17 



growing stock are sufficient with regard to the age of 

 exploitation. There are no blanks or damaged stems, the 

 age-classes are distributed in the manner demanded by the 

 method of treatment and are in proper proportion. 



S. Abnormal forest.- A perfectly normal forest is therefore a 

 purely ideal creation. No such forests actually exist, 

 although many approach the condition when they have been 

 under a regular system of organised treatmeot for a long 

 period. Nevertheless a correct understanding of the consti- 

 tution of the growing stock in the normal or ideal forest 

 under each and every method of treatment is essential, since 

 upon it is based the whole business of the preparation of 

 working-plans. The purpose of a working-plan may be said 

 to consist in bringing the existing forest as soon as possible 

 to the normal state, and thereafter in maintaining it in. that 

 condition. 



A forest may be abnormal for one or any of the follow- 

 ing reasons : — 



(i) The quantity of material in the growing stock 

 is insufficient or superabundant. 



(ii) A complete scale of age-classes does not exist 

 and therefore the proportion between the 

 classes is defective. 



(iii) The growth is defective. 



The peculiar constitution of the growing stock neoeasary in order that a forest 

 may furnish an uninterrupted supply of material is sufficient of itself to explain why 

 a working-plan i-i essential for the management of a forest estate, althongh a farm 

 or industrial euterpriee can be perfectly well managed vithout such a plan. The 

 forest capital (i.e., growing stock), in the case of a forest requires many years to create 

 while in the case of a manufactory or of a farm the working capital, buildings, 

 implements, seeds, live-stock, etc., can be procured in a few days or months. There 

 are, however, many other reasons. The material produced by a forest, viz., wood, is 

 the same as the capital or material that prodaces it. At the same time this material 

 mnnt be preserved in its growing state for years as it has no value when fiist 

 produced. The forester is thereforu liable to reduce his capital unawares. He is eTan 

 tempted to do so, as be thereby temporarily increases his income without, perhaps, 

 feeling the efEects for many years. A farmer cannot reduce his capital without 

 immediately experiencing the result. If he makes a mistake in his method of farm- 

 ing, he can correct it immediately by the expenditure of additional money and labour. 

 A forester can correct his mistakes, if he dissevers them at all, only after a long 

 lapse of time. 



Section III. — The normal age-classes. 



1. Arrangement of age-classes — It has been stated that in 

 order to obtain an annual sustained yield the forest should 

 be constituted of a series of age -gradations corresponding to 



