FORESTRY. 



BY HERMAN H. CHAPMAN. 



[Born. Cambridge, Mass., 1874; B. Sc, University of Minnesota, 1896; B. 

 Agr., University of Minnesota, 1899; Superintendent Northeast Agricultural 

 Experiment Farm. Grand Rapids, Minnesota, 1898-1903; M. F. Yale, 1904; 

 Forest Assistant, U. S. Forest Service, 1904-5; Instructor in Forestry. Yale 

 Forest School, 1906; Assistant Professor of Forestry, Yale Forest School, 

 1907.] 



I. GENERAL DEFINITION. 



To the question so frequently asked, ''What is For- 

 estry?" it would be difficult to give a concise and satis- 

 factory answer, for forestry is a union of many elements as 

 widely different in character as those which enter into 

 the activities of a city like Chicago. 



But the foundation of forestry is the growing of trees 

 as a crop to be cut and used. Everything else hinges on 

 this principle. The mere growing of trees is not forestry, 

 for they may be intended as shade trees or for ornamental 

 purposes. To cut them for the wood they contain would be 

 to destroy their real usefulness. So the planting and care of 

 shade trees is not forestry. The forester should know 

 about these things, but they are a side line, the specialty of 

 the landscape gardener who does not need to know any- 

 thing about true forestry. 



Nor is the mere cutting and marking of timber, true 

 forestry. Too often the lumberman cares nothing about 

 the growth of his timber, or the possibility of ever getting 

 a second crop from the land which he is stripping. De- 

 structive lumbering and forestry are at opposite poles. 

 Lumbering is in reality a very important department of 

 forestry, but the distinguishing feature remains, as before, 

 the actual growing of the timber. 



In recent years, with increasing public interest in for- 

 estry, lumbermen are becoming more anxious to be known 



