HERMAN H. CHAPMAN 13 



biggest problem of forestry is the transportation to mar- 

 ket of the bulky and heavy products, and whether this be 

 done by wagon, railroad or stream, on ice or on dry ground, 

 the forester must understand his problem and be able to 

 choose the cheapest method and lay out his roads so they 

 will most efficiently perform their office. 



The third branch of knowledge demanded by foresters 

 is the business side of forestry. No matter whether forests 

 are managed by private parties or by the government, it 

 means that large tracts of land are devoted to the produc- 

 tion of timber crops, which must be cared for and sold. 

 To carry out all the work required on such a tract demands 

 orderly business methods, and a knowledge of costs and re- 

 turns. If forests require such long periods of growth it 

 is important that different stands be established not all 

 of the same age, so that if possible, there may be timber 

 ready to cut every year and a steady revenue be possible. 

 We must know something about the probable size and value 

 of the timber and to get this knowledge we depend on For- 

 est Mensuration. Mensuration is not in this case a study 

 of abstruse mathematics. It is rather the intelligent appli- 

 cation of a few simple methods to get at the facts, and it 

 is much more important to understand natural laws of 

 growth of trees and stands than to attempt to apply re- 

 fined mathematical calculations to stands which refuse to 

 grow in conformity with them. A higher branch of forest 

 management discusses the best ways to bring a forest into 

 the condition where it can be maintained permanently, pro- 

 ducing a regular yield each year of wood. The organiza- 

 tion of a force of men to do the work on a forest, or on 

 larger areas of forests, such as might belong to a nation 

 or state, calls for a knowledge of the amount of labor 

 necessary for efficient results and the proper division of 

 work and responsibility. In nearly all respects, forests are 

 more economically cared for when the areas are fairly 

 large and compact, than if split up into small tracts. 



