viii PREFACE. 



prepared for all Government forests, and that the Inspector 

 General of Forests should control the execution of the working 

 plans. The results have been very satisfactory, as the 

 management of the Indian forests has been placed on a 

 safer basis, and the principle of continuity of action been 

 more fully recognized. Absolute security, however, has not 

 as yet been established in this respect. From time to time 

 re-action is liable to set in. Hence I was anxious to set 

 forth in the present volume the principle and paramount 

 importance of a " sustained yield " of forests. 



It is not for me to say in how far I have succeeded in my 

 task; it is, however, a matter of satisfaction to me that a 

 second edition of the first two volumes will have to be issued 

 shortly. This gives me hope that the cause of systematic 

 forestry is gaining ground, and that it will impress itself more 

 and more upon the minds of those who leave this country tp 

 govern India and the Colonies. Should this happy anticipa- 

 tion be realized, then the progress of forest administration in 

 India will be definitely assured. When forestry in Britain has 

 once become an essential part of the industry based upon the 

 soil, those who leave these shores will be duly impressed 

 \>y its importance, and they will bring to their spheres of 

 action a sympathetic understanding of the business, which 

 will go a long way to prevent any oscillating policy that other- 

 wise might threaten to interfere with the progress of forest 

 management in India and the Colonies. Continuity of action 

 will then become the order of the day, without which no 

 industry can flourish, whatever its name or nature may be, 

 and least of all forestry, the produce of which frequently 

 requires a century and more to mature. 



In writing the present volume, I have, apart from my 



