Second Period. 39 
We see, then, that the first sporadic and, to be sure, 
crude beginnings of a forest management in Germany 
may be traced back to the 14th and 15th centuries; but it 
took at least 250 to 350 years before such management 
became general. 
Outside of the information found scattered in forest 
ordinances, instructions and prescriptions of various 
kinds there is no forestry literature to be recorded from 
this period except one single book, published about the 
year 1300 by an Italian, Petrus deCrescentiis, which 
was translated into German. It was merely a scholastic 
compilation on agriculture and allied subjects, mostly 
cribbed from old Roman writers and without value for 
German conditions. 
II. First DEVELOPMENT oF FoRESTRY METHODS. 
(Period 1500 to 1800.) 
The period following the middle ages marks the 
gradual changes from the feudal system to the modern 
State organizations. Various causes which led to an 
increased development of industrial life were also instru- 
mental in hastening the progress of forest destruction. 
At the same time during this period the germs and 
embryonic beginnings of every branch of forestry, real 
forestry policy, forestry practice and forestry science are. 
to be noted. By the end of this period preparatory 
for more modern conditions we find organized technical 
forest administrations, well developed methods of silvi- 
culture and systems of forest management. 
