THE FIELD OF SILVICULTURE 5 



Silviculture must prevent injuries to the site and also to 

 lands and industries dependent upon the forest for protection. 



(g) As a result of the various defects already mentioned the 

 production, quantitatively, quahtatively and financially, of 

 forest products figured on an acreage and a time basis is 

 less than it might be. 



The Purpose of Silviculture. — The purpose of silviculture 

 might then be summed up as the creation and maintenance 

 of such a forest as will yield the highest returns in a given 

 time. Such a statement should be qualified, because the 

 object which the owner of a forest has in view will be the 

 controlling factor in the silvicultural work. The statement 

 should be modified to read: The purpose of silviculture is 

 the production and maintenance of such a forest as shall best 

 fulfill the objects of the owner. Where the forest must be 

 handled with the object of furnishing protection to other 

 property, silviculture not entirely in harmony with the own- 

 er's desires may have to be applied, but this is an exceptional 

 case. The objects of the owner may be of diverse character. 

 The essential thing is that the object for which silviculture 

 is applied be known and the treatment be shaped to the 

 accomphshment of the desired end. 



The commonest object for which silviculture is practiced 

 is the production of the highest returns, financially, in a given 

 time. Protection of watersheds and lands adjacent to the 

 forest and development of the best aesthetic effects are other 

 objects which may be of primary importance with certain 

 owners. 



The Field of Silviculture. — The field of silviculture divides 

 logically into three parts defined as: 



I . Treatment of the stand during the period of regeneration 

 or estabhshment : a consideration of reproduction methods. 



When a bare area is restocked with trees, either brought in 



