276 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY. 
It is safe to assume that in case the forests of South Jersey 
are protected and allowed to grow other industries will form 
and ‘grow with thei. 
The sixth condition is fair taxation. All are agreed that this 
is a knotty question and one difficult even under favorable cir- 
cumstances to fairly adjust. It seems to me that since forests 
require considerable time to grow, since owing to the force of 
the elements and disease the growth of years is liable to be sud- 
denly spoiled and shattered, since forests are not insurable, and 
since the man who produces a forest is the benefactor of his 
neighbors, the State can well afford to tax lightly such land.* 
In fact, the man who starts and properly cares for a forest 
deserves to be exempted from taxation, or at least exempted 
until the crop is cut. Several have suggested that the tax 
should be levied only on the amount cut. This plan, of course, 
has some disadvantages*and may not be practical. At any rate 
a fair re-adjustment would tend to improve the condition which 
exists. I have faith enough in the good sense of the American 
people to believe that with proper protection by the State 
against fire and thieves, with fair taxation, with sufficient roads 
and with proper guidance, there will develop even under private 
control a system of forestry which, although perhaps not as 
systematically regulated as in Europe, will be as good as the 
peculiar economic conditions of the region will warrant. 
SILVICULTURAL SUGGESTIONS. 
It seems to the writer that, notwithstanding the complexities 
of European silvicultural systems with their manifold modifica- 
tions and combinations, the methods of forest treatment may be 
divided into four systems which are more or less applicable 
the world over, none of which are unconditionally good or bad, 
and the merits of which depend upon the circumstances of each 
case. Each system has its advantages and disadvantages, and 
must be adapted to the conditions which exist in every instance, 
and its success, above all, is dependent upon the knowledge and 
* An anomolous condition sometimes exists where a speculator desires a high assessment and cor- 
respondingly high tax in order to convince prospective buyers of the great worth of the land which he is 
endeavoring to sell. 
