FOREST POLICY. 15 



III. GEOLOGY 



(a) steepness of slopes 



(b) rockiness of soil 



(c) sandiness of soil 



(d) swampy conditions of soil 



(e) frequency of inundations 



IV. POPULATION 



(a) density of population 



(b) energ}^ or working capacity of the workmen 



There is no reason to complain of the disappearance of the 

 forest from "absolute farm soil." Complaints are being made, 

 however, everywhere, and by everybody, the former owners in- 

 cluded, that huge stretches of absolute forest land, once stocked 

 with primeval forest, have become unproductive. Here the 

 question arises: Is, or was the primeval forest productive? Is 

 not the land from which the primeval forest has been cleared 

 as idle to-day as the primeval forest would be if it had remained? 

 Is not in the primeval forest the annual production of wood 

 exactly offset by the annual decay of wood? 



