8 THE PRINCIPLES OF HANDLING WOODLANDS 



Objects of Silviculture 



The ultimate goal of all silvicultural work is to secure 

 on a given area a high production of valuable material, 

 in order that the owner may secure the largest possible re- 

 turns in the long run. More specifically the objects are: 



1. To secure quick reproduction after the removal of 

 timber. 



2. To produce valuable species instead of those hav- 

 ing little or no market value. 



3. To secure a full stock, in contrast to stands of 

 small yield. 



4. To produce trees of good form and quality. 



5. To accomplish the most rapid growth compatible 

 with a full stand and good quality. 



Quick Reproduction. When forests are abused by 

 unregulated cutting and by fire, reproduction is very 

 slow, and sometimes, when the abuse continues, entirely 

 prevented. Thus, for example, areas in Pennsylvania 

 cleared by lumbering and repeated fires, are in many cases 

 entirely covered with low brush and weeds, and years 

 will be required for natural reproduction to take place. 

 The great plains in the Lake States, which have been 

 devastated by fire, are capable of producing as good tim- 

 ber as formerly, but the trees needed for seed have been 

 destroyed. It will require a long period, amounting in 

 some cases to many tree generations, for the reestablish- 

 ment of the forest by natural means. There are, in this 

 country, millions of acres of devastated forest land, on 



