Il8 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIKTV. 



and supervise forestry work of all kinds within his respective 

 jurisdiction. Each of these divisions will be taken up separ- 

 ately. 



Division of Investigation. 



The work of this division must lie at the very base of all 

 sound and effective forest work in China. Without the sound, 

 reliable data which may be expected to result from its activities, 

 individual projects would have to be decided upon and carried 

 out in a more or less haphazard, experimental manner. It 

 must be kept constantly in mind that forestry in China is 

 distinctly new, and that although along general lines it is 

 reasonable to suppose that the methods which have been found 

 most suitable in other and rather similar countries can be applied 

 here, nevertheless the peculiar conditions of soil, climate, and 

 especially what we may call the sociological conditions, make it 

 absolutely necessary that any methods imported from abroad 

 should undergo more or less radical adaptation before success 

 can be expected in China ; and in many cases, even at first, it 

 will probably be necessary for us to work along original lines. 

 Thus, before we can be in a position to take up with confidence, 

 and to carry on successfully, economically, and efficiently any 

 extensive scheme of reforestation, we must have a fairly solid 

 ground-work, based on a sure and reasonably complete 

 knowledge of the climate, soil, and other conditions under which 

 we propose to work ; of the species of trees, both native and 

 foreign, which are suitable for use in the particular areas under 

 consideration ; of their silvicultural characteristics, rate of 

 growth, economic importance, etc. ; of where their seeds can be 

 obtained ; of what has been learned from former experience of 

 their use in China ; and many more points along similar lines. 

 In these studies particular attention will be given to the native 

 species, both because in general less is known about them, and 

 because, in all probability, they are best suited for our use, due to 

 their proved adaptability to the conditions under which we will 

 have to work, and to the comparative cheapness and ease with 

 which their seed can be obtained. Very probably much of the 

 needed data has already been collected by various persons — 

 private botanists, travellers, missionaries, teachers in various 

 colleges throughout China, members of this or other bureaux or 

 ministries, etc. ; but the results of all such studies are more or 



