6 THE FOUNDATIONS OF SYLVICLLTUllE. 



Althougli the biological characteristics of these and other 

 species have been carefully studied for many years past, the 

 subject has been by no means exhausted, because the factors 

 which affect the growth of trees vary constantly, and moreover 

 some of these factors are as yet imperfectly understood. The 

 experience so far gathered will be found in the succeeding 

 chapters. It is that experience which must guide the forester 

 in the selection of species for a particular locality, and of the 

 subsequent method of treatment. 



The subjects which claim more immediate attention will be 

 dealt with in the following four chapters : — 



Chapter I. — Locality in Relation to Forest Vegetation. 

 ,, II. — The Development of Forest Trees. 



,, III. — Character and Composition of Woods. 

 ,, IV. — The Sylvicultural Systems. 



These are matters which govern all forest operations, not 

 only the formation, regeneration, and tending of woods, but 

 also the determination of the yield, the preparation of working 

 plans, and the ultimate utilisation of the forest produce. 



