346 ECONOMICS OF FORESTRY. 



the future in forest properties, and are able to 

 hold such properties until developments surround- 

 ing them will make their conservative use under 

 forestry methods possible. 



Others, including sporting associations, are own- 

 ing forest properties for other than economic pur- 

 poses. These, too, are naturally conservative, and 

 when forestry practice is established in this country, 

 will probably learn that their pleasure need not 

 suffer by applying such practice to their properties 

 and deriving financial benefits from them as well. 



As we have seen in previous chapters, forestry 

 is profitable only in the long run and on large 

 areas ; it is a business which contemplates continu- 

 ity for a long period, hence the more our forest 

 resources pass into the hands of perpetual cor- 

 porations and wealthy owners, the more hopeful 

 is their fate. 



For a thorough understanding and discussion of 

 the economic aspects of our forest areas, we ought 

 to know, not only the extent of forest cover, and 

 the character and condition of the forest growth, 

 but its distribution over the different soils and 

 topographic conditions, when it may be determined 

 what areas are naturally to be kept in forest, and 

 what areas must by necessity be turned into farm 

 lands ; where the protective feature requires greater 

 care in their management, or where they may be 

 left to their fate. 



It will have appeared that in speaking of the 



