PREFACE 



During the last few years there has been a rapid ex- 

 tension of the work of practical forestry in the United 

 States. The Federal government has set aside as Na- 

 tional Forests about 190 million acres, on which to-day 

 all work is conducted under the principles of forestry. 

 A number of States also have established reservations 

 which have been placed under systematic forest admin- 

 istration. Forestry is being practised on a considerable 

 number of private tracts, and there are many owners 

 who are seeking information regarding forestry with a 

 view of practising it if found to be commercially practi- 

 cable. 



The literature treating of forestry as applied in this 

 country is still very meager. Much of it is fragmentary 

 and scattered in various Government and State publica- 

 tions, and the information most desired by an owner or a 

 forester is often not available. There is a great need of 

 systematic works covering the different branches of for- 

 estry, for the use of owners of woodlands, for practising 

 foresters, and students in the forest schools. As a con- 

 tribution to this greatly needed literature of forestry, I 

 have prepared the present volume covering the silvicul- 

 tural treatment of woodlands. 



