1. It is a common felling for non to get into ruts by 

 doing their work by rule -of- thumb. Wo often BOO nen who 

 fashion thoir aots by mothodc rrhich may have been up-to-date 

 five years ago but which havo long since outlived their uoo- 

 fulnesc. This is a tine of Treat changes and for nen to be 

 o aweico end observant. 



Scientific racnagenont tells us to live scientifical- 

 ly not &y rul 9-0 f- thumb. V/ebster defines science as knowl- 

 edge gained r-nd verified by exact observation nni*. correct 

 thinking. Tj.is being tho case, the Forest Officer who fol- 

 lows the advice given in the following editorial from the 

 "Ciorre Hanger" Is not far off the track: 



"The Velue of Observation" 



"Probably nothing hrs any Inrger influence on the 

 effectiveness? of a men's work in forestry than his ability 

 to observe intelligently tho things that are facing on about 

 hi r.i ac he travels to and fron hio work. It is too often 

 the ccse that one long accustomed to the woods rides through 

 chem co engrossed with thoughts of work or \Ley t that he 

 nisees c lot that v/ould, if observed, holp Materially in in- 

 crorsing his efficiency in his profession. Should not a new 

 eiTn 'jorrd be placed at the forlis o? tho trcil? Ic not that 

 a reiaarkable growth for a sugar pine seedling to make in a 

 yer.r? Do not these numerous seedlings coming up under tho 

 larger trees prove noil enough that there haven't been any 



. fires in thie locality for some years? Isn't that a 

 good argumont then to use when talking to a light burning 

 theorist? "/hat killed fchct yellow pine? Have I this 

 e;ecico of forage plent in my collection? This method of 

 marking on this old cut-over area has left the ground too 

 greatly exposed. What change is necessary to better this 

 condition in the future? 



Most nen can obcerve well t.-hen they remember to. 

 It is .Just bcoru: thc;r heve gotten out of the hKblt, that 



; i*cil ct tines to notice things that would help if seen. 

 This is -r/ritten with the hope that it mc.y assist some to re- 

 noraber not only to v/rtoh for the interesting and valuable 

 things but to record the results of tho observations so that 

 othors besides themselves mt-y benefit thereby. Do not let 

 others observe for you. Set to it first, rnd you will be 

 Just that fir ahead of the nan v:ho occasionally forgets to 

 "ttch out." 



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