Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-19
STATE HOUSE.
More About Forestry
Work in Maine.
Rainbow Trout to Be Planted
in Lake C0bbosseec0ntee.,
Successful Summer School at Hamp-
den, Last Week-State Assessors to
Fix Value Ct Wild Lands-New Cor
porations to file Certificates.

Prof George II. Myers, expert of the
L. S. Bureau of Forestry, who was re-
Gently at the State House to procure
maps of the forest regions of the State
has prepared for Journal readers the
following clear and concise statement
of the work III which he is engaged:
The article which appeared, July 9,
in the Kenncbec Journal and afterward
III other papers, about describ-
ing certain new work of the bureau of
forestry which has just been initiated in
Maine, was in the main correct except
for the substitution of the name OF q.
II. Myers for that of Prof. III. s. Graves,
who is in charge of the work.
To go little more into detail, the
preliminary work, now in progress, con-
sists in endeavoring to fix the limits of
the two most important forest types in
Maine, namriy the spruce-fir type and
the white pine type. These two kinds
If forest growth are the most charac-
teristic ones of two forest regions
which extend far beyond the limits of
Maine. This delineation will be a
| step in the formation of what may he
! termed sylvi-cultural maps of the for
| ests of the country.
| The remaining part of the work will
consist Of establishing permanent sam
| pie plots. Some of the objects for which
sample plots may be established in
| Maine. are as follows: To determine
what system of thinning, if any, and
how severe, is the proper one to apply
/ to white pine second growth in order t.
obtain more or better wood from a
! CHI, .I,.,
| cut in shorter time. In the case of
spruce-tir to determine whether it is
best to cut to a diameter limit and if
So to what one.
! Another important type has in recent
years taken possession of large areas
in Maine formerly occupied by virgin
growth of pine or spruce. This is the
birch-Ioplar or light hardwood type.
This may be studied especially with
reference to making the most of these
short lived. light-foliaged hard woods
while preserving. if practicable. the
understory of spruce, fir. pine and hem
lock, which is so often found with the
brches and poplars growing above it.
| Like areas. as IN the other experiments,
! will be differently treated and still
other areas left untouched for sake Of
comparison, in order to show by what
method of cutting the best practical
results can be obtained.
Careful records will be kept as to the
comparative cost of different kinds of
! timing. etc. so as to show what opera
tons for the Improvement of the
growth can be economically practiced
Other problems. such as the repro
duction of various species in different
situations. or the growth of individual
trees. might be cited. but those al
ready described will serve to show the
character of the work. Many of these
series of experiments must OF necessity
require considerable time for their
completion ana the purpose is to
choose those which il seems will be
most useful years hence. when we must
look t" the present second growth" for
our supply of large timber. On the
other hand the results of a part of the
experiments will be available in a few
years time, as. for example, the re-
suliS Of early thinning.
The undersigned, who is engaged i'm
| this work, will be thankful to those IN
tcrcsted i'm this work for any .'ugGrs-
ions which may be offered either pub
liCly or in private letters. as to the
most important forest problems Of the
present ana future in Maine and the
method of getting at the results most
directly and simply.
1t may not be amiss to add to the
above taat more owners of timberland
than might at first be supposed nave
already carried on some work accord
ing to the principles of forestry in 50
far as they are applicable to this region.
For instance, the writer has recently
talked to several owners Of large
tracts in Washington county who are
regularly making Improvement cut
tings'' to aid the more valuable trees
against their close neighbOrs of .ess
valuable kinds. 1t would doubtless in
terest many to hear what has been
done by various persons and what re-
suits, good or otherwise. they have OBJ
tanned from such work.
(Signed