PRINCIPAL BRANCHES OF FORESTRY 



23 



of the life habits and behavior of trees in the forest, and is sometimes 

 considered synonymous with silvicultural characteristics. The han- 

 dling of forests to obtain the best results in the maintenance of growth 

 and reproduction is fundamental in the knowledge of forestry. The 

 forester must know the habits of trees and the forest influences which 

 affect the life of individual trees as well as the tree community. He 



FIG. 17. A Caterpillar Diesel 75 h.p. tractor skidding logs in the Feather River 



region of California. 



must know how to plant, improve, and cut our forests. In Europe, 

 silviculture is the most important part of forestry. 



3. Forest Utilization. Forest utilization is the most profitable and 

 efficient use of forest products. It includes the conversion of standing 

 timber into forms useful in human economy and the arts. It embraces 

 the harvesting of the forest crop, the logging and transportation of 

 the raw material, chiefly logs, to the market, and their manufacture 



