Second Period. 39 



We see, then, that the first sporadic and, to be sure, 

 crude beginnings of a forest management in Germany 

 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 deCrescentiis, which 

 was translated into German. It was merely a scholastic 

 compilation on agriculture and allied subjects, mostly 

 cribbed from old Eoman writers and without value for 

 German conditions. 



II. First Development of Forestbt Methods. 



(Period 1500 to 1800.) 



The period following the middle ages marks the 

 gradual changes from the feudal system to the modern 

 State organizations. Various causes which led to an 

 increased development of industrial life were also instru- 

 mental 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 

 for more modem conditions we find organized technical 

 forest administrations, well developed methods of silvi- 

 culture and systems of forest management. 



