146 MobEbN ^OEES't fiCONOlVtV. , ' 



conceiving of a similar result being obtained by a series of 

 successive fellings being carried out in an extensive forest, 

 each of these fellings being confined to a specified section 

 of the forest. If the forest were of considerable extent 

 the series might be made to comprise not only many 

 years, but 'many decades, giving time for the section first 

 exploited being again replenished before the last section 

 in the series has fallen under the axe. If a hundred years 

 would be sufficient for the trees to attain the size desired, 

 let the forest be supposed to be divided into ten sections, 

 and for ten years the fellings be confined to one of these 

 sections, and the same thing to be done in each, succeeding 

 decade till the whole forest has been exploited, by that 

 time the cycle of successive fellings might be recommenced. 

 And the process might be continued ad infinitum or ad 

 libitum, if by self-sown seed, or by a combination of 

 artificial sowing or planting, with this natural mode of 

 replenishing the forest, the forest were replenished. 



Such a method of exploiting forests was introduced in 

 France as a substitute for Jardinage, axiAii was for .150 

 years practised in various countries on the Continent of 

 Europe — I may say it has been so for more than 200 

 years, for it is in some places practised stiU. The tech- 

 nical name given in France to this method of exploitation 

 is Zia Methode h tire et aire — Cut and come again — Use 

 and yet retain possession. Details of provision for the 

 adoption of it are embodied in the French Forest Ordi- 

 nance of 1669, an ordinance which, when first pro- 

 mulgated, was hailed with delight in other lands besides 

 France ; and it still is spoken of as The Famous Ordi- 

 nance of 1669. 



Of this Ordinance, it is stated by M. Parade, of the 

 School of Forestry in Nancy: — 'From the middle of the 

 16th century onward are found, in the Forest Ordinances 

 of our kings, traces of management relating to fixed 

 periods of felling successive portions of the forests. But 

 it was more especially the celebrated Ordinance of 1669 

 which enjoined generally in royal forests ;and forests held 



