Statistics and Description. 23 



practices pursued which are known not to conform 

 to theoretical ideals, and others which lack a sure 

 scientific foundation; and while the general policy 

 of conservative management and of State interest in 

 the same is thoroughly established, the methods of 

 attaining the result are neither uniform throughout 

 the various States which form the German Federation, 

 nor positively settled anywhere. In other words, the 

 history of forestry is still, even in this most advanced 

 country, in the stage of lively development. 



For the student of forestry the history of its develop- 

 ment in Germany is of greatest interest not only be- 

 cause his art has reached here the highest and most 

 intensive application, but because all the phases of 

 development through which other countries have 

 passed or else will eventually have to pass are here 

 exemplified, and many if not most of the other coun- 

 tries of the world have more or less followed German 

 example or have been at least influenced by German 

 precedent. ' There is hardly a policy or practice that 

 has not at some time in some part been employed in 

 the fatherland of forestry. 



One reason for this rich historical background is 

 the fact, that Germany has never been a unit, that 

 from its earliest history it was broken up into many 

 independent and, until modern times, only loosely 

 associated units, which developed differently in 

 social, political and economic direction. This accounts 

 also for the great variety of conditions existing even 

 to-day in the 26 principalities which form the German 

 empire. 



Politically, it may be mentioned that out of the 



