2 North American Forests and Forestry 



To him who tries to understand with head and 

 heart the subtle cords joining his own individuality 

 to the natural conditions about him, as well as to 

 him who takes his place as one of the fighters in 

 the struggle that lifts mankind to ever greater 

 heights, to the thinker as well as the doer, the 

 connection between civilization and nature cannot 

 fail to be of never-ceasing interest. To show in 

 a comprehensive glance how this connection is 

 formed in the case of one of the most important 

 of the great forms of earth-life, the forest, is the 

 object of this little volume. 



It is a subject worthy the attention of the phi- 

 losopher, the statesman, the economist, the man of 

 science, the business man, the lover of mankind 

 and of nature. But let no one imagine that it is a 

 subject for the idler, the dreamer, the selfish dilet- 

 tante who is a mere looker-on in life's battle. To 

 that false theory of life which cannot find in the 

 common activities of man anything but sordidness, 

 which cannot discern the dignity at the core of the 

 laborer's task with axe and saw, or concealed under 

 the dust and chaff of the market-place, forests and 

 forestry are incomprehensible. Nor is it a subject 

 for sentimentalists to play with, and tickle their 

 pretty fancies and emotions. Forestry is a subject 

 for men who stand in the midst of the world's 

 struggle doing their part with brain and brawn, 

 and feeling the joy which is the heritage of the 

 strong in victory or defeat. 



With the heart-life of the wilderness the forester 



