practical study of Forest Organisation. One can scarcely understand 

 sufficiently the rearing of copses without having an intimate acquaint- 

 ance with that of high forests ; and similarly one cannot appreciate 

 thoroughly the complex facts and the difficulties to be met with in 

 organising copses without a knowledge of the organisation of high 

 forests. Far then from seeking in the organisation of copses the 

 key to the organisation of high forests, we consider that we must 

 begin by studying this latter, even although we may not actually 

 have to put it into practice, in order to master in a sure manner the 

 general rules which govern all forest organisation. 



In the Fourth Book, devoted to the organisation of irregular high 

 forests, we have treated in a general manner the Selection System 

 and developed the theory of the organisation of forests treated in 

 accordance with that system. The necessity of this course seemed 

 to us to be proved by the more active working of our mountain 

 forests, following inevitably upon the opening up of lines of trans- 

 port and the rise in the prices of standing timber. Moreover, the 

 study of this subject throws no inconsiderable light on the organisa- 

 tion of forests under transformation from the Selection System to the 

 Natural Method with Thinnings, and may serve to modify it, as far 

 as regards the selection fellings that are temporarily continued in 

 such forests, after the work of transformation has been commenced. 



With respect to irregular high forests of broadleaved species, we 

 have almost limited ourselves to giving an example of the various 

 operations they require. The practical application of the theory 

 acquires, In their case, so much more importance than the pure 

 theory itself, that outdoor work which forms an indispensable part 

 of our Course, is alone capable of enlightening the youthful minds of 

 our students as to the difficulties offered by the organisation of this 

 class of high forests and the means of resolving them. 



The Fifth Book has for subject the organisation of copses, both 

 simple and compound. The Coppice Regime is applied more widely 

 than any other in France. However inferior the produce it yields 

 may often be, it deserves on that account to be profoundly studied. 

 But the organisation of copses cannot be properly effected, whatever 

 the general opinion to the contrary may be, without a knowledge of 

 the cultural facts connected with the constitution and growth of 

 copses, and without a clear appreciation of the results to be sought 

 in the annual selection of the standards. We have hence been led, 



