Some Features of Forestry 
in France 
Impressions Received During a Series of Hasty Visits to Certain Typical Forests 
There are a number of reasons why Ameri- 
cans should be interested in French forestry. In 
the first place the historic friendship between 
our nation and France creates the desire to 
know something of how a sister republic handles 
her forests; second, because of its geographic 
location, France has climatic conditions more 
nearly akin to those of the United States than 
are those of the countries of northern Europe, 
which in turn leads to certain similarities as 
regards the growth and development of the for- 
ests. Again, because in at least two phases of 
forestry work, the control and correction of tor- 
rents in the mountains and the reclamation of 
waste areas along the west coast, the French 
excel all other peoples. And finally, but per- 
haps most important to us of all, because some 
of the methods in use in forest work in France 
are more nearly possible of direct application 
in America than are those of any other Euro- 
peon country. 
This letter deals with certain general obser- 
vations about French forestry, with particular 
reference to methods of silvicultural practice. 
A subsequent communication will concern itself 
with the reboisement work in the mountain 
areas and with the reclamation of the Landes 
and the coast of Gascony. Both letters are 
based on personal observations made during 
a circuit of France in the months of November 
and December, 1921, but supplemented especially 
as to the statistics given, by the comprehensive 
volume by Major Theodore 8S. Woolsey, Jr., en- 
titled “Studies in French Forestry,” published 
by John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1920. In 
FOREST OF 
AMANCH, 
NANCY—AN EXPERIMENT STATION 
SAMPLE PLOT 
OAKS IN THE 
i 2 ian’ GS 
AN OLD OAK IN FONTAINEBLEAU F(¢ REST 
—A WITNESS OF CENTURIES 
OF PROGRESS 
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