ting, and other bad practices. Under these circumstances, it will take a great many years, during which large expenses are necessary, to bring the forest gradually to something like what is called a normal condition. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, it is understood that the enterprise has so far been a financial success. Other estates of considerable size, which were managed according to true forestry principles before the above mentioned offer of the Forestry Division, are those at Ne-Ha-Sa-Ne Park, in the Adirondacks, belonging to Wm. C. Whitney and W. S. Webb. Since the government has begun to assist directly in this work, in the fall of 1898, the extent of woodland in behalf of which applications for working plans and supervision have been made is nearly two millions of acres in various parts of the country. The most cheering feature of the matter is that the majority of the applicants are no longer rich men whose motives, like Mr. Vanderbilt's, are as much to set a good example as to make money. Most of them look at the plan strictly from a business standpoint. Of the large concerns which have availed themselves of the offer, the most conspicuous one is the International Paper Company, commonly known as the paper trust, which is said to control more than a hundred million acres of woodlands, mostly covered with spruce.

While these forward steps mark the beginning of a new epoch in the history of American forestry, the time when agitation and the dissemination

of instruction was of the first necessity has not yet entirely passed by. Much still remains to be done, for while the light may be slowly breaking through the clouds, a large part of the nation still remains in ignorance of the true nature of forestry and the needs of the people in regard to it. Legislation of the kind indicated in previous chapters is still to be brought about in those States which have so far entirely neglected it, and existing laws must be improved and their scope extended. As yet, while public opinion has very generally become favorable to forestry reform instead of ridiculing it as formerly, this favorable attitude has not crystallized into anything more than a vague sentiment. In most States all practical efforts are left to a few individuals, on whom falls the duty of piloting proposed measures through the devious channels along which legislative bodies do their work. It is encouraging that in such attempts ordinarily little opposition based on arguments, however fallacious, in encountered. But everybody at all acquainted with the manner in which legislation is brought about, in Congress as well as in the State legislatures, knows that the mere absence of active opposition is not sufficient to insure the passage of a bill. It is necessary to arouse an active interest among the members, otherwise the mere deadweight of indifference is enough to keep it from becoming a law. Even where such active interest within the legislative bodies exists, the fate of forestry bills is apt to become entangled with that

of others in no wise germane to them, according to the exigencies of the interests and ambitions of members.

One of the most efficient agencies of agitation in behalf of forestry reform is the American Forestry Association, with its affiliated societies in several of the States. The American Forestry Association was founded in 1882. From small beginnings it has grown to be a very influential body, as is perhaps best shown by the abuse occasionally heaped upon it by western sheepmen and other parties, whose real or imagined interests conflict with its aims. It numbers among its members prominent men in all walks of life, including lumbermen, manufacturers, statesmen, and scientists. The association holds meetings, from time to time, in various parts of the country, at which papers are read, questions of general interest discussed, and other business transacted. The meeting of the association in any given community usually results in a great quickening of local interest in forestry matters, with consequent good results in practice and legislation. The association also publishes a monthly periodical, called The Forester, which is doing excellent service in spreading information, affording a medium of discussion and collecting news in forestry matters. This magazine was originally founded by Mr. John Gifford, of New Jersey, one of the pioneers in the forestry-reform movement. He transferred it to the association, to be its official organ. Another similar publication is Forest

Leaves, appearing under the auspices of the Penn sylvania Forestry Association. The excellent periodical called Garden and Forest, which had forestry for one of its fields of work, has unfortunately been obliged to suspend. In this connection it should be stated that the lumbering and other trade papers representing industries dependent on forests are now mostly among the stanchest supporters of improved methods. At first these people were very contemptuous of the entire movement. But gradually they discovered that forestry reform was not a fad of theorists, dreamers, and impracticables, but a very business-like proposition, of the utmost importance to their branches of trade, as well as to the whole nation.

The above partial enumeration of what is being done in the United States for the promotion of better treatment and utilization of our forest resources must suffice for the purposes of this little volume. We are nearing the end of our cursory survey of the vast subject. One thing remains to be discussed: The work of introducing into this country a better system of managing forests requires the best powers of a multitude of trained men. How can such men be found? How can they be prepared for their work? What are the qualifications they should possess, and what are the rewards that may be held out to them?

CHAPTER XII

THE

FORESTRY AS A PROFESSION

HE profession of forestry is distinguished for this, that it brings one into touch with more branches of knowledge and more fields of work than any other, excepting only the profession of law. When we speak of a professional forester we are apt to think mostly of the man who manages a given tract of woodland, superintends the proper silvicultural labors, and markets the products. Yet that is but a branch of forestry. He also is a forester who administers the various laws regulating the treatment of forest lands in the interest of the national life; and the name should not be withheld from men whose life-work consists of investigations into the physical and economic conditions on which the forestry of the nation is based.

On its silvicultural and technical side, forestry must be based on a sound comprehension of the physical and biological sciences. Geology, to understand the relations of soils and topographical conditions; botany, in all its branches, to comprehend the life of the material he has to deal with; zoology, to learn how the animal world affects his trees; meteorology, to get an insight into the