' 



Sticli, tlien, are some of the criticisms and stiggestions that have been 

 made relative to silvical and silvicultural research in this country, in 

 most cases by foresters whose wide experience has rendered them com- 

 petent to understand the situation and has made their opinions vakiable. 

 In order to appreciate these suggestions /// toto, I am summarizing them 

 under the following 12 headings. If we agree that a majority, at least, 

 of the criticisms are well taken, the next question that naturally sug- 

 gests itself is: What arc zvc going to do about it? Do not these opin- 

 ions suggest tile necessity of inaugurating a more definite research 

 l)olicy. which will he followed u]) by a more definite plan of action? 



1. The silviculture now taught is too general and does not suffice in a given 

 specific case. Experience, supported by trials, experiments, and observations, 

 is necessarj- to furnish specific information. 



2. Only the best men — best as to knowledge, imagination, and judgment — can 

 be expected to produce trustworthy results. 



3. We need specialists competent to apply modern methods of ecological re- 

 search to our silvicultural problems. 



4. We should recognize the research type of man as distinct from the admin- 

 istrative type. 



5. Wo should not put administrative men in charge of research or research 

 men. 



6. We should realize that the purely scientific point of view is more funda- 

 mental than the practical. 



7. Too small a portion of Govermnent money and men is devoted to real 

 forestry problems. 



8. Too much emphasis in ("iovernment research is placed upon the forest 

 products side. 



f). vSilvical and silvicultural kimwledge is dur greatest need if we are ever to 

 have a science of .\merican Forestry. 



10. -Vmerican research should be correlated, the agencies should co-operate, 

 and research should be stimulated among those agencies not sufficiently active. 



11. More intensive forestry, which is sure to come in the near future, de- 

 mands intensive silvical and silvicultural research, and it is very necessary to 

 have the data on hand when it does come. 



\2. Forestry research is not producing enougli fuiKlamciU.ii scientific data. 

 Fxperinu-ntatiiMi is imw nf tno limitrd scope and application. 



Doubtless some of these overlap, but in the main I think they arc 

 different propositions. T do not intend to comment upon all of these 

 suggestions, because the size of the paper would not ])enuit it. Kur- 

 thermore, criticisms 1 , _>, _^. 4. 5, 6, and 9 have been more or less touched 

 upon by me in the three previous papers of this series. In this paper I 

 wish to bring more facts and figures to bear upon two of the criticism^ 



