INTRODUCTION xvii 



other crops brings very small receipts ; therefore, 

 the forester is always hampered by the necessity 

 of exercising a rigid economy. The site of his 

 woods may be the poorest soil in the country, 

 given to forestry only because it is fit for nothing 

 else. Frequently the woods will be in remote 

 districts and with bad roads, so that haulage, 

 the supply of labour, and supervision will be 

 difficult and expensive. In winter prolonged 

 periods of bad weather may stop all work. In 

 summer there may be droughts, killing young 

 trees and exposing the woods to the risk of fire. 

 Gales of wind will injure the plantations. 

 Rabbits and trespassing sheep and cattle may, 

 in spite of the utmost care and vigilance, do 

 serious damage. Sometimes, for no apparent 

 reason, the growth of woods will disappoint the 

 forester. When the woods are ripe for sale the 

 forester must deal with timber-merchants, a 

 class of men whose training, on whatever lines 

 it may have been conducted, has made them 

 most efficient in the protection of their own 

 interests. 



Ignorance of practical difficulties produces 



extravagant promises of success. If it is objected 



to the enthusiast that his promises cannot be 



fulfilled, unless his woods grow much larger 



b 



