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PREFACE
Although based on the sixth edition of The
Forester (1894), the book now published is in reality a new work, in
which is incorporated, in a condensed and improved form, the essence of
all the other books I have written on Forestry during the last thirteen
years, together with much original matter dealing specially with
conditions in the United Kingdom,—the whole forming a complete treatise
giving full consideration both to theoretical principles and to
practice. The only portions where any resemblance to Brown’s The
Forester could still be retained are (1) the two chapters now arranged
as Part II., The British Sylva; (2) part of chapter vii., Concerning
Arboricultzire, in Part III.; and (3) some of the details regarding
Fencing in Part IV., chapter ii. But all of these have been greatly
altered from their original form; and the only parts of the old book
that have been reproduced consist of a few extracts, mainly about
practical work in former days, which I have quoted here and there,
wherever appropriate.
These new volumes are intended to serve as a text-book dealing chiefly
with British Forestry and Arboriculture (two really separate branches of
Rural Economy, which have usually been synonymous in Britain), and with
the reasonable possibilities there are of improving the existing
condition of our woodlands, and of planting waste land for the growth of
timber on business principles, with a fair prospect of profit. Such
work, however, it is hardly reasonable to expect will ever be done,
unless undertaken by the State itself, or with substantial assistance
given to landowners, as is the case with the planting of wind-swept
waste tracts in Denmark and Prussia. The book thus differs entirely,
both in its specific aim and in the handling of the matter it contains,
from the only other complete manual of modern Forestry as yet published
in Britain. But as the subject cannot be treated thoroughly, more
especially as regards the scientific facts which explain the theory and
practice of Forestry, without making use of the knowledge acquired in
Continental countries (and in Germany in particular, where far more has
been done than anywhere else for technical education and scientific
research in Forestry), the main text has been largely amplified by
Continental Notes in smaller type. In some cases these merely serve the
purpose of explaining or illustrating what is said in the paragraphs
immediately preceding them, while in others they contain additional
information that a student of Forestry may naturally wish to know, and
which may often suggest useful ideas for practical work in Britain.
Where special use has thus been made of French, Austrian, and German
works, suitable acknowledgment is given.
To illustrate the present new text, some of the original figures have
again been used, together with all of those obtained, through the kind
courtesy of German publishers, for the sixth edition of the old Forester
in 1894. But numerous fresh illustrations have likewise been added from
Les Forets, by MM. Boppe and Jolyet, 1901, the Trans, of the High, and
Agri. Socy. of Scot., the Trans, of the Royal Scot. Arbor. Socy., the
Journal of the Royal Agri. Socy. of Engl., the Journal of the Board of
Agriculture and Fisheries, and Messrs A. Ransome & Co?s Catalogue of
Woodworking Machinery, and also by reproductions from recent photographs
kindly placed at my disposal by the Earl of Mansfield, Mr Richardson
Carr, Mr A. Allsebrook, F.S.I., and Mr A. D. Richardson; and I desire to
record here my thanks to all of the above for the assistance thus
rendered. I have also to thank Prof. A. S. MacDougall and Dr A.
Borthwick, the Hony. Scientists to the Royal Scottish Arbor. Socy., for
the help kindly given in revising the proof-sheets of chapters iv. and
v. of Part IV., dealing with Injurious Insects and Fungous Diseases; Mr
A. E. Wild, formerly Conservator of Forests, Bengal, for similar
assistance with Part V.; and Messrs Robert Anderson, F.S.I., and D. F.
Mackenzie, F.S.I., for help with portions of Part VI.
In the Introduction (p. 90) I have adverted to incorrect conclusions
having apparently been drawn by the Departmental Committee on Forestry,
1902, from evidence that was incomplete, and therefore misleading. As
the point at issue is important, I have made special inquiries into the
subject, and the result of these may be condensed as follows:—
Anthonsthal and other ten neighbouring forests (or units of management,
Revier) form a great and more or less compact mass of woodlands that are
the main, and practically the only, sources from which can be supplied
the requirements in raw material for 27 sawmills, 15 wood-pulp and
cellulose factories, 26 pit-timber and building-wood businesses, and 20
cooperage-works,—apart from the local demands for wood-fuel. These
industries are dependent on those woodlands, and could never have become
established without them. These eleven forests have a practical monopoly
in the supply of all the local wants, because no other timber is
obtainable except from a long distance (involving a heavy charge for
carriage), or else from Bohemia, the frontier of which is about 3f miles
from the end of the Anthonsthal forest. But in the latter case there is,
besides the extra cost of transport, a small import duty of Is. 2|d. per
cb. metre (35 cb. ft.)
This practical monopoly of itself ensures obtaining the highest
market-value for the timber sold ; and the receipts are still further
increased through the care and skill employed in growing the kind of
wood in demand (chiefly Spruce), and, more particularly, in bringing it
to the market in the sorts, sizes, and condition best suited for the
different industrial requirements.
The exceptionally profitable results at Anthonsthal and the adjoining
forests are therefore mainly due to (1) a highly absorptive market in
the immediate vicinity, with good competition ; (2) careful preparation
of timber to suit the market; and (3), but to a minor extent only,
protection by means of an import duty levied on wood brought from
Bohemia into Saxony.
Since the Introduction was printed, over a year ago, the Secretary of
State for India has arranged for the transfer of the Forestry teaching
staff from Cooper’s Hill (see pp. 34 and 40) to Oxford University, and
this technical course is to be followed by one year’s practical training
on the Continent. This new system is only to be on its trial for three
years from 1st October 1905, before the end of which time he has
promised to reconsider his orders so as perhaps to enable the
Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh to also provide instruction for
those who have become probationers for the Indian Forest Service. In
view of the prospect thus held out to other Universities, as in the case
of probationers for the Indian Civil Service, and also in view of the
urgent need that exists for the mother-country supplying trained
foresters for her colonies and dependencies (and thus removing the
national reproach of our having again, quite recently, been forced to
engage German foresters to fill appointments in our British Colonies),
it seems desirable that Forestry should be taught as a special branch in
all of our Universities having an Agricultural Department, and that
Chairs should also be endowed at the Royal Colleges of Science in London
and Dublin. These latter would be of special benefit to the probationers
for, and the junior members of, the Surveyors’ Institution, which
represents the bulk of the land-agency profession in the United Kingdom.
What such a course should be, for British and Colonial requirements, is
indicated on pp. 64-66 of the Introduction; but, for it to be really
satisfactory, the lecture-room instruction should be combined with short
tours to the best English and Scottish woodlands, and with a more
extensive tour in France and Germany, to exhibit the methodical
management of woodlands on a large scale.
Nearly two years have been devoted by me to the preparation of this
book; and I hope that it may prove beneficial to British Forestry and
Arboriculture, and helpful to those specially interested in the study of
these branches of our Rural Economy.
J. Nisbet
August 1905.
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