DARWINISM IN FORESTRY 



RAPHAEL ZON 

 U. S. Forest Service 



The centennial anniversary of the birth of Charles 

 Darwin was the occasion for many interesting reviews of 

 what Darwinism has done for the biological sciences. In 

 all these reviews, however, scarcely any reference is made 

 to forestry. Yet historically and inherently there is a 

 most remarkable and unique connection between Darwin- 

 ism and forestry. 



On April 10, 1860, soon after the appearance of the first 

 edition of the " Origin of Species," Darwin wrote to his 

 friend C. Lyell: 



Now for a curious thing about my book, and then I have done. In 

 last Saturday's Gardeners' Chronicle, a Mr. Patrick Matthew publishes 

 a long extract from his work on « Naval Timber and Arboriculture," 

 published in 1831, in which he briefly but completely anticipates the 

 theory of Natural Selection. I have ordered the book, as some few 

 passages are rather obscure, but it is certainly. I think, a complete but 



covered thefLt in a work on Naval Timber. 1 



And three days later, on April 13, 1860, he wrote to J. 

 D. Hooker. 2 



My dear Hooker— Questions of priority so often lead to odious 

 quarrels, that I should esteem it a great favor if you would read the 

 enclosed. If you think it proper that I should send it (and of this 

 there can hardly be any question), and if you think it full and ample 

 enough, please alter the date to the day on which you post it, and let 

 that be soon. The case in the Gardeners' Chronicle seems a little 

 stronger than in Mr. Matthew's book, for the passages are therein 

 scattered in three places; but it would be mere hair-splitting to notice 

 that. If you object to my letter, please return it; but I do not expect 



"'The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin," by P. Darwin, 1898, New 

 York, Appleton & Co., p. 95. 

 *Ilid., pp. 95 and 90. 



