276 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY. 



It is safe to assume that in case the forests of South Jersey 

 are protected and allowed to grow other industries will form 

 and grow with them. 



The sixth condition is fair taxation. All are agreed that this 

 is a knotty question and one difficult even under favorable cir- 

 cumstances to fairly adjust. It seems to me that since forests 

 require considerable time to grow, since owing to the force of 

 the elements and disease the growth of years is liable to be sud- 

 denly spoiled and shattered, since forests are not insurable, and 

 since the man who produces a forest is the benefactor of his 

 neighbors, the State can- well afford to tax lightly such land.* 

 In fact, the man who starts and properly cares for a forest 

 deserves to be exempted from taxation, or at least exempted 

 until the crop is cut. Several have suggested that the tax 

 should be levied only on the amount cut. This plan, of course, 

 has some disad vantages ^and may not be practical. At any rate 

 a fair re-adjustment would tend to improve the condition which 

 exists. I have faith enough in the good sense of the American 

 people to believe that with proper protection by the State 

 against fire and thieves, with fair taxation, with sufficient roads 

 and with proper guidance, there will develop even under private 

 control a system of forestry which, although perhaps not as 

 systematically regulated as in Europe, will be as good as the 

 peculiar economic conditions of the region will warrant. 



SILVICULTURAL SUGGESTIONS. 



It seems to the writer that, notwithstanding the complexities 

 of European silvicultural systems with their manifold modifica- 

 tions and combinations, the methods of forest treatment may be 

 divided into four systems which are more or less applicable 

 the world over, none of which are unconditionally good or bad, 

 and the merits of which depend upon the circumstances of each 

 case. Each system has its advantages and disadvantages, and 

 must be adapted to the conditions which exist in every instance, 

 and its success, above all, is dependent upon the knowledge and 



* An anomolous condition sometimes exists where a speculator desires a high assessment and cor- 

 respondingly high tax ia order to convince prospective buyers of the great worth of the land which he is 

 endeavoring to sell. 



