15 MODERN B-OUEST ECONOMY. 



some cases, of exteusive stretches of forest, have been 

 destroyed by means in operation apart from the doings 

 of man : such as what may be called natural decay ; 

 drought and frost; thunder storms and storms of wind 

 and hail and snow; epiphetic and parasitic vegetable 

 growths ; and insects, and birds, and beasts. 



But to a far greater extent have forests been destroyed 

 by reckless fellings in wasteful exploitations; and by these 

 increased by malversations of officials, and by depredations. 

 To some extent injuries have been done by flocks and herds 

 depastured in the woods. And to a great extent have 

 forests been destroyed by fire applied to the clearing away 

 of trees, in order that the ground might be obtained for 

 agriculture, and by fires attributable to accident, but to 

 accident attributable to the carelessness of man. 



The comprehensive view thus taken of the matter con- 

 firms the conclusion that the appropriate remedial applica- 

 tions may resolve themselves into endeavours to arrest 

 the progress of destruction, and endeavours to restore again 

 what has been taken away ; but it may also have expanded 

 somewhat the conception formed by us of what is required 

 in forest conservation and in forest restoration, and this 

 may call for further differentiations : — 



There must be conservation against destruction occurring 

 irrespective of man's agency, against destruction through 

 man's carelessness, against destruction through man's dis- 

 honesty, and with this an improved, more ecomonic, and 

 less wasteful forest exploitation ; and with this may be 

 combined or conjoined forest restoration, reboisement as a 

 preventive of the formation of destructive torrents and 

 inundations, reboisement as ^ means of increasing the 

 humidity of the soil and climate, and increasing the 

 salubrity of the atmosphere, and the planting of trees 

 as a means of arresting and utilising drifting sand. Most 

 of what relates to the first of these measures — conservation 

 against destruction, occurring irrespective of man's agency, 

 may with advantage be discussed apart under a discussion 



