112 NO TES ON FORES TR Y. 



timber as he can find a market for, and leave 

 reproduction to take care of itself, this is his 

 working-plan, but it is % hardly a commendable one. 

 He may realise a better revenue for many years 

 than his more experienced brother officer, but 

 there is danger lest it should be at the cost of the 

 permanent deterioration of his forest. 



Apart from the importance of forests in the 

 general economy of nature, the true aim of forest 

 administration is the realisation of the highest 

 possible present revenue, consistent with the 

 permanent maintenance of the capabilities of the 

 forest ; and the object of the working-plan is, by 

 placing the Government, or the forest officer's im- 

 mediate chief, in possession of all necessary data, 

 to enable him or them to determine in how far the 

 end is likely to be attained by the measures pro- 

 posed. 



A working-plan is conveniently opened with a 

 brief descriptive account of the forests, their area, 

 geographical position, distance from markets, with 

 means of transport, measure of local demand, &c., 

 with a comparison of current market rates, with 

 ascertained rates of felling, logging, and trans- 

 port. 



Then taking up the blocks or subdivisions one by 

 one, they should be classed as of the first, second, 

 or third period, &c., according to the predomi- 



