Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-12-27
THE YEARS SUPPLY or WOOD.
soNE FARMERS BURN COAL. A PROFIT.
ABLE WOOD LOT. SAVE VALUABLE
TIMBER. FORESTRY. SUGGESTIONS.

One Of the important jobs to be kept
in mind In early winter is the collection
Of years stock Of 6re wood from the
wood lot that is part OF nearly every
New England farm. There no
economy In burning green wood or that
which IL wet from exposure to weather.
Neither can one afford to haul or cut fire
wood In summer when other work Is
pressing. Many farms have more wood
land than enough to supply the home
demand for fuel, and when this is the
case II pays TO use good Judgment in
selecting trees to be cut. There Is always
an abundance of inferior stuff that can
be culled without diminishing the value
OF the lot. In many cases the trees left
will be worth more for having the In
ferior stuff removed.
All dead trees should be taken out, and
the sooner after dying the better. Such
fuel, IL used within year, will compare
fsvorably with that which Is cut alive
At any rate, IL will never be better, aud
II left 10 rot will be total loss. Enough
underbrush should be cut to afford ample
room to get round with sled or wagon.
To avoid cutting too many roads 10 thick
growths, IL Is u good way to fall the in
ferior trees and haul TO an open place,
where they will be convenient to load.
A horse will sometimes draw more than
one At time, II of small sire.
Some varieties are never worth much
except for fuel; II the land IL thickly
covered with such IL may be best TO cut
clean, and while the fuel can be worked
into stove lengths with least expense. IL
such trees are free TO sprout II may be
best TO cut clean ss often as once Ia IL
or Is years. have known n small
chestnut lot to keep a family In fuel
without decreasing the annual supply.
Young wood will sprout much better
thxa that which has come TO maturity,
and when cut young there Is little waste
from dead wood. Where there are
valuable timber trees these should be
saved when practicable for their value
not only as timber, but as seed producers
for Increasing that variety.
Thus far in the history Of New Eng
land, comparatively little attention has
been paid to the production OF trees
valuable for timber. 1, Is high time for
= change. Good timber Of many kinds
Is getting scarce and valuable, and IL will
pay to keep this in mind when working
In the woods. A study Of trees, their
care and training. with . view TO their
greatest value when harvested, IL pro-
ductive of as much interest and enthu-
sissm as growing any other crop.
There are advantages 10 4 coal fire,
and many farmers who have plenty Of
wood, burn some coal, but coal costs
cash, and this Is not always abundant In
these days Of low prices for farm crops.
Besides, there are advantages 10 wood
fires. especially when one Il la haste for
breakfast. With plenty Of good wood
well seasoned and dry, IL Ia not difficult
20 keep warm aud do lots Of business
with the products OF the wood lot.
On many farms winter IL q compar-
atively leisure time, and fuel prepared
then makes no draft upon the savings Of
the year. IL Il often better TO keep u
good hired man the year round and let
him prepare stock Of wood In winter
than TO let him go at the end OF the sum
mer and run the risk OF getting him, or
another as good, the next season.
IL the establishment IL large and much
fuel Is needed, II msy pay 10 have n
horse power to work up the fuel. This
Is easier and quicker, aud may be cheap
er than doing Ii by hand. Where steam
power Is owned for other kinds OF work,
as threshing, cutting corn, ETC., it csn
easily be fitted for saving fire wood.
But however we'll II Is worked, be sure
that IL is put where IL will keep dry after
being well seasoned.
No building on the farm pays bet
ter percent on its cost than u woodshed
annually filled with good fuel. II you
don't believe il, ask the woman that has
the fires TO make and tend.-A. W.
Cheever. In New England Farmer.