FACTORS OF FOREST PRODUCTION. m 



scientific basis. Forest exploitation, the mere rob- 

 bing of the natural forest resources, and extensive 

 farming, agricultural rapine, the robbing of soils 

 of their native fertility, are as yet mainly prac- 

 tised. 



In trying to find economic differences in princi- 

 ple between the two industries, we must, therefore, 

 for illustrations, largely rely upon countries where 

 both the forestry and the farming industry are fully 

 developed side by side, and have reached a high de- 

 gree of intensity, as in Europe. In comparing the 

 two industries under such conditions, we will find 

 that they differ widely in the relative significance 

 and importance which the three factors of produc- 

 tion assume. For while in agriculture the factor 

 of labor is most important, nature second, and 

 capital last, in the forestry business, in general, the 

 reliance on nature is greatest, on capital next, 

 while labor plays a less important part. 



The fact that nature unassisted has produced 

 the virgin woods, which furnish us satisfactory 

 materials, while agricultural production is almost 

 entirely dependent on human effort, will at once 

 settle the relative importance of these two factors. 

 Even when the mere exploitation of natural woods 

 is supplanted by the systematic apphcation of 

 skill and labor in reproducing wood crops, the ele- 

 ment of labor remains less important, for during 

 the long period from seed to harvest time the for- 

 ester can do but little to influence the progress of his 



