Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-25
yANDERBILTs WOODLANDS.
First Experiment in Forestry Man
agement in This Country.

IL Is an interesting iacI lldl the hi''
attempt at systematic forest management
in America was made at Fillmore, In
North Carolina. Mr. c. w. Vanderbilt
owns two forests I'm the mountains OF
this State which are under the same
management-one. the Fillmore forest,
living n few miles 10 the southeast Of
Asheville and embracing about 5000 acres,
the other, the Pisgah forest. OF soWO
acres. covering the eastern and southern
slopes Of the P,sgah ridge, with its spurs,
and the valleys of some of the western
tributaries of the French Broad river.
The Biltmore forest is on the rounded
river hills OF the Asheville basin, the
river dividing IT, It's most distant portion
Is about ten miles from Asbeville. Al
though It has been under forest manage
ment only about seven years. the wooo-
land shows great Improvement over me
surrounding forest, which has none OF inc
protection.
The timber on the river hills OF the
French Broad was never Of the best
oualitv: but at the time of it's acquisition
several decades Of cutting for humber and
fuel, with constant pasturage and ire
ouent fires. had In many instances re-
duced the number of growing trees to
only a small proportion Of what the soil
was able to produce. Young trees had
no opportunity to develop, which meant
that a portion Of the farmers capital,
the soil. was not being utilized, but lying
idle
PREVENTING FIRES.
The first step after the adoption OF a
forest policy was 10 secure Immunity from
fires and the exclusion Of cattle. The
presence of cattle under certain condl-
tons may be permissible, but every pf&c-
teal precaution Is taken to guard against
fires. Although there are only three men,
who. among other duties, have TO act as
fire guards for the 5000 acres, few fires
of any extent have occurred.
The trees which were standing seven
years ago were considered as worthless,
except Tor fuel, and much Of the best fuel
timber, the hickory and white oak, had
been cut. The object of the present man
agement has been 20 continue the re-
movaI OF the old trees where 1t could be
done without loss. and ut the same time
TO reproduce a crop OF young trees In
their place. In this new crop which is
being started preference is given to The
valuable trees-white oak, post oak,
hickory and pine-trees which VIII
eventually make building materials or
railway ties. la many places a thicN
young growth has appeared beneath the
few old trees remaining. which Is re-
garded as a most promising sign.
throughout this forest the landscape
effect is paramount, as through IL wind
many miles Of pleasure drives, and no cut
ting must be done which will I'm any way
tend TO mar the beauty of the scene. IN
fact. entire hilsides which were formerly
under cultivation are being, or nave been'
planted in young trees. THIS Is nor zone
as an advisory forest measure, since the
cost of planting is entirely too large In
proportion to any hoped for returns, but
merely as a soil covering. a garnish for
barren hills. a veil TO obscure ever-deep-
eniug gullies. to cover what are now blots
on the landscape. Many of these plea
sure drives are expected some day to
form a mart Of an arbOretum, or rather
nm arboretum Is to be planted on either
side Of the drives That Is, all the trees
which can be gotten to grow in the ell
mate Of Biltmore are to be planted along
these roads.
PLANTING TREES
Trees from everywhere are to be tried,
both native and foreign, from the south
ern hemisphere as well as the northern
The nursery is already stocked with
thousands Of specimens, ready to be
placed along the arboretum roads IL
will afford the bOtanist an excellent op-
portunity Of study; the lover of trees can
here compare the beauty Of rival species,
and their adaptability to these soils and
conditions and even the forester may
be benefited may secure some species
suitable for introduction into the noun
tain forest which will be 4 valuable adj
dition to the timber trees of the State.
The arboretum, however, has nothing to
do with the forest as il is for beauty, or
study. or a matter Of experiment in the
department of the various trees at Bilt-
more: while the forest and it's entire
MANAGEMENT, so far as is compatible with
its utilization as a portion OF the land
scape gardening, is to secure an income.
a continuous income, from woodland
For n great many years the products of
the BiltmOre forest must be of a low
grade-fuel, and often fuel OF a poor
quality-the chief efforts of the manage
ment being directed toward starting
young wood Of desirable kinds Of trees
cord wood. At present the cutting
amounts 10 only a few thousand cords
year. This is hauled to the river from
the hills on either side, and from there IS
floated to Asheville, where ii is caught
i'm a boom. This method OF transporta-
ton is cheaper than hauling with wagons
The roads from the forest to the river
are constructed so as TO be down grade
all the way. Though the roads are only
of earth, they are carefully graded ANA
have no steep places. This permits very
large loads OF cord wood 10 be carried.
CUTTING FIREWooD.
The cutting OF the wood IS to be so dis
trbuted that what IS cut during the given
period. say ten years, will not exceed
what viii have grown during that line.
At present the annual cutting IS less
than what is being yearly added by
growth, SO as to permit the woods. which
are too thin, TO thicken up, and much
If the cutting being done is with the
object in view of removing old trees or
defective ones, which by their shade are
interfering with the growth of young
trees beneath them.
Does II pay? So far the Bfltmore forest
has been paying for the Improvement
cuttings which have been made. as well
as for all operating expenses and the
possibility of Increased returns is great
er each year
The conditions surrounding the Pisgah
forest are go different from those exist
ing IN the Biltmore forest, and II has been
under forest management such a short
time. that but few important results have
yet been obtained from 1t.
While there are features In the man.
agement Of the Biltmore forest which
could not be generally utilized. such as
using the river for transporting cord
wood, there are other PRINCIPLES which
sooner or later every owner of laSge
amounts of woodland must adoDt who
wishes 10 place his investment on sound
nroducfnU basis There ara aorna thf,o,.,