Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-03-04
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Since the introduction of hard coal for
fuel, its consumption until recently has
been confined 10 sesports. aud towns on
nsvigable rivers where freichts were low
As railroads have reached into the interior
they have increased the valHe OF hrewood
along their line, both by the new and large
demand for their own use, and by the
facilities afforded for transportation TO bet
ter markets; so that in many country
towns where the same sum OF money will
wood, the householder Is governed by taste
or convenience in deciding which he will
use. The majority of country residents.
and certainly OF farmers. sill make use Of
wood and to them, therefore, the ques-
tions OF supply, of cutting, hauling. aud
housing are full of interest.
Every farm containing one hundred
acres ought to have at least twenty in
wood, either OF the original forest or OF
land for while cultivated and :hen allow
ed TO grow up Of Itself. or an artificial
plantation produced by sowing or plant
ing. No matter how unfayOrable the con-
diton may be, from one Of these sources a
supply may always be within reach.
Land owners who clear part Of their
wood lots, cultivate the soil for i few
years, and then give it back again TO ma
turs. will be surprised 10 see how rapidly
it will overtake the undisturbed part Of the
lot, and how soon il viii surpass it in the
amount. quality and value Of Its growth.
On many farms there are acres of Ian
either sterile and unproductive. or rocky
ridges, or cold undrained swales, which
without the slightest loss TO the owner
might be surrendered TO the forest growth
which would spring up spontaneously
thus giving positive addition TO the value
Of his property. besides the incidental ad-
vautages Of hiding unsightly objects. pro
tecting buildings, nurseries. gardens and
orchards from winds and the extremes OF
heat and cold, and drawing from the al
mosphere elements of fertility for the ell
richment of the soil. The best method
although rarely practced in this country
is, 10 select piece OF good land. and then
in accordance with the well-established
principles OF forestry. to devote It to the
cultivation and growth of wood aud tim
Der; either by sowing the seed. or setting
out the young trees. We have heard OF
cases where logs have been cut and hauled
10 the saw-mill from lots where the traces
OF the cultivation OF corn some twenty OF
thirty years before. were distinctly visible
Here however, the deserted field was
abandoned TO the slow processes OF nature,
but Oh the contrary, when the hand oil
man prepares the soil aud then sows and
plants the forest growth; ii is quite proba.
BILE that even 4 shorter time will be re-
qured. TO mature the harvest OF wood and
timber. On such artificial plantations. the
young trees are started much thicker TO-
gether, than they are allowed to remain
permanently; provision being made for in
termediate cuttings. first of poles suitable
for hoops, thea the larger growth used 70.
the stakes and poles of fences, then posts,
leaving at proper distances the remainder
that has been reserved for wood or timber.
Such systematic and regular entering and
cutting in accordance with the original de-
sign. We can commend: but for ordinary
wood lots the rule should be, cut clear as
you go. The false economy which sug-
gests the culling here and there some over
grown or decaying tree, ordinarily breaks
down and destroys a fourfold value of
young and thrifty trees. With an OCCASION
al exception, it is a far better way to suffer
the slowly decaying tree to drop by de-
grees to the earth, and thus minister a
valuable top-dressing to the rising under
growth. To every one who has the care
of a young and growing wood lot. our
special direction would be, keep out cattle.
fires, and yourself; however strong the
te mptation otherwise may be, let it alone.
The owner of a lot of twenty acres ready
for the axe, each acre furnishing years
supply of fuel, will End II he cuts clean as
he goes, that at the end of twenty years,
the lot is ready for a second cutting.
The comparatively modern method OF
firewood, is much in advance of
the practice so common in former days.
Then. during the season of summer the
was upon the remnants OF
the winter wood pile. the ehip?yard, or