24 INTRODUCTION. 



after iacieased imports. We have to go for our deals to all the 

 northern countries of Europe as well as to Switzerland, Germany 

 and Austria, and this in daily increasing proportion, the quantity 

 imported in 1869 being four times that imported in 1836, only a 

 third of a century ago. The deal timber obtained from exploita- 

 tions at home is probably equal to only half the quantity imported. 

 We purchase oak on the Baltic and the German Ocean, in Central 

 Europe and in North America. This oak is inferior to what we 

 produce, and France, relatively to her extent, is still the best endowed 

 oak country in the world. Bat large trees of this species have now 

 become scarce with us. At one time we sold such trees to England, 

 which now sells us teak. Insufficient existing resources and the 

 necessity of saving up for the future,' such is, in a word, the econo- 

 mical condition of a certain number of our forests. 



Some idea may thus be gained as to the difficulties of all kinds to 

 be encountered in the organisation of our forests. The art of regu- 

 lating the treatment and working of a forest is as difficult as it is 

 important. Leaving all to chance, ignorance, and routine can only 

 jDroduce deplorable results. Happily the task is rendered easy by 

 the progress recently made in the theory as well as in practice. 



The necessity of treating the forests of the broad-leaved species be- 

 longing to the State as high forest is now-a-days admitted on all sides, 

 and the conversion of a great number of its copses with standards has 

 already been decreed. What remains is to effect them properly. 

 The reboisement of mountains, decided upon in theory in i860, has 

 also since begun to be put into practice. These two parts of our 

 task, like the rest generally, require long years to accomplish ; but 

 one step made in advance makes the next easy and one progress leads 

 to another. Let each generation, let even each forester, perform 

 faithfully his duty of leaving his forests in a better state than that in 

 which he received it, and very soon in respect of forests as, it 

 could happen in so many other respects, France will have nothiuo- to 

 envy the rest of the woiid. 



