CHAPTER IV 

 DENDROLOGY 



THE study of the kinds of trees, and of their botanical 

 characteristics, is dendrology. The study of the cultiva- 

 tion or growing of trees in forest plantations is sylviculture. 



A completer distinction between the two terms may be 

 made, in order that the reader may never be confused. 

 Sylviculture means forest-culture. It is derived from 

 sylva, meaning forest, plus the word culture. It deals with 

 forest crops as agriculture deals with farm crops. As 

 used in forestry, sylviculture means the producing of 

 forest trees for forestry purposes. It includes the growing 

 of forest trees by sowing and planting, or what is known 

 as " artificial regeneration," and the growing of forest 

 trees by caring for established forests so that the best and 

 most useful trees are produced and new trees spring up 

 naturally, or what is known as " natural regeneration." 

 In either case, nature is aided to produce the best results 

 in the shortest possible time. In its broadest sense, 

 sylviculture includes everything that is connected with 

 the life history of a forest. Nature alone is oftentimes 

 slow and uncertain, and since the forester must attend to 

 the economic side, it becomes necessary to render aid, 

 such as supplying seed and plants and by furnishing the 

 most desirable trees, which nature does not always do, 

 and by aiding in the production of the best trees in a 

 minimum amount of time. 



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