[XVI] 



will be but a trifling price to pay for the returns it wOl bring. Let 

 any State or city select a tract of woodland at some easily access- 

 ible point, and put it under a proper course of management, as an 

 experimental forest, and it would very soon excite an interest which 

 could not fan to increase. A portion of it should be suffered to 

 remain in its original, unimproved condition. Another part should 

 be improved as "open park," for the best development of individual 

 trees in their fullest natural capacity of dignity and grace, and a 

 third portion should be devoted to the production of timber by the 

 process of thinning, pruning and proper culture. The progress of 

 development could then be seen and watched from year to year in 

 all its stages, and the demonstration thus afforded would touch the 

 interest of every owner of a wood lot. The process would soon 

 begin to be imitated, a conviction of the value and importance of a 

 knowledge of forestry would become established in the popular 

 mind, and the. demand for the services of those who had acquired 

 it would lead to a demand for the means of acquirement, and thus 

 the schools of forestry would be called into existence by the natural 

 course of events. 



The inauguration of such an experimental or illustrative forest as 

 a means of exciting public interest is surely an object that is well 

 worthy the consideration of legislative and municipal bodies, ~or of 

 corporations whose interests are connected with this form of national 

 wealth. The cost would be insignificant in comparison with that of 

 planting and maintaining new forests, and the spur of personal 

 interest would incite such general action as would add incalculably 

 to the wealth of every State without further outlay than the cost 

 of demonstration. 



It is of course desirable that the experimental forest should be as 

 conspicuous and easily accessible to the public as possible, for which 

 reason the vicinity of a city would seem the most appropriate 

 point. And municipal bodies would be justified in making a liberal 

 appropriation for the promotion of such an object, since it would 

 certainly constitute, for great numbers of people, one of the princi- 

 pal attractions of the city. The beneficial results which would fol- 

 low, however, would add so largely to the substantial wealth and 

 power of the State that its main support should be derived from 

 legislative rather than municipal action. 



It is not, however, my province to discuss the means of effecting 

 the work, beyond this general suggestion. 



I have aimed only to convey a conception of the rich resources 

 which nature has placed at our disposal, if we choose to avail our- 

 selves of her offer. 



I have made no statement in regard to forest growth which will 

 not be recognized as true by all who are familiar with the subject, 

 and all such persons wiU endorse my statement that, practicaUy, the 

 rules which govern the process are universally ignored. 



I have pointed out what I conceive to be the readiest means of 

 awakening pubUc attention and c»eating such general interest as 

 will insure reform, and I leave to other hands the task of arranging 

 the laws which must govern its execution. 



