THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF WORKING PLANS 245 



the forest for a long period, usually a rotation in the recommen- 

 dations on timber cuttings, and the management in detail for 

 some such period as ten or fifteen years. 



The amount of detail in the working plan will depend upon 

 the value of the forest products concerned, the need for inten- 

 sive methods, and the certainty or possibility of large returns 

 within the probable life of the plan. On forests or parts of 

 forests where the demand for timber equals or exceeds the 

 amount which can be cut with safety, the plan for silvi- 

 cultural management must be in much greater detail than 

 where the demand is comparatively small. The requirements 

 of detail in the different parts of the plan and in different work- 

 ing units must be adjusted to the administrative needs of the 

 forest in all lines of work. 



When it has been decided to make a working plan, its 

 essential features and the field-work necessary should be out- 

 lined at a conference between the officer who will have charge 

 of the field-work, the supervisor of the forest, the assistant 

 district foresters concerned, and the district forester at his dis- 

 cretion. It is particularly necessary that the general system 

 or systems of management be determined, and the methods 

 for determining the yield of each unit be decided upon. Plans 

 may then be made to secure the exact data needed and un- 

 necessary work eliminated. The preliminary plan for the forest 

 and working plans already prepared will form the basis for this 

 discussion. 



Field data will in general be obtained by special parties, 

 which as far as possible should consist of experienced men. As 

 far as possible, the data for all parts of the plan will be col- 

 lected at the same time, if necessary by specialists temporarily 

 assigned to the party. The data for planting or grazing fea- 

 tures may be collected independently when the need justifies 

 it. The work will be done under the direction of the super- 

 visor. 



As far as possible all data in the working-plan report will be 

 tabulated with brief notes of necessary explanation. While 



