481 



PART II. 



HARVESTING AND DISPOSING OF MINOR FOREST PRODUCE. 



The term minor forest produce comprises all the useful pro- 

 ducts of a forest, except wood. The very term implies that, as 

 a rule, these products fill only a subordinate roll in forestry, and 

 should be utilized only so far as this can be done without 

 prejudicing the yield of wood, which is the principal forest 

 product. Some articles of minor forest produce (such as forest 

 litter) may be commercially valuable, and at the same time 

 afford important assistance in the production of wood, so that 

 their harvesting may prejudice the latter. Other products (such 

 as grass) are less important in assisting wood-production, 

 while some are thus of no importance at all (stones, for 

 instance), and yet the very existence of certain industries may 

 depend on their utilization. As long, however, as the con- 

 tinuous production of wood is the object of forestry, the 

 industrial importance of any article of minor produce must be 

 less considered the more important it is as a means of wood- 

 production. 



As the utilization of articles of minor forest produce has 

 more or less influence on the tending of forests and the produc- 

 tion of wood, it has become customary in books on forest utiliza- 

 tion to deal with them from every possible point of view. Their 

 partial relations to the subjects of forest protection, forest utili- 

 zation, sylviculture &c., do not justify us in dealing with them 

 separately under each of those heads. 



In the present book, therefore, the usual practice will be 

 followed, and all the more important points regarding the follow- 

 ing articles of minor produce will be described : — 



I. The B.\rk of 'I'eees. 

 II. Forest Fodder. 



