15)1 



inoiicy unci time and use of land and. W(n"st of all. lo.ss of faith in the possi- 

 bilit.v of forest improvement. The ar^^ninent is that this knowledge is 

 ^■trictly technical knowledge, the property of the specialist. It is not 

 within the Ivnowledge of the landowner, nor would he be justilied in 

 taking tlie time reciuii'ed for acijuiring it from his other work. This is 

 a very summary and incomplete resume of some of the silvical factors 

 (entering into the problem of securing maximum quantity and (>])timum 

 (juality in the shortest time. 



The wood-lot. also, if it serve its purpose must yield its owner rea- 

 sonable i-eturns upon his investment and yield such returns at regular 

 intervals. If it fails to do so its maintenance is I)ad business. If the 

 wood-lot is regarded as an investment, perpettiity must always be in 

 mind. It is then not merely securing a return at some given period of 

 time, it is insuring by suthcient reproduction the harvesting of similar 

 crops at future periods. How much shall l»e cut? How often shtill cut- 

 tings occur? What relation shall the time of cutting bear to the time 

 of regeneration? What species in. the stand shall be encouraged and 

 what species eliminated? How shall the amount cut lie known to equal 

 Ihe amount grown between ctitting cyles? These are a few of the fac- 

 tors entering into the problem from the standpoint of management, which 

 is after all applied economics. Here again the knowledge is expert knowl- 

 edge, it is not in the possession of the landowner nor has lie time to acquire 

 it. Yet because the.se factors ai'e not considered ultinnite failure is bound 

 to result. 



It seems that we have an iniMitnlilc deduction. I'rovision should be 

 made as a part of the force irnder control of the State Board of Forestry 

 for an expert field (Kjcnt whose duty it should l)e to furni.sh working plans 

 to the wood-lot owner which will gi\e direction and certainty to his efforts 

 to secure the largest anantity and the best quality in the shortest time pos- 

 sible. Each tract should be Inspected carefully before the working plan 

 is outlined in order that local conditions, which ai-e of the highest import- 

 r.nee. may Ije taken into account. Along coustructi\e lines, the lines of 

 securing results, the appointment of a trained field agent is absolutely the 

 lirst step. Until such an office is created forestry woik will be as ineffective 

 and futile in the future as it has been in the past. Advice as to cleanings, 

 thinnings, reinforcement, control of noxious insects and injurious fungi 

 would natui'ally be among the functions of such a field agent. 



Before any very great measure of success can lie hoped for, provision 



