SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR SYLVICULTURE

Abstract

DR. WILDE'S book is written for practical foresters and forestry students, whose success or failure in their work will be judged by volume and quality of crop production combined with maintained soil fertility. His main theme is summed up in his preface : “an understanding of the forest lies just as much below as above the ground” ; but in the text more space is given to a consideration of soils than vegetation. From, the point of departure he passes, after an introductory chapter, to a discussion of the genesis and classification of forest soils, followed by a series of short chapters on forest cover, soil properties, soil survey, sylviculture and forest nurseries. The great virtue in the author's treatment of these subjects lies in his conception of soils as dynamic systems. Each type has its own morphological structure and pedological activity which is integrated completely with the structure and activity of the living community dependent upon it. He does not use Prof. Tansley's term 'ecosystem' ; but the concept is clear. The virgin forest, the exploited forest, the plantation and even the forest nursery are viewed as possible systems of this kind maintained either by natural or anthropogenic forces. The aim of the forester is to extract from such systems the maximum volume and quality of his product while maintaining by suitable treatment stability or rhythmic change within it. By a combined study of pedology, ecology and physiology, Dr. Wilde has attempted to find a scientific rationale for sylvicultural and nursery operations.

Forest Soils and Forest Growth (Plant Science Books, Vol. 18.)

By Assoc. Prof. S. A. Wilde. Pp. xxii + 242 +7 plates. (Waltham, Mass: The Chronica Botanica Co.; London: Wm. Dawson and Sons, Ltd., 1946.) 5 dollars.