CHAPTER 8 

 HOW THE FORESTER WORKS 



The underlying idea of forestry is continuity of use. 

 HENRY SOLON GRAVES. 



EVERYTHING that is done to increase the growth, value, or 

 productivity of the woods belongs in the realm of forestry. 

 Everything done with a view to securing or improving fu- 

 ture forest crops, whether by planting or fire protection or 

 scientific methods of cutting, is all part of the art and science of 

 forestry. 



Too many people believe that forestry confines itself to tree 

 planting. But that is only one part of the story. It is an im- 

 portant part, but often no more so than other measures used 

 by foresters to secure reforestation. Forestry is much more com- 

 plex than tree planting much more various. Such simple mat- 

 ters as pruning and freeing young trees from overshadowing 

 brush methods practiced even before the Christian era be- 

 long in the scheme of forestry. Matters so abstruse and rela- 

 tively recent as calculating the rate of growth for a forest one 

 hundred years hence that, too, belongs to forestry. And al- 

 though the word is comparatively new, forestry itself, to some 

 extent, and in one form or another, has long been known. 

 Belonging to the city of Zurich is a forest that has been cut 

 and regenerated under forestry principles for more than six 

 hundred years. Year after year this forest has furnished timber 



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