THE 

 PRACTICE OF SILVICULTURE 



CHAPTER I 

 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 



Introductory. — B. E. Fernow ^ the Dean of American 

 forestry aptly says, " silviculture, the production of wood 

 crops, is the pivot of the whole forestry business." 



Silviculture is defined as " the art of producing and tend- 

 ing a forest; the application of the knowledge of silvics in 

 the treatment of a forest." * This definition indicates the 

 relation existing between silviculture and silvics. The latter 

 deals with the underlying principles which control the life of 

 individual forest trees and stands. It furnishes the scientific 

 basis upon which silviculture rests. In a broader interpre- 

 tation of the term silviculture includes the foundations of 

 silviculture; namely, silvics, the science, and the practice of 

 silviculture or the art. 



An understanding of silvics is a pre-requisite for the study 

 of silviculture or for its intelligent appHcation. Such knowl- 

 edge is taken for granted in those who read this book, which 

 does not include the subject of silvics within its scope. 



Relatively little is known concerning silviculture. This 

 may be attributed to three causes: 



* Forest Terminology. See Appendix. This is a compilation of Terms in 

 Forestry arranged by a committee of the Society of American Foresters. The 

 definitions which it contains will be used frequently and accepted as standard 

 except as otherwise specified. 



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ntorEmr mnART 



