INTRODUCTION xix 



the same land necessarily a proof of bad manage- 

 ment. The cost of cutting down the unprofitable 

 trees and replanting the land may be so great 

 compared with any probable receipts that it 

 would be wise to allow the wood to remain in 

 the present state. 



In all countries the management of wood- 

 lands artificially created must be a difficult art, 

 because it means growing good crops on poor 

 land. The long period of the growth of the trees 

 deprives the forester of the advantage of the 

 personal observation and experiment which help 

 the farmer. In Great Britain the burdens of 

 taxation and foreign competition are especially 

 severe. The result is that the account of ex- 

 penses and receipts of forestry in England can- 

 not be made to square unless the planter shows 

 great care in the planting and the maintenance 

 of his woodlands, methodical management, 

 adroitness in selling the timber, and always 

 avoids spending money on expensive methods 

 when adequate methods can be followed at 

 moderate cost. 



