' When a forest is about to be taken in hand and worked systematically, a surveyor and valuator from the forest staff' are despatched to the spot — the former working under the directions of the latter, who places himself in communication with the local forest officer (if there be one), the local officials and the inhabitants interested, and obtains from them all the information in his power. The surveyor first surveys the whole district or tract, then the several blocks or subdivisions as pointed out by' the valuator, who defines them according to the description and age of the timber then standing, the situation, nature of soil, climate, and any other conditions affecting the rate of growth and nature of the crops which it may be advisable to grow in future years. Whilst the surveyor is engaged in demarcating and surveying these blocks, the valuator is employed in making valuations of the standing crop, calculating the annual rate of growth, inquiring into and forming a register of rights and servitudes with a view to their communication, considering the
* French' Forest Ordinance of 1660; with Historical Sketch of Previous Treatment of Forests in France.— The early history of forests in France is given, with details of devastations of these going1 on in the first half of the seventeenth century; with a translation of the Ordinance of 1669, which is the basis of modern forest, economy; and notices of forest exploitation in Jardinage, in La Methode d Tire et Aire, and in La Methode des Compartiments.
\ Introduction to the Study of Modern Forest Economy. — In this there are brought under consideration the extensive destruction of forests which has taken place in Europe and elsewhere, with notices of disastrous consequences which have followed — diminished supply of timber and firewood, droughts, floods, landslips, and sand-drifts — and notices of the appliances of modern forest science successfully to counteract these evils by conservation, planting, and improved exploitation, under scientific administration and management.
best plan of working the forest for the future, the roads which it will be necessary to construct for the transport of timber — in fact, all the conditions of the forest which will enable him to prepare a detailed plan for future management, and the subordinate plans and instructions for a term of years, to be handed over to the executive officer as his " standing orders." A complete code of rules for the guidance of the valuators has been drawn up and printed, in which every possible contingency or difficulty is taken into consideration and provided for. Having completed their investigations on the spot, the valuator and surveyor return to head-quarters and proceed to prepare the working plans, maps, &c., from their notes and measurements. These are submitted to the Board or Committee of controlling officers, who examine the plan or scheme in all its details, and if the calculations on which it is based be found accurate, and there are no valid objections on the part of communities or individuals, pass it, on which it is made out in triplicate, one being sent to the executive officer for his guidance, another retained by the controlling officer of the division, and the original at the head quarter office for reference. The executive officer has thus in his hands full instructions for the management of his range down to the minutest detail, a margin being of course allowed for his discretion, and accurate maps on a large scale showingeach subdivision of the forest placed under his charge.'
With regard to measures adopted to secure natural reproduction of exploited forests, he says: —
' Natural reproduction is effected by a gradual removal of the existing older stock. If a forest tract be suddenly cleared, there will ordinarily spring up a mass of coarse herbage and undergrowth, through which seedlings of the forest growth will rarely be able to struggle. In the case of mountain forests being suddenly laid low, we have also to fear not only the sudden appearance of an undergrowth prejudicial to tree reproduction, but the total loss of the soil from exposure to the full violence of the rain when it is no longer bound together by the tree roots. This soil is then washed away into the valleys below, leaving a bare or rocky hillside bearing nothing but the scantiest herbage. We must therefore note how Nature acts in the reproduction of forest trees, and follow in her footsteps. As Pope writes —
' First follow Nature, and your judgment frame By her just standard, which remains the same, Unerring.'....