FOUR REQUIREMENTS 319 



ways of using the forest may be chosen in any given 

 case, the fundamental idea in forestry is that of 

 perpetuation by wise use; that is, of making the 

 forest yield the best service possible at the present 

 in such a way that its usefulness in the future will not 

 be diminished, but rather increased. 



FOUR REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BEST 

 SERVICE 



BY GIFFORD PINCHOT 



A FOREST well managed under the methods of 

 practical forestry will yield a return in one of the 

 ways just mentioned. There are, however, four 

 things a forest must have before it can be in condition 

 to render the best service. 



The first of these is protection, especially against 

 fire, overgrazing, and thieves, for without such 

 protection no investment is secure and the most 

 skilful management is of little effect. 



The second is strong and abundant reproduction. 

 A forest without young growth is like a family without 

 children. It will speedily die out. 



The third requirement is a regular supply of trees 

 ripe for the axe. This can be secured only by the 

 right porportion of each of the smaller sizes 

 constantly coming on in the growing forest. 



The fourth requirement is growing space enough 

 for every tree, so that the forest as a whole may 



