INTRODUCTION. 6 



against injurious attacks by animals, especially insects, noxious 

 plants, in particular fungi, natural phenomena and other agencies. 



By degrees it was found that mere protection was not sufficient, 

 that steps must be taken to enforce a more efficient treatment and 

 to limit the extraction of produce to what the forest was capable 

 of producing ; in other words, to determine the annual or periodic 

 production, and to regulate the yield accordingly. Thus the 

 branch which deals with the Preparation of Forest Working Plans 

 sprang into existence. 



Something more was, however, required. With the increasing 

 demand it became evident that the ordinary natural regeneration 

 could not keep pace with the rate at which the mature trees were 

 removed. It became necessary to assist regeneration by artificial 

 means, either by arranging the cuttings so as to favour and assist 

 natural regeneration, or by sowing and planting. Moreover, the 

 young trees required special tending so as to produce the most 

 useful description of produce. In this way a fourth branch of 

 forestry was developed called Silviculture. 



As time went by, forests rose in value ; they became articles of 

 exchange or sale, and it was found necessary to devise a system 

 of readily ascertaining their value. This produced another 

 branch called Forest Valuation or Forest Finance. 



Originally the protection which the owner of the forest could 

 give to it was sufficient to guard it against mischief and inter- 

 ference. This proved no longer sufficient, and the owner appealed 

 to the State for help. It was also found that certain forest lands 

 were of special importance to the community as a whole, either on 

 account of their produce, or for climatic reasons, or on account of 

 the protection which they afforded to the soil of the forest and to 

 adjoining lands. To regulate these matters, the State had to pass 

 laws which are known as Forest Laws and Regulations. 



With the development of Political Economy it was asked 

 whether, and to what extent, forests need be maintained in a 

 country, whether the State, as such, should hold the forests or 

 whether their maintenance might be left to private enterprise. 

 Thus, a further branch called ForeM Policy, was created. It deals 

 with the social and economic aspect of forestry, and considers 

 especially the duties which the State has to perform as regards 

 forests, so that they may, in the highest possible degree and the 



B 2 



