614 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE, 
of subjects claims the attention of him who proposes to furnish such 
information, so that it becomes difficult to determine which interest 
should claim foremost attention. 
With the increasing need of rational forestry a closer study of all 
matters pertaining to it will become necessary, and to aid the student 
of forestry as well as to furnish a basis for the work of the Division, 
a system has been devised and, in the report, illustrated with copi- 
ous examples, showing the manifold disciplines which must engage 
the attention of the student of forestry. Asa presentation of this 
system will enable the general reader to form an idea of what for-. 
estry really is, space is here given to a bird’s-eye view of the same: . 
SYSTEM OF FORESTRY INVESTIGATIONS. . 
A.—SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF FORESTRY. 
I.—Forest biology.—(Consideration of the growing crop.) ; 
1. Timber and forest physiology. Life history of species in their indi- 
vidual and aggregate life. 
2. Forest geography. Floras and their distribution. 
3. Study of forest weeds in their relation to forest growth. 
11.—Timber physics.—(Consideration of the grown crop.) 
1. Anatomy of woods. 
2. Chemical physiology of woods. 
3. Physical properties of woods. 
4, Influences determining the physical properties. 
5. Diseases and faults of timber. 
IlI.—Soil physics and soil chemistry.—(Consideration of the conditions for 
growing a crop.) 
B.—ECONOMIC BASIS OF FORESTRY. 
I. Statistics. 
1. Forest areas, 
2. Forest products. 
3. By-products. 
4, Prices, trade, substitutes. 
1I.—Technology.—( Applied timber physics. Needs of wood consumers.) 
1. Methods of harvesting (lumbering) and preparation for market, in- 
cluding improyement of machinery. 
2. Economy in the use of product. 
a. Utilization of waste material. 
b. Methods of increasing the durability of timber. 
3. Special needs of consumers of forest products. 
Ill. Forest policy.—(Determining the relation between forestry and the ob- 
jects and purposes of the State.) 
1. Forest influences. 
a. Influence on temperature and electricity. 
b. Influence on humidity and rain-fall. 
c. Influence on winds. 
d. Influence on water-flow. 
e. Influence on soil, formation of avalanches, shifting sands, dunes. 
f. Influence on health and fertility (and ethics). Bh 
2. Commercial peculiarities, position of forestry in political economy. 
3. History of forestry. ‘ 
4. Forest police, formulation of the rights and duties of the State and 
of its methods in developing forestry; legislation, State forest ad- 
ministration, education. 
C.—PRACTICAL BASIS OF FORESTRY. 
I.— Origination of the forest. 
1. Axtificial afforestation. 
a. Procurement of seed and other plant material. 
b. Nursery practice. 
ec. Choice of kinds for pure and mixed growth. 
d. Methods of preparing soil. 
e. Methods of forest planting. 
2. Natural reforestation. 
a. From seed. 
6. From the stump. 
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