Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-04-29

begin now, Immediately. and at least
take care ol what is leit7 There /"
scarcely wood lot in Massachusetts
which is properly managed. There are
certainly some copsc woods, cut over Tor
iuel once IN twenty years or more IN
which sprouts from the stumps are al
lowed to grow. and young trees which
have sprung up since the last estting,
are left undisturb6d But these old
s,umps viii. not continue many years 10
shoot vigorously, and tho seeds OF The
old iorcs, trees will soon be exhausted
where no trees ar. lett 10 produce seed
The greatest danger 10 which our
woods are exposed is that OF fire. his
is much more serious than 10 commonly
thought. A fire in dry time in sum-
mer. not only consumes or kills nearly all
the trees, large and small, but all the
underground. roots as well as branches,
and the partially dscompOsed leaves oil
many years. Nothing is lett but ashes.
which. although they do contain some OF
the element. OF vegetable growth con-
tain very few aud those not IN u condl-
ton 50 lavorable Tor the nourishment oil
plants as they are when matured 10y the
processes OF natural decay. All the
wood and all those elements OF tho wood
which are capable OF being burnt, hy oil
into The atmosphere in the shape OF
visible or invisible smoke.
Almost everywhere this danger OF de-
struction to the iores, exists Along OF
through many Ut the wood'Iois' rail-
road train. continually passing. whose
fires are olie, led uN wood. sparks from
which may at any time becairied into the
woods. IL would take out little time and
no trouble to put an end TO or very much
diminish this danger; and now is the
season ia which precautions may best be
used. a. now is the lime when nearly
everV owner oi 4 wood lot can easily dc
vote a lew hours TO this work. All the
dead branches on trees near the road
should be removed. and with them all
dead trees that are standing, and all ~
ing on the ground. which are It'll com
buStible. Where log has become rot
ten on TIE outside and has partly sunk
into the the ground. there !, Little danger
OF it. taking fic Tho dry leaves, near
the road OF anywhere else. ought mol TO
be destroyed. They are the materials
from which the forest soil Is renewed
by which very much of it has been form
ell. Where there Is danger Of their TAX
ing fire. il left exposed. theI may ~
very lriling expense be covered over
There are many trees in all parts OF the
lots. which are encountered by dead
branches. These arc the proper food Tor
Gre. sud il will be much better ocono-
my TO break OF cut them down and take
them home for kindling OF for the mod
craze llltS lNl NNNh'H-t
leave them TO be kindled in the forest
whore they will not be likely burn alone.
There are few lots which may not be
rendered more valuable by some little
though; and care. In many place. tho
trees are SO crowded that they cannot
find nutriment nor sunshine enough Tor
profitable growth. But it is nice and
delicate matter to thin them. Many u
thick wood has been killed by excessive
thinning. where the trees stand So close
that sunshine cannot penetrate, and
where sunshine suddenly let in would be
death. Tho thinning should be done
very gradually. To lreSs 50 situated
the process should DO made to occupy
eight or ten years, instead OF being com.
plelcd in one.