The San Francisco call., 1904-08-19
MEN anaxMAaEERS In
THE FC1IE1S lie WORLD
MON
novels under the pen name of Allan
ATcCaulev. HAYDEN CHURCH.
Forestry Problems.

This field season the Bureau OF For
estry win complete certain studies of
important commercial trees in the
South. The species under investigation
ere yellow poplar, white. red, black
and chestnut oak, chestnut, white pine
and hemlock A great mass of data
has been collected as a basis for
tables showing the proportion of these
species in various types of the APP
palachian forest, the volume Of mer-
chantable timber and the rate OF
growth of the several species. This
season trained men Of the bureau VIII
Pay special attention to the suvicul-
tural characteristics and the CONNER
cial possibilities of these trees. They
will also apply the information col
lected by the bureau in the last two
years, embodying it in practical sug-
gestions for conservative forest man
agement by timberland owners of the
South.
The aim of a commercial tree study
is to secure the information necessary
for the successful application of for
estry where the tree forms an import
ant part of the forest crop. 1t In
wolves, among other things, knowledge
Of its methods of reproduction, that 1T
may continue to form a part, and very
likely a larger part, Of the forest in
stead Of being replaced, when lum-
bered. by less available trees; of its
rate of growth. on which depends the
/ calculation of future returns; Of the
conditions Of light, soil. moisture. etc,
under which II flourishes best; Of its
ability to compete with the various
/ other species with which il is asso-
clated in the various types of forest
/ in which it occurs and what manage
ment can do TO improve conditions for
/ it; of when it will pay to plan for 1t
as part of q permanent TIMBER -produc-
! ing forest, and Of how it ought to be
/ numbered to secure the largest present
! and future returns. In the light of
the knowledge which such studies fur
/ nish. the forester is in a position to
make an intelligent working plan for
tracts in which the trees studied form
or can be made TO form a valuable
| part of the stand of timber. In that
| case numbering does not mean running
the forest, denuding the ground and
! leaving it barren or TO grow up in
worthless brush, but a regular timber
output. while the forest constantly i'm
{ proves in character and the value of
/ its growth.
Acing under its general cooperative
offer. the Bureau Of Forestry is now
preparing detailed working plans for
several tracts of timber belonging to
| private owners in the States of West
| Virginia. Kentucky. Tennessee and
North Carolina. Three of the problems
Of management presented may be
briefly indicated. In Kentucky the
owner of a 4OOOO-aere tract wishes 10
retain large part of the property in
forest for continuous production OF
railroad ties. In West Virginia a go
OO0-acre tract, the property of a min
ing company, must be made to main
tain permanent supply of timbers
for use in the mines. In the same State
another working plan for 5000 acres OF
timberland aims to secure a steady in
come from the sale of the timber
grown.
The problems of management pre-
sented the bureau differ with changing
forest conditions and with the various
purposes of its owners. The bureau
field force examines the forests and
counts and measures the trees to de-
termine the stand of each species. the
rate of growth and both present anC
prospective yield in board feet. Hav-
ing this information, and knowing the
habits Of growth of different species
the bureau is then in position to give
definite advice as to the proper course
to pursue to attain by management
any specified end.
This branch OF the bureaus work il
of Importance not only to the Owneri
Of large timber tracts, but as we'll t.
those whose holdings consist of merel!
so or 100 acres. The purpose of tn,
bureau is not to benefit any particular
owner or set OF owners, but to en-
courage and establish conservative for
3 estry everywhere for the general gooc
of the nation. Individuals derive di
: rect benefits from this work, but tn
knowledge and experience thus gainec
by the bureau are for application t,
whole sections and contribute to tn
scientific knowledge and practice o
: forestry.
There are now twenty-eight expert
conducting the commercial tree stud
les under way in the four States abov
mentioned. While these agents Of tn
bureau are on the ground owners o
" timberlands or small woodlots in thos
d. States should seize the opportunity, 8
conveniently at hand, for obtaining
preliminary examination OF their hold
ings. This will be done by the burea-
without cost to them and would Ger
: tainly prove highly beneficial to thei
: interests. The bureau is glad to re
!, ceive applications for such exam
nations.
= To Lire a Century.