A MANUAL OF FOKESTRY 



INTRODUCTION. 



The greater part of the dry land of the earth was, at one 

 time or another, covered with forest, which consisted of a 

 variety of trees and shrubs grouped according to the chmate, 

 soil and configuration of the several countries. When the 

 old trees reached their limit of life they disappeared, and 

 others took their place. The conditions for an uninterrupted 

 regeneration of the forests were favourable, and the result 

 was vigorous production by the creative power of the soil and 

 climate. Then came man and interfered, not at once but by 

 slow degrees, until in the more civilised countries of the earth 

 the area under forest was considerably reduced. But more 

 than this : the creative power of the soil in the remaining 

 forest lands had, through injudicious and careless treatment, 

 become more or less impaired. Steps had then to be taken 

 to arrest a further reduction of the forest area ; in many cases 

 the forest had to be re-planted and the original creative 

 power re-established; thus a task presented itself which 

 forestry had to undertake. What is now understood by that 

 term did not spring into existence all at once but was built 

 up gradually, as necessity hi various directions arose. 



As long as forests occupied considerable areas, their produce 

 was considered the free gift of nature, like air and water ; 

 man took it, used it and even destroyed it without let or 

 hindrance. Hence Forest UtiUzation is the oldest branch of 

 forestry. 



With the gradual increase of population, more land was 

 required for the production of field crops and the feeding of 



M.F. E 



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