The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-12-22
The Best Time to Fell Forest Trees.


Farmers, as a rule, find it convenient
to fell timber, both for fuel and for
rails during the winter months after
the harvest is well over and before
early spring work begins. Every sea-
son the question is agitated as to the
deSirability of this custom, and the best
season for cutting wood becomes the
subject for discussion at clubs and else
where.
The question is certainly an impor-
tant one when the trees felled are to be-
consumed as fuel.
OF green wood one-third to one-half
or more of its weight is water, partly
depending upon the time of cutting.
Experience appears to prove that all
kinds of wood cut in January contain
from 10 to % per cent. less water than
after the sap is set in motion in the
spring. In Schuller's experiments 100
pounds of ash wood cut in January was
found to contain 20 pounds of water,
while the same amount cut in April
contained SO pounds of water; 100
pounds of sycamore cut in January
contained SO pounds of water, and 40
cut in April.
George b. Emerson, in his work on
trees and shrubs. gives the result of
circulars sent out by him to different
parts of the State of Massachusetts,
asking: ''What season of the year IS
found best for telling a forest?7 To
this question the testimony was various,
but all the correspondents concurred in
saying that the tree should be felled
when not in leaf, the majority favoring
the winter months-any time between
November and April. Another enter
mr. .l, NHrl,fN haa
investigated this subject says ''It is
considered preferable for the future
growth to fell forest in April and May,
but the wood is not so good as when
cut between November and April
As wood seasons naturally in the air.
thereby losing much of its weight of
water there is large waste of strength
in hauling green wood. This fact ac-
counts for the custom in many sections
of telling trees in winter, but often not
working them up for some months
Another important fact is the waste in
burning green wood for fuel While in
reality cord OF green wood produces
lust as much heat as a cord of the same
wood dry, the cord of green wood will
not supply for use one-half as much heat
as the dry cord. The explanation is
simple: The sap in green wood must be
Nptlicu DtlOEe us carbon comes INTO
play to produce heat This takes place
gradually in the form of vapor, which
carries off a large amount of heat that
is not rendered available. As wood
seasons more rapidly when split in
small pieces, it is wise provision to
have tire-wood cut in shape for winter
use as early as practicable.
In selecting wood for fuel it becomes
matter of economy to take for fire
wood such sorts as will do best service
in range and stove, leaving behind for
rails, timber and fence posts the varie-
ties which, while possessing little value
as regards their heating qualities, stand
in the foremost rank for durability under
exposure to the weather
Shell bark hickory represent among
forest trees the highest standard for
fuel. Calling hickory 100; other trees
will compare with it for real value as
fuel as follows: Shell-barl1 hickory. 100;
pgnut hickory. 90; white ash, 81; white
oak, 83; dogwood, 10; fern oak, 73;
white hazel, y; apple tree, 20: red oak.
67; white beech, 6j; black birch, 63; vel
low oak, so; hard maple. SO; white elm,
5S; red cedar, 5G; wild cherry, 53; yell
low pine, 3D. chestnut, 52 yellow pop
lar, "A: hutternut and white birch. 43,
and white pine, 80. A number of these
woods which show a very low value for
fuel are highly esteemed for fine cabinet
work and interior wood-work.-M l..
World.