FORESTRY 321 



this wasteful use of forests has proceeded so far that the 

 disastrous consequences are in plain sight, the forestry stage 

 begins, and the proper management of forests is established. 

 In European countries forestry has been long established 

 and has become highly developed, especially in Germany 

 and France. In the United States the Government has 

 established a Bureau of Forestry, and certain States have 

 adopted a definite forest policy. 



183. Supply forests. This name has been suggested 

 for those forests used primarily as a source of wood-supply. 

 The crop of wood differs from ordinary crops in that it is 

 natural growth and needs a long period to mature. The 

 problem is to obtain as much wood from the forest as pos- 

 sible year after year, without diminishing its productive- 

 ness; in other words, to use it and preserve it at the same 

 time. There is a best time for cutting, that is, harvesting, 

 in the life of each kind of tree, a time determined by its size 

 and the quality of its wood. The forest habit the grow- 

 ing of trees close together secures the lofty symmetrical 

 trunk, with branches carried high, the most favorable form 

 for use. Trees that are "ripe" not only can but should 

 be removed, that the younger ones may come to vigorous 

 maturity. In this way a continuous succession of suitable 

 trees becomes ready for removal, and every tree in the 

 forest is given an opportunity to do its best. The thought- 

 less cutting of trees usually secures one good crop from a 

 forest; while a forest managed by a forester yields a suc- 

 cession of good crops. 



When the forester takes charge of a forest that has had 

 no management, he first removes the undesirable trees; 

 but the lumberman would remove the most desirable. 

 The forester knows, however, that in this way the quality 

 of the remaining trees will be improved, and in the long run 

 he will get a larger and better crop. The cutting is so 

 arranged that the openings left will give opportunity for 



