2 C. A. SCHENCK 



Theodore Roosevelt defines forestry as "the preservation of 

 the forests by wise usage." 



Sir William Schlich, in the introduction to vol. 1 of "A Manual 

 of Forestry," gives as the task of forestry the following: 



"To ascertain the principles according to which forests shall 

 be managed (Forest Science), and to apply these principles 

 to the treatment of forests (Practical Forestry)." 



R. Hess, in his "Encyclopaedia of Forestry," vol. 1, p. 9, states: 



"By forestry is understood the sum total of all activities 

 having reference to the most opportune treatment and to 

 the continuous utilisation of woods, with due regard to the 

 local purposes of their owners." 



A. Parade in "Cours elementaire de Culture des Bois" begins 

 his introduction by: 



"Forestry comprises the sum-total of all knowledge required 

 for the best administration of the forests, with due regard 

 to the interests of the owners in particular, and to the in- 

 terests of the commionweal in general." 



It appears from these definitions that forestry is understood, 

 by the majority of its advocates, to be a business of a somewhat 

 socialistic tendency. Whilst all other business is conducted pri- 

 marily for the benefit of the owner, the business of forestry is 

 expected to re-act beneficially upon the welfare of the country. 

 Forestry failing to subserve the commonweal, would cease to be 

 forestry, in the minds of its advocates; or else would be decried 

 by them as "bad forestry." 



Can an analogous observation be made with reference to the 

 management of farms or mines or railroads? 



Neither agriculture nor mining are expected, a priori, to use 

 the soil for the benefit of the commonweal. Why, then, should 

 forestry mean, necessarily, the use of the forest, or the manage- 

 ment of the forest for the benefit of the commonweal? Railroads, 

 on the other hand, being public carriers working under public 

 charters, are indeed expected to subserve the public. 



If "forest companies" were chartered with privileges ana- 

 logous to those of the railroads, the public could and should 

 demand of them such conduct in the management of the forests 



