INTRODUCTION 



XV 



(low returns) for the general welfare. In times of emergencies, such as 

 have just passed, the wisdom of maintaining State forests as storehouses 

 of heavy timber cannot be questioned. On the other hand an unneces- 

 sarily long rotation means an excess growing stock, or forest capital, 

 which must earn so much greater income to be profitable; besides there is 

 apt to be more damage from fungi, insects, and windfall. Yet, because of 

 the favorable climatic and soil conditions already emphasized, little 

 silvicultural damage has resulted. The tendency in State management, 

 where climate and species permit, is toward the high-forest systems and 

 away from coppice and coppice-under-standards. These conversions 

 also necessitate cutting less than the growth for many years, as well 

 as increasing the rotation. There is always a safety valve, however, 

 because, as Professor Jolyet puts it, ''Prudence demands frequent inven- 

 tories repeated every ten years for example establishing the oscilla- 

 tion of standing timber volumes." This frequent stock-taking is a safe- 

 guard against retaining overmature timber, because the working-plans 

 officer is sure to demand its removal. But on the whole the average 

 French State forester is perhaps overconservative. This has been inbred 

 into him, for the French code itself prescribes that 25 per cent of the 

 yield in communal forests shall be set aside for emergencies. This rule 

 was due to the overcutting of two centuries ago. During the past few 

 years some State forests have been cut to the extent of ten to eighteen 

 annual yields and perhaps this will prove to French foresters that the 

 growing stock in such forests as Risol and Levier (Jura) have been ex- 

 cessive and can be reduced without danger. Private forests, chiefly 

 coppice and coppice-under-standards, on the contrary, are heavily cut 

 perhaps overcut on short rotations, which is liable to gradually im- 

 poverish the soil. The high prices prevailing since 1916 have tempted 

 many private owners to dispose of their forests entirely or at least to 

 make inroads on the growing stock. This was but natural when prices 

 doubled in 1917 and trebled in 1918. Undoubtedly the private forests 

 in France yield a higher rate of interest on the investment than do State 

 forests, but the product is inferior and not so essential to French in- 

 dustry. Private owners are practically unfettered in the treatment, 

 management, and exploitation of their forest lands, provided the clearing 

 of timber is not intended. According to the Forest Code: 



" Opposition to the clearing can only be formulated for the timber whose preserva- 

 tion is recognized as being necessary 



" 1. For the maintenance of soil on mountains or slopes. 



"2. As a protection against soil erosion and silting up of creeks, rivers, and torrents. 



"3. For the preservation of springs and water courses. 



" 4. For the protection of dunes and coasts against erosion by the sea and encroach- 

 ment by sand. 



" 5. As a protection of territory in that part of the frontier zone which shall be de- 

 termined by regulation of the civil authorities. 



" 6. For the sake of public health." 



