INTRODUCTION xix 



Frequently it is of convenience to use rule-of-thumb methods for quick, 

 rough calculations. With exchange at 5.18 francs to the dollar, and 

 taking 420 board feet to the manufactured cubic meter, 285 board feet to 

 the cubic meter of standing timber (unmanufactured) and 3.6 steres 

 (stacked cubic meters) to the cord, we have: (a) To reduce francs per 

 cubic meter of manufactured timber to dollars per thousand board feet, 

 multiply by 0.46. (6) To reduce francs per cubic meter of standing 

 timber to dollars per board foot, multiply by 0.64. (c) To reduce francs 

 per stere to dollars per cord take 0.7. 



For example: 100 francs a cubic meter for boards is equal to $46 a 

 thousand; 50 francs a cubic meter of standing timber is equal to a stump- 

 age rate of $37 a thousand; and 10 francs per stere is $7 a cord. It is 

 obvious that these approximate ratios would vary with the rate of ex- 

 change, and in case (h) to the per cent deducted for cordwood. 



Any student who has toured the forests of France must be impressed 

 with the occasional difference between the theoretical forestry that is 

 described in the text-books and the practical forestry one sees in the 

 different regions. The writer has accordingly tried to combine the 

 practice with the theory. An excellent illustration of the difference be- 

 tween text-book and field forestry is found in the aleppo pine forests in 

 the Provence, already alluded to. In theory these light-demanding 

 coniferous stands might be managed by the shelterwood system. In 

 actual practice not more than 15 to 20 per c'ent of the volume is removed 

 in gradual selection cuttings. Yet in any study it is necessary to rely on 

 text-books. Accordingly, the writer addressed the Director of the Waters 

 and Forests Service at Paris in regard to the foremost standard authori- 

 ties. These are: 



(1) Silviculture — Le Traite de Sylviculture de MM. Boppe et Jolyet (Berger- 

 Levrault, Editeur — 5 Rue des Beaux- Arts, Paris) . 



(2) Forest Economy — (all phases of forestry) L'Economie Forestiere de M. Huffel 

 — 3 Tomes. (Laveur, Editeur — 13 Rue des St. Peres, Paris.) 



(3) Forestation — Guide de Planter et Semer — D. Cannon (Laveur, Editeur). 



(4) Reboisement — Restauration et Conservation des Terrains en Montague (Parties 

 1, 2, and 3, Paris, Imprimerie Nationale, 1911). 



(5) Forest Law — Code de Legislation Forestiere, par Puton et Guyot (Laveur, 

 fiditeur). 



(6) Organization — Aide-Memoire du Forestier (Imprimerie: Jacquin, Besangon 

 (Doubs)). 



An authoritative synopsis of the original working plans of some notable 

 forests is contained in the Appendix. The formal statistics given in 

 Chapter IV is from "Statistique des Forets de France" (Volumes 1 

 and 2). 



Of necessity much of the material is borrowed from authoritative French 

 sources, and no claim can be made for originality. This was impossible 



