INTRODUCTION . 15 



minimum rate of growth and the possible maximum 

 growth lies the range of timber production under legiti- 

 mate forestry. Just what point will be reached within 

 that range depends entirely on the object of the owner 

 in handling his forest. The application of forestry to 

 secure a high production, involving as it does a consid- 

 erable outlay of labor, is called intensive forestry. 



Purpose of the Owner 



The management of a forest depends on what returns 

 are sought by the owner. The object of management 

 varies widely among different owners, and there is a cor- 

 responding variation in the application of forestry. The 

 first consideration in organizing a forest is the purpose 

 of management. Every investment is made to secure 

 some definite return desired by the owner. 



Objects of Public Forests. In the case of public for- 

 ests the financial returns, measured in actual interest on 

 the invested capital, are ordinarily not the first considera- 

 tion. National forests and State forests are set aside, to 

 be managed for the permanent benefit of the public. In 

 some cases these forests serve primarily to protect the 

 slopes of mountains, to conserve moisture, and to control 

 the run-off of water. The accomplishment of this object 

 must be regarded as one of the returns from the forest. 

 In case of some National Forests located in high moun- 

 tains at the headwaters of important streams, the cost of 

 administration and protection will exceed the returns 

 which may be obtained from the sale of timber and from 



