40 



placed along frequently traveled roads and jjaths through the interior 

 of the tract. All corners should be solidly built of stone which will 

 not be greatly affected by the elements. In order that corners will 

 be conspicuous they should be built of material which is not found 

 in the immediate vicinity. 



Although an effective system of forest protection will be expensive 

 and will run into a good sized sum of money, it is better to establish 

 it as soon as possible than to have losses, every year, that will in a 

 comparatively short time exceed the cost of an adequate system of 

 protection for many years. This may be illustrated by a case in the 

 Adirondack Mountains where, in 1903, fires involving a loss of |3,500 

 entailed an additional expense of |175,000 for fire fighting alone. If 

 this amount had been used in carrying out a system of protection dur- 

 ing the dangerous months the great loss wo\ild have been averted, and 

 protection afforded for many years. 



MANAGEMENT OF FOREST LANDS UNDER PRESENT FOR- 

 EST CONDITIONS. 



JAMES E. McNEAL, Forester. 



Under various circumstances a forest may yield its best return in 

 wood, bark, or other forest products, in money, or interest on the 

 capital which it represents, but which ever of these ways of using a 

 forest is chosen in any given case, the fundamental idea of forestry is 

 that of making the forest yield the best service possible at present and 

 in such a way that its usefulness in the future will not be diminished, 

 but rather increased. A forest well managed under practical methods 

 will yield a return in at least one of the ways just mentioned; but 

 before it will be in condition to render the best service, there are four 

 things which a forest must have. 



These are^ — 



1. Protection, especially against fire and thieves ; for without such 

 protection no investment is secure and the most skillful management 

 is of little effect. 



2. A strong and abundant reproduction. Without this a forest 

 will speedily die out. 



3. A regular supply of mature trees to be cut. 



4. The proper amount of growing space for each tree, in order 

 that all trees may grow to the best advantage. 



