THE TRAINING OF A FORESTER 



THE FORESTER'S KNOWLEDGE 



The trained Forester must know the 

 forest as a doctor knows the human machine. 

 First of all, he must be able to distinguish the 

 diiFerent trees of which the forest is com- 

 posed, for that is like learning to read. He 

 must know the way they are made and the 

 way they grow; but far more important than 

 all else, he must base his knowledge upon 

 that part of forestry which is called Silvics, 

 the knowledge of the relation of trees to 

 light, heat, and moisture, to the soil, and to 

 each other. 



The well-trained Forester must also know 

 the forest shrubs and at least the more im- 

 portant smaller forest plants, something of 

 the insect and animal life of his domain, and 

 the birds and fish. He must have a good 

 working knowledge of rocks, soils, and 

 streams, and of the methods of making 



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