240 THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF WORKING PLANS 



PRELIMINARY PLANS 



A preliminary plan should be prepared as soon as practicable 

 on each forest from the data now available. The compilation 

 of such data in the form of a definite plan of management will 

 systematize and strengthen the administration of the forest and 

 furnish a basis for further extension and improvement. The 

 following points should be covered: 



Under ^'General Administration " should be given: 



1. The forest force, based upon the men required to transact 

 economically the busmess of the forest and furnish adequate 

 protection during the fire season. 



2. Division of the forest into administrative and patrol 

 districts to be shown on a map. 



3. A record by classes of past receipts and expenditures and 

 an estimate of future receipts and expenditures. 



Under " SilvicuUural management " should be given: 



1. Divisions and subdivisions, if any, with reasons. 



2. Approximate estimates of timber by convenient, tech- 

 nical, administrative, or legal subdivisions. 



3. The silvicultural systems which should be used, by types, 

 and by divisions if modification of the system on different divi- 

 sions is necessary. Prmciples to govern marking drawn from 

 the best silvical data available. The object of management 

 for the forest, as far as available information makes it possible, 

 or for divisions, classes of material to be produced, species 

 to be favored, and rotation desirable. 



4. A rough classification of the timber on the forest, or parts 

 of the forest, in accordance with its age and condition, showing 

 the bodies of mature timber, of thrifty timber not yet in need of 

 cutting, and of young growth; together with a plan of cutting, 

 showing the order in which the various areas should be 

 logged. Areas of protection forest where no cutting is recom- 

 mended should be indicated. The approximate periods in 

 which immature stands will reach merchantable size should be 

 shown. 



