Second Period. 41 



may be traced back to the 14th and 15th centuries; 

 but it took at least 250 to 350 years before such 

 management became general. 



Outside of the information found scattered in forest 

 ordinances, instructions and prescriptions of various 

 kinds there is no forestry literature to be recorded 

 from this period except one single book, published 

 about the year 1300, by an Italian, Petrus de Cres- 

 centiis, which was translated into German. It was 

 merely a scholastic compilation on agriculture and 

 allied subjects, mostly cribbed from old Roman 

 writers and without value for German conditions. 



II. First Development of Forestry Methods. 

 (Period 1500 to 1800.) 



The period following the middle ages marks the 

 gradual changes from the feudal system to the 

 modern State organizations and to considerable 

 change of ownership conditions and forest treatment. 

 Various causes which led to an increased develop- 

 ment of industrial life were also instrumental in 

 hastening the progress of forest destruction. At the 

 same time, during this period the germs and embryonic 

 beginnings of every branch of forestry, real forestry 

 policy, forestry practice and forestry science are to 

 be noted. By the end of this period, preparatory 

 to more modern conditions, we find organized 

 technical forest administrations, well developed 

 methods of silviculture and systems of forest 

 management. 



