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REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



Forestry implies not only forest preservation, but forest revenue also. It means 

 that the forest shall be maintained, and that, at the same time, trees may be cut and 

 converted into money. But this cutting is done under a system which enables the 

 land owner to obtain a yearly, perpetual revenue without diminishing the area of his 

 forests ; because the cutting in any one year is not allowed to exceed the annual 

 growth. Hence the yearly revenue may be comparatively small, but it is perpetual. 



The question may be asked, — Why is there any need of forestry ? Why not let 

 the woods take care of themselves as they have always done ? Why not let Nature 

 reforest the denuded or waste lands? 



The answer is, that Nature will supply the wants of man much better when 

 assisted or placed under intelligent control. The farmer finds it necessary to assist 

 Nature if he would obtain the best results. Forestry is only another name for 

 farming. The forest will repay cultivation as well as the farm; it will yield crops as 

 well as the fields. 



It is conceded that Nature will grow forests unassisted ; and that they will exercise 

 their protective functions as to climate, health, and moisture. But our advanced 

 civilization demands a supply of wood, and immense quantities of it. This material 

 is necessary for many of our daily wants; and we need certain kinds of wood much 

 more than others. Unfortunately, Nature takes little heed of our ideas or wants in 

 raising her forests. She furnishes in profusion the species for which we have little 

 need, and yields only a scanty supply of the kinds we want most. 



Now, the business of the forester is to so control and regulate the forces of Nature, 

 that, in a growing forest, or in the conversion of one already grown, the product shall 

 conform closely to our needs and demands; and, that worthless and undesirable species 

 shall be gradually removed to make room for the kind the people want. So, through 

 the intelligent, skilful efforts of the forester, a tract of woodlands will furnish a yearly 

 revenue, and, at the same time, will increase in value until it has reached its maximum 

 of production, both in quantity and quality. 



While it is highly important that the timber cut and sold each year should be 

 handled according to the most approved, economical methods, it is equally important 

 that certain work should be done, not only to provide for replacing the timber cut, 

 but to replace it in greater quantities and better qualities; to so manage the forest 

 that, while it furnishes an annual revenue, it is constantly increasing in value until it 

 reaches its maximum ; until the trees are as large and numerous as the soil will sustain, 

 and of such species as possess the highest marketable value that can be grown with 

 profit on that soil. The wild or natural forest is as different from the cultivated one 

 in valuable species and amount of production as the waste lands of the farmer is from 

 his wheat fields. 



