VI PREFACE. 



from papers by Mr. N. Hearle and Mr. E. Me A. Moir of the 

 Indian Forest Department, that appeared in the Indian 

 Forester. 



The enormous consumption of timber, in North America 

 and elsewhere, points to a period in the immediate future 

 when the world-supply of timber will be greatly restricted ; 

 it is already the duty of statesmen in all civilized countries to 

 adopt measures for rendering them, in a certain degree, 

 independent in this respect. A careful method of utilizing 

 the resources of their forests is of the highest importance for 

 the vast dependencies of the British Empire, whether in 

 India, Canada, Australasia or South Africa, as well as for the 

 United States. It may therefore be asserted confidently that, 

 the general principles of the economic working of forests, now 

 almost for the first time* expounded in the English language, 

 are applicable wherever that language is spoken. 



I have to thank my colleagues, Dr. Schlich and Dr. Matthews, 

 for their kindness in assisting me to revise the proofs, and for 

 some valuable suggestions they have made. Professor Hearson 

 has also helped me in dealing with superstructures (pp. 113 

 114), and Professor Heath, in the antiseptic treatment of 

 timber (p. 659). 



W. R FISHEE. 



COOPERS HILL COLLEGE, . 



Mtuj 1st, 1896. 



* The Utilization of Forests, by E. E. Fernandez, Dehra Dun, 1891, is appli- 

 cable chiefly to India and less comprehensive than the present volume. 



