The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-29
GARDEN
AND HOUSEHOLD
By S. A. COOK.

: pay special attention to the silvicul-
/ tural characteristics and the CONNER
/ Cial possibilities of these trees. They
/ viii also apply the information coll
/ 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
I for the successful application of for
/ estYy where the tree forms an impor-
tant part of the forest crop. 1t in
wolves among other things. knowledge
of its methods of reproduction, that it
may continue to form a part, and very
likely larger part of the forest, in
stead of being replaced, when lumber
ed. by less available trees, of its rate
of growth. on which depends the cal
culation of future returns; Of the con-
ditions of light, soil, moisture, etc, UNI
der which it flourshes best; of It's
ability to compete with the various
other species with which il is asso-
ciated i'm the various types of forest in
which il occurs and what manage
ment can do to improve conditions for
il; of when it will pay to plan for it
as part of a permanent timber-p roduc-
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 d 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 leaV-
ing it barren or to grow up in worth
less brush. but a regular timber out
h. ,eyF.. Y,f1
proves in character and the value of
its growth.
Acting under it's 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 prob
lens of management presented may be
briefly indicated. In Kentucky the
owner of a 40000-acre tract wishes to
retain a large part of the property in
forest for continuous production of
railroad ties In West Virginia a 3d.,
O00-acre tract, the property of a min
ing company, must be made to main
tain a permanent supply of timbers for
use i'm the mines. In the same state
another wRrking plan for 5000 acres
of timberland aims to secure a steady
income from the sale of the timber
grown.
The problems of management pre-
scented the bureau differ with changing
forest conditions and with the various
purposes of the owners. The bureau
field force examines the forest and
counts and measures the trees to de-
termne the stand of each Species the
rate of growth, and both present and
prospective yield in board feet. Having
this information. and knowing the
habits of growth of the different spe
cies the bureau is then in position to
give definite advice as to the proper
course to pursue to attain by manage
ment any specified end.
This branch of the bureaus work is
of Importance not only to the owners
of large timber tracts, but as we'll to.
those whose holdings consist of merely
so or 100 acres. The purpose of the
bureau is not to benefit any particu-
lar owner or set of owners, but to en-
courage and establish conservative for
estry everywhere for the general good
of the nation. Individuals derive di-
rect benefits from this work, but the
knowledge and experience thus gained
by the bureau are for application to
whole sections and contribute to the
scientific knowledge and practice of
forestry.