Forest Planting: A Treatise on the Care of Timber Lands and the Restoration of Denuded Wood-Lands on Plains and Mountains

In this limited work, the author has attempted to present a compass as small as possible, consistent with the clarity of presentation, the main points of systematic forest management and its application to the replenishment of bare forest land in the plains and mountains. If natural forests are not systematically managed, we cannot help but expect that repairing damage to the forest, either through accidents, natural disasters, or the natural course of tree life, will take as many centuries as it would take decades for this purpose if we help nature in its efforts to restore through the means offered by scientific forestry. On the following pages, the author has tried to give sufficient advice to those who are interested in such an important question: "How to preserve forests?” In the arrangement of chapters, the author was guided by a desire not only to provide reliable information on this subject, but also to provide forestry teachers with more practical guidance than they have found in American books so far. The views showing the magnificent landscapes of the Adirondack are perhaps unnecessary for the book; but they are given to awaken those who do not know the beauty of American mountain forests, and to create a spirit of enthusiasm that will not only help prevent further devastation of American state forests, but can also help replenish the stocks of needlessly deforested forests. It will not be difficult for a good agronomist with sufficient experience in the nature and behavior of major forest trees to apply these guidelines to accomplish the main tasks of modern forestry to conserve wild or natural forests. Although this book has been written with New York State in mind only, there is no reason why the instructions on this book should not be applicable to other locations where the same conditions exist when the diversity of climates, soils, and topography is properly considered.