The Subdivision of Forests 185 



shelter, and benefits of the forest for recreation and health. The 

 public should not only be allowed to enter upon public-owned 

 forests, but special inducements should be given to them to enjoy 

 the manifold benefits which nature has stored up and is holding 

 for them. Subdivision lines will enable them to enter forests 

 with ease and without fear of being lost. All important routes 

 through the forests should be posted, giving the direction and dis- 

 tance to the principal points of interest and exit. It is practically 

 impossible for even a novice to lose himself in the German forests, 

 on account of the numerous directive signs found at almost every 

 junction of roads, lanes, subdivision lines, and trails. In many 

 cases the subdivision of a forest also facilitates hunting and 

 shooting. 



6. It establishes the basis necessary for stand differentiation 

 as well as quantitative and qualitative surveys, all three of which 

 are very important tasks in any forest business. The differentia- 

 tion of stands is a prerequisite to both quantitative and qualita- 

 tive surveys. A quantitative survey determines the amount, kind, 

 and distribution of material present upon a given area. Such a 

 determination enables one to ascertain values for the purpose of 

 sale and taxation, and what is still more important, it gives the 

 owner or manager a fair idea of the amount of his investment. 

 It is similar to what in ordinary business is known as "taking 

 stock" or "takng an inventory." A qualitative survey determines 

 the site-quality or the degree of productivity of the dififerent 

 parts of a forest area. The performance of these tasks is easier 

 and the results more accurate if a forest is subdivided. 



7. It forms a base or framework to which all interior surveys 

 can be tied, and assists in the maintenance, verification, and reloca- 

 tion of points and parts of land and boundary surveys. It also 

 helps to make the topographic surveys more useful by locating 

 various land features more accurately. 



8. It enables one to demarcate clearly the boundaries of all 

 operations within the forest. These include planting, improve- 

 ment, protection, and utilization. It is of special value for begin- 

 ning and continuing cutting operations. Cutting operations can 

 be properly started, allotted, and systematized, if a subdivision is 

 at hand. It is also of great value in connection with camping 

 permits, applications, reports, and contracts of timber sales be- 

 cause each one of them refers to an exact location or area. 



9. It makes possible the introduction of a regulated forest sys- 

 tem which is based upon a continuous or sustained yield man- 

 agement and has as its goal the normal or ideal forest. 



