THE FOREST OF THE ANCIENTS. 



The forest was undoubtedly the earliest home of 

 mankind, its edible products forming its principal value. 

 Its wild animals developed the hunter, first furnishing 

 means of subsistence and then exhilaration and pleasure. 

 IText, it was the mast and, in its openings, the pasture 

 which gave to the forest its value for the herder, and 

 only last, with the development into settled communi- 

 ties and more highly civilized conditions of life, did the 

 wood product become its main contribution toward that 

 civilization. Finally, in the refinement of cultural con- 

 ditions in densely settled countries is added its influence 

 on soil, climate and water conditions. 



Although there is no written history, there is little 

 doubt that these were the phases in the appreciation of 

 woodlands in the earliest development of mankind, for 

 we find the same phases repeated in our own times in all 

 newly settled countries. 



As agriculture develops, the need for farming ground 

 overshadows the usefulness of the forest in all these 

 directions, and it is cleared away; moreover, as popula- 

 tion remains scanty, a wasteful use of its stores forms 



Waldgeschichte des Alterthums, by August Sbidbnsticker, 1886, 2 voli., pp. 

 863, is a moit painstaking compilation from original sources of notes regarding 

 tlie forest conditions and the Icnowledge of trees, forests and forestry among 

 the ancients. Contains also a full bibliography. 



Die Waldwirthscha/t der RBmer^ by J, Trurig, collects the knowledge, 

 especially of arboriculture and silviculture, possessed by the Romans. 



Forstwissenscha/tUcke Leistungen der Altgriechen^ by Dr. Chloros, in 

 Forstwissenschaftliches Centralblatt, 1886, pp. 8. 



Archeologia /orestale, Dell 'antica storia e giurisfrudenzia forestah in 

 Italia, by A. DI Bkrahgbr, 1859. 



