THE 



PEACTICE OF FOKESTBY, 



CHAPTEE I. 



INTRODUCTION. 



THERE is much truth in the proverb, " Well begun is 

 half done." It need not here be questioned whether 

 this is literally true or not ; but one thing is certain, 

 in the planting and culture of forest-trees every false 

 step taken must be a backward one. 



As soon as a piece of ground is fixed upon for 

 planting, the forester should take every available 

 means and opportunity of knowing all that can be 

 known about it. By this it is not implied that any one 

 is capable of knowing everything that is desirable to 

 be known, but that he should put himself in possession 

 of as much knowledge of the subject as he possibly 

 can. We often learn as much from the mistakes and 

 failures as we do from the successes of ourselves or 

 others. 



Experience counts for much in any pursuit, but to 



