n PREFACE. 



The last chapter of my book, dealing with the extraction of 

 oil of turpentine and rosin from crude resin, is chiefly taken from 

 papers by Mr. N. Hearle and Mr. E. McA. Moir of the Indian 

 Forest Department which appeared in the Indian Forester. 



The enormous consumption of timber in North America and 

 elsewhere points to a period in the immediate future when the 

 world-supply of timber will be greatly restricted; it is already the 

 duty of statesmen in all civilized countries to adopt measures for 

 rendering them, in a certain degree, independent in this respect. 

 A careful method of utilizing the resources of their forests is of 

 the highest importance for the vast dependencies of the British 

 Empire, whether in India, Canada, Australasia or South Africa, 

 as weU as for the United States. It may therefore be con- 

 fidently asserted, that the general principles of the economic- 

 working of forests, now almost for the first time* expounded in 

 the English language, are applicable wherever that language is 

 spoken. 



I have to thank my colleagues, Dr. Schlich and Dr. Matthews, 

 for their kindness in assisting me to revise the proofs, and for 

 some valuable suggestions they have made. Professor Hearson 

 has also helped me in dealing Avith superstructures (pp. 113 — 

 114), and Professor Heath, in the antiseptic treatment of timber 

 (p. 659). 



W. R. FISHER. 



Coopers Hill College, 

 May 1st, 1896. 



* The Utilization of Forests, by E. E. Fernaudez, Dehra Dim. 1891, is cliielly 

 applicable to India and less comprehensive than the present volume. 



