Which use was most encouraged under commercial forestry?

Correct answer: Production of saleable timber

The direct answer is A: production of saleable timber. Commercial means connected with buying, selling and profit. In commercial forestry, forests were managed mainly to produce regular supplies of valuable wood for the market and government projects. Officials selected useful species, planted them systematically, controlled cutting and treated other uses as less important or restricted. Option A is correct because marketable timber was the central product and purpose. Option B is wrong because free grazing was often limited by forest rules. Option C is wrong because hunting without permission was generally restricted, not encouraged. Option D is wrong because shifting cultivation was commonly viewed by officials as difficult to control and was restricted in many forest areas. The question asks for the most encouraged use, not every activity that occurred in forests. Memory cue: commercial forestry equals commercially useful, saleable timber.