The Art of Forestry. 99 



keep its place always sniificient hardwood will remain to supply the 

 very limited market. 85% of all timber used all over the civiliz- 

 ed countries of the world is coniferous, and only 1570 hardwood, 

 consisting of over fully 200 species. Even in the tropics pitch 

 pine of the Southern United States is largely used, local timber 

 dither being too hard or liable to attack by ants. 



From the above it will be seen that where the pine is found 

 singly or in small groups, removing it as soon as the old stand 

 is ct^t, and then cutting the surrounding trees to give a start or 

 clearing any existent growth of hardwood threatening to over- 

 grow the seedlings, will be the only way to procure a future crop 

 as good, and indee'd in many respects, better, than the one be- 

 fore. 



If a means were found to profitably carbonize or otherwise 

 use the hardwoods the problem would at once become different, 

 as the pine would then have an equal chance with the poplars, 

 etc., of resfceding the areas thus cut over. 



With the modern pulp mill as well as saw plant, a forest bo- 

 comes much more valuable and capable of management with an 

 eye to the future, as well as to the exploiting for present nee'ds. 

 Again this time element, such a potent and yet most essential fac- 

 tor in forestry, crops up and indeed in such a way that it cannot 

 be denied. 



The questicin arises whose business is it toi look after a future 

 lot of lumber, which the present man does not need, but which 

 everyone sooner or later very much wants. Scarcely the present 

 owner or user of the forest, he docs not live long enough to reap 

 all the benefits of his provident policv. 



A corporation may, if it is organized with an idea of being 

 carried c.n permanently or nearly so: nevertheless it has its share- 

 holders to consider, and they want their dividend to be a large 

 one, and they only hold the shares speculatively, or at most, until 

 thciy see something still better to put their money into. Tt therefore 

 devolves upon the representatives of the whole countr\- i.e. the 

 govemuK'nt, to safeguard those very vital interests. 



In some countries, uotabK' Russia, the government has car- 



