What benefit did the government get by planting trees in straight rows in scientific forestry?

Correct answer: Counting and managing timber became easier

The direct answer is A: counting and managing timber became easier. Scientific forestry meant that colonial governments tried to organise forests according to plans, measurements, selected species, and regular cutting. Planting trees in straight rows made the plantation look orderly and helped officials identify, count, monitor, and harvest timber. Step by step: trees were planted at planned distances; their number and growth could be recorded; cutting and replacement could be scheduled; therefore timber management became easier. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because scientific forestry generally restricted many customary local rights rather than automatically increasing them. Option C is wrong because plantations were deliberately managed for production, so forests were not left completely untouched. Option D is wrong because colonial forest rules often restricted hunting and other activities; hunting did not become completely free. The arrangement served commercial and administrative goals, even though it could harm biodiversity and local livelihoods. Memory cue: straight rows mean planned counting, cutting, and control.