FOREST PROTECTION. 73 



knowledge of the physiology and ecology of ylant life is 

 essential. At the present time when cultivation is becoming 

 more and more intensive and when the transport and inter- 

 change of species, varieties and types have vastly increased, it is 

 imperative to guard against calamities which may follow in the 

 track of this artificial distribution and cultivation of plants. 



In no form of soil cultivation is plant protection more 

 necessary than in forestry, and in no country is forest protection 

 more necessary than in Britain, because our forest tree flora is 

 largely an artificial one, especially the coniferous portion. We 

 are poor in indigenous coniferous species and extraordinarily 

 rich in introduced species, and it is these conifers which will 

 form the future bulk of our home-grown timber of economic 

 importance. 



The growing forest represents a large amount of capital 

 which is locked up for a considerable time, and it is self-evident 

 that every means should be used to protect and preserve this 

 valuable growing stock, in order that material of the best quality 

 may be produced and a suitable return obtained on the capital 

 so invested. 



Forest protection is one of the most essential branches of 

 forestry. It involves a careful study of all the dangers which 

 threaten timber crops. The main objects are to prevent damage 

 being done, or if damage is unavoidable, at least to minimise its 

 extent. The dangers to be provided against may be grouped 

 under three headings, namely — 



(a) Damage by man. 

 (/^) Inorganic agencies. 

 (c) Organic agencies. 



(a) Wilful or unintentional damage by man. The first is 

 preventible to some extent by the infliction of certain penalties, 

 but by far the better and more efficient method is by invoking 

 the aid of education and training. The stringent forest code of 

 France is even there not always relied on so much as State 

 example and education. This will also prove to be the solution 

 of the second problem. Unintentional damage may be done by 

 friends of the forest through ignorance of the consequences of 

 their actions, such as carelessness in handling fire in or near the 

 forest, and the excessive preservation of rabbits, deer or other 

 animals injurious to trees. An unskilful forester also may do 



