30 



of value in the future management of the area to be treated. If 

 the reserves were to be divided into their several divisions at short 

 intervals, say every five or ten years, the subject would be quite differ- 

 ent; but since when once divided they are divided for all time ex- 

 cepting for small changes, we should have nothing short of a com- 

 plete past and present record. A division of the forest depends 

 largely upon the kind of management to which the reserve will be 

 subjected: that is, do the conditions of the forest require an inten- 

 sive management, or are they such that warrant only an extensive 

 management ? 



These conditions can only be actually known by a complete sur- 

 vey. Until recently, the boundaries of lands owned by the Common- 

 wealth were not well located. The method of this complete survey 

 depends largely on the value of the forest as represented by the re- 

 turns. Generally speaking, all main lines such as boundaries, all 

 public roads, all streams, meadows, farms, and anything else that 

 may be of a permanent nature should be surveyed and accurately 

 marked. As these data, so procured, will form all skeleton maps 

 for future management of the entire area, they should be carried 

 out in the minutest detail and to the greatest degree of accuracy. 

 Nothing should be left undone that might be of value in determining 

 what lines to follow for the future. 



Considering conditions as we have them on the reserves today, each 

 reserve may be well divided under the following general heads, viz : 



1st. Ranges, 



2nd. Eanges into Blocks, 



3rd. Blocks into Compartments, 



4th. Compartments into sub-compartments. 



By a range is understood such an area as may be conveniently cov- 

 ered by one man called a ranger. In the division of a reserve of 

 twenty thousand acres or more there are two conditions which must 

 be considered: The. situation and the intensity of management. 



In the case of scattered blocks, or in hilly country such as we have 

 to deal with, the ranges may comprise a smaller area than if the 

 blocks are consolidated or situate on level ground. In forests which 

 yield a small return, as is the case with ours at present, the ranges 

 may be large. Where the returns are large it pays to make the ranges 

 small in order to facilitate a more intense management of the area. 

 The boundaries of ranges should in all cases conform to some very 

 conspicuous topographical features. If for some reason no well de- 

 fined ridge can be had, some permanent fixture as a public road may 

 be well suited to mark the boundary. In rare instances either of 

 these may make the range too small or too large. Then the only 

 method would be to designate the boundary by an opened line. It 



