XI 



mostly from other compilations, official documents and 

 journals. 



For none of the countries discussed does a complete 

 work on the history of forests and forestry exist, ex- 

 cepting in the case of Germany, which can boast of 

 a number of comprehensive works on the subject. It 

 was, therefore, possible to treat that country more in 

 extenso. Moreover, it appeared desirable to enlarge 

 upon the history of that country, since it is pre-em- 

 inently in the lead in forestry matters and has passed 

 through all the stages of development of forest 

 policies and forestry practice, which, with more or less 

 variations must be repeated in other countries. 



Especially the growth of the technical science and 

 art of forestry, which has been developed in Germany 

 for a longer time and to a more refined degree than in 

 other countries, has been elaborated in the chapter 

 relating to that country. 



For some of the other countries available sources of 

 information were quite limited. The writer believes, 

 however, that for the purpose of this brief statement 

 the data collected will be found sufficient. 



In order to make conditions existing in the different 

 countries and their causes more readily understood it 

 appeared desirable to give very brief historic references 

 to their political and economic development and also 

 brief statements of their general physical conditions. 



Present conditions of forest policy. and forest ad- 

 ministration have sometimes been enlarged upon be- 

 yond the requirements of historical treatment. 



Ithaca, N.Y., May, 1907. B. E. Fernow. 



