RESEARCH METHODS IN STUDY OF FOREST ENVIRONMENT. 3 



many of the conditions within and without the tree, there is need 

 for mathematics somewhat beyond the elemental. And so on ad 

 infinitum. The present-day forester is keenly alive to the need for 

 help from every possible source of scientific information. 



Unfortunately, the investigations undertaken by those trained in 

 forestry must cover so wide a field, and are so often governed by 

 some practical, economic, and immediate necessity, that there is no 

 time or opportunity, and often a lack of the necessary training, for 

 delving into the fundamental problems of the underlying sciences. 

 It is therefore in keeping with the needs of forestry and the spirit 

 of the times to call the attention of scientists in every line to the 

 problems that confront foresters and to seek the cooperation of such 

 scientists in solving them. 



AYhile the present bulletin is designed primarily for the aid of 

 forest investigators — those who are giving all of their time to for- 

 estry — it is hoped that it will be suggestive to a great many others 

 of problems well worthy of their serious study. An effort must be 

 made to show to such workers the ways in which forestry is weak 

 and as exactly as possible the nature of the problems with which 

 foresters are confronted. To trained scientific workers the discus- 

 sion of methods with which they are already more than familiar 

 will seem unnecessary. To others familiar with the problems of for- 

 estry and perhaps almost overwhelmed by their magnitude it is hoped 

 the same discussions may bring needed suggestions of a technical 

 nature. 



A method of investigation is to the scientist what a tool is to a 

 mechanic. The point of view of the investigator, determined by his 

 past experience, knowledge of facts, and philosophy, is to him what 

 manual skill is to the mechanic. The investigator, like the mechanic, 

 to be thoroughly effective, must be able on occasion to make new 

 tools for new and special purposes. 



Any suggestion of a handbook, presenting cut-and-dried methods 

 by which research is to be conducted, would be repugnant to the true 

 investigator. The aim of this bulletin must be to clarify the prob- 

 lems so that the investigator may readily choose for himself the 

 method of approach, and not so much to recommend as to enumerate 

 methods and equipment, describing their past accomplishment-. If 

 the following discussions do not hold strictly to this point, it should be 

 understood that it is the purpose of this bulletin to build a founda- 

 tion for the future on the experience of the past, and to suggest the 

 form of the superstructure rather than its architectural design;. In 

 this way it is hoped to save the actual designers much needless and 

 fruitless effort. 



