FORESTRY 321 
this wasteful use of forests has proceeded so far that the 
disastrous consequences are in plain sight, the forestry stage 
begins, and the proper management of forests is established. 
In European countries forestry has been long established 
and has become highly developed, especially in Germany 
and France. In the United States the Government has 
established a Bureau of Forestry, and certain Statcs have 
adopted a definite forest policy. 
183. Supply forests.—This name has been suggested 
for those forests used primarily as a source of wood-supply. 
The crop of wood differs from ordinary crops in that it is 
natural growth and needs a long period to mature. The 
problem is to obtain as much wood from the forest as pos- 
sible year after year, without diminishing its productive- 
ness; in other words, to use it and preserve it at the same 
time. There is a best time for cutting, that is, harvesting, 
in the life of each kind of tree, a time determined by its size 
and the quality of its wood. The forest habit—the grow- 
ing of trees close together—secures the lofty symmetrical 
trunk, with branches carried high, the most favorable form 
for use. Trees that are “ripe’’? not only can but should 
be removed, that the younger ones may come to vigorous 
maturity. In this way a continuous succession of suitable 
trees becomes ready for removal, and every tree in the 
forest is given an opportunity to do its best. The thought- 
less cutting of trees usually secures one good crop from a 
forest; while a forest managed by a forester yields a suc- 
cession of good crops. 
When the forester takes charge of a forest that has had 
no management, he first removes the undesirable trees; 
but the lumberman would remove the most desirable. 
The forester knows, however. that in this way the quality 
of the remaining trees will be improved, and in the long run 
he will get a larger and better crop. The cutting is so 
arranged that the openings left will give opportunity for 
