FORESTBY IN MASSACHUSETTS 



PART I 



INTRODUCTION 



" Forestry is the science and art of forming and cultivat- 

 ing forests ; the management of growing timber." Forestry 

 is distinguished from arboriculture by the fact that arbori- 

 culture deals with trees as individuals, while forestry deals 

 with trees in forest stands. It is distinguished from land- 

 scape gardening by its different point of view. Landscape 

 gardening often deals with trees singly and in groups, but 

 always with the purpose of producing artistic effects ; if any 

 timber or wood is produced, it is merely incidental. Forestry, 

 on the other hand, is chiefly concerned with the economic 

 production of merchantable wood and timber. 



The considerations, however, which make forests desira- 

 ble are many ; and they vary to some extent in the different 

 sections of a country, and also to some extent in the same 

 section, according to local needs and the desires of individual 

 owners of woodland. The protection of the soil, the con- 

 servation of moisture, and the preservation of the natural 

 beauty of a country-side are often important considerations, 

 as well as the production of forest supplies. 



As a rule, if forestry is practised for commercial purposes, 

 if the land is made to produce continuously the greatest 

 amount of merchantable material with the least possible ex- 

 penditure, the protective and beautifying functions of the 

 forest will also be performed. 



