Esthetic Forestry 187 



In the larger woodland parks, finally, such as the x^diron- 

 dack Forest Preserve, the rational manner of carrying an 

 esthetic forestry is, after all, that which the German forester 

 practises in those places where a large community has ready 

 access to his industrial forest, and uses it incidentally as a 

 pleasure ground. He has regard to both the material and 

 esthetic interests of the forest, managing it for wood-crops 

 and revenue without overlooking the pleasure it may afford; 

 making it accessible by wagon and foot, providing springs 

 and shady nooks with rustic resting places, and combin- 

 ing, as architecture usually does, the beautiful with the 

 useful. 



The forester's road system may be none the less perfect 

 from the purely utilitarian view because it meets the demands 

 of art; the by-paths into the depths of sylvan recesses 

 are not less useful because they may be made with due 

 regard to pleasant windings and easy travel; the thrifty, 

 young plantation will present aspects of beauty as well as 

 of interest to the visitor not less delightful because of the 

 frankly acknowledged purpose which it is finally to serve. 

 Even the Avell-conducted logging operation will have its 

 attraction to him who is not saddled with a monkey love 

 of trees. Some of the picturesque effects of the crooked 

 and gnarled specimens of oak and beech, the true forester 

 will, to be sure, reduce to a minimum, but in the inspiring 

 sublimity of lofty boles he will substitute other effects not 

 less artistic because the utilitarian object is apparent. Fi- 

 nally, the beauty of a well-conducted forest management 

 with its system and order in the forest, as well as in the books, 

 will appeal to the thoughtful visitor and, if he finds that all 

 this pleasure can be had for nothing, nay, with a financial 

 benefit, by which his taxes are reduced, he will bless those 

 esthetic idealists, who starting from an entirely opposite 



