TACT 251 



woods — vegetable and animal life ; the greater the 

 knowledge he possesses of the different species of trees 

 he may be raising or managing ; the more information 

 he gathers together upon variations in soil, climate, 

 and a thousand and one other points in his locality — 

 the better position will he be in to draw up a proper 

 plan of working for his woods, and the greater will 

 be the success he will attain in their working. To this 

 end, and for this reason, the forester must necessarily 

 remain a student all his days. 



But the mere working of the woods in order to raise 

 a successful crop of any particular species over a 

 specified period of years, or rotation as it is called, 

 forms but a tithe (though a most important one) of the 

 forester's duties. The felling and removal of the 

 matured woods entails a great deal of work. Protec- 

 tion, both against man, animals (including insects) 

 and fungi, etc., necessitates incessant vigilance and 

 care. Remedial measures have to be devised and put 

 into force, and this work affords scope for the exercise 

 of considerable ingenuity on the part of the staff. 

 Trespass and the commission of illicit acts, theft, 

 grazing of cattle and so on in the woods, are often the 

 cause of much anxiety and harassment to the executive 

 officer and his subordinates. These latter causes can 

 often be greatly diminished by the exercise of tact ; in 

 fact, can be managed better in this manner than by 

 any other at present known method. Tact to the 

 forester, i.e. the possession of this quality, is almost an 

 essential for success in his profession. For he, more 

 than any one else on the country-side, is greatly depen- 

 dent on maintaining good relations with and securing 



