336 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



shifting under the influence of the winds, and encroaching steadily on the adjoining 

 farms and woods, covering the grain fields and destroying the woodlands. The 

 difficult task of introducing vegetable growth on the sea sand was overcome by 

 planting species adapted to the conditions. A vast area of barren land was thus 

 covered with a productive forest and the adjoining farms protected. The need of 

 some such work in our own country is evident, especially on portions of the Atlantic 

 coast in Massachusetts and Southern New Jersey. 



A vast amount of labor has also been expended in France and Italy, in the Alps 

 and Pyrenees, in reforesting mountain sides which had become entirely bare and 

 denuded of vegetable growth by the torrents which succeeded the removal of the 

 forests that formerly clothed these slopes with a dense mass of trees. An important 

 part of the work consisted in restoring the soil in some places as well as vegetation. 

 The French government has already expended several millions of dollars in this work. 

 From i860 to 1879 the expenditures for reclaiming waste lands amounted to 

 $9,500,000, and the work has been continued since then at about the same annual 

 cost. This does not include the subsequent expense of reforesting. With such 

 examples in view there should be no need of argument in favor of forest preservation 

 in our country. 



Forestry requires a knowledge of various kinds of work, both practical and 

 scientific. It includes : 



First : Practical knowledge of the best methods for cutting and transporting the 

 product at the least expense, and without injury to the standing timber or young 

 growth; also, the best means for preventing fires from spreading through the woods, 

 and extinguishing fires when they occur. 



Second : Mathematics, surveying and engineering, in order to make proper compu- 

 tations as to tree growth and timber measurements ; to lay out boundaries and 

 compute land areas; to construct roads of proper grades and location so that the 

 transportation of the heavy timber product may be effected at the least expense ; to 

 plan the structures that may be needed in controlling the flow of mountain streams or 

 aiding the work of reforesting; and to build the tram roads and bridges often used in 

 hauling logs or timber. 



Third: Dendrology, or tree botany, a knowledge of which is necessary in the 

 propagation and culture of the young trees that are to supply the place of the ones to 

 be cut. Through a knowledge of this science the forester becomes familiar with the 

 habits of trees, the years in which they will or will not bear seed, the fertilization 

 and rotation of species, the varying power of endurance which the young trees 

 possess for withstanding heat or shade, and other things which enter into his 

 technical work. 



