PREFACE 



DuRixc the last few \ears there has been a rapid ex- 

 tension of the work of practical forestr\- in the United 

 States. The Federal government has set aside as Na- 

 tional Forests about 19U millicjn acres, on which to-da\' 

 all work is conducted imder the principles of forestrA'. 

 A number of States also have established reservations 

 which ha\'e been placed under s\'stematic forest admin- 

 istration. Forestry is being practised on a considerable 

 number of private tracts, and there are many owners 

 who are seeking information regarding forestr\' with a 

 view of practising it if found to be commercialh' practi- 

 cable. 



The literature treating of forestr\- as applied in this 

 countr\' is still ver}- meager. Much of it is fragmentar\- 

 and scattered in various Government and State publica- 

 tions, and the information most desired b\' an owner or a 

 forester is often not available. Fherc is a great need of 

 systematic works covering the different branches of for- 

 estry, for the use of owners of woodlands, for practising 

 foresters, and students in the forest schools. As a con- 

 tribution to this greatly needed literature of forestry, I 

 have prepared the present volume covering the silvicul- 

 tural treatment of woodlands. 



V 



