Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-14
WOOD LOT FORESTRY.
simple Directions for Caring for the
wood supply on the Farm.

WOOD supply on tnc FurW.
throughout large part OF the Eastern
States nearly every farm has its wood
lot From that wood lot which is often
all that remains of the vast forests which
originally clothed the region, the farmer
s,lpplies his own needs. 1t furnishes him
with fuel, fence posts. rails poles, and
wen with timber. boards, and shingles
% keep the farm buildings in repair. A
aell-managed wood lot is therefore II
.ery valuable part of the farm, and the
,um total of all farm wood lots repre-
:"nts IA very large national asset.
The United States forest service has
for some years devoted special attention
to- the needs of wood lot owners. Its CO.
,noration is offered to all who would have
,lvice on the management of wood lots.
md many thousands of acres of farm
forests are now actually cared for un-
Ter practical systems of forestry which
has recommended.
Ns a general rule, but little care is de-
.otod to the wood lot. 1t is left to shirt
'or itself if often used too freely for the
,asturage of live stock, and is rarely
guarded from fire or forest enemies.
Nhen wood is needed but little discre-
lion is exercised in the choice of trees,
and no need is felt of providing for the
renewal or Improvement of the stand.
Yet il is decidedly a simple matter to
.are for the woodlot. The owner need
not burden himself with any very clabo-
-ate system. Nor need he. in most cases,
-cduce the amount of timber. he can cut
more for more will be grown. The first
.equremcnt of the ordinary wood lot is
protection, and the second, selection in
mtting.
Fire is the chief enemy of the wood
OF. Fires damage the larger trees. start
ng hollows in the butts or weakening
hem until they begin to die in the tops.
.cducing their value when cut; but the
.reatcst harm is done to reproduction
ini the growth of young trees. Run
a!ng over the forest soil. they consume
lie litter and kill the seedlings. The
'orcst soil becomes too dry to encourage
he termination of tree seeds Even il
seedlings succeed in finding root and be-
rim to flourish, the next fire destroys
hem.
Fires may easily be kept out Of the
aood lot with a little care. They are
often started to improve the grazing and
pasture. This is certainly poor policy.
While the grazing may he improved for
few years, tho wood lot is often per-
alinently injured. 1t is generally a poor
Plan to expect land to produce grass and
wood at the same time. Neither will do
we'll, and the owner will be paying taxes
on land which he only half uses. Graz
ing animals often do much injury to the
wood lot. They browse upon young
growth and trample it down. They also
pack the soil with their hoofs. DESTROY
Ing it's power II retain moisture and IN
coiiraging the entrance Of grass Graz
Inc should be watched, and should he
permitted in the wood lot only when
such harm will not result.
In cutting, the first thing to look out
for is the young growth. The whole
point OF forest management is to have
new trees of the most useful kind take
the place of the old. Just as soon pos
sible after they are cut. one thoughtless
stroke OF the aX will get rid of fine
sapling half the size of a mans wrist, if
T. is n little in the way, and a dozen
Years of growth is lost. On the other
hand :he cutting of q good tree may
simply open room for worthless trees to
take its place.
In some regions care must be taken
not to permit the crown cover to be-
come top open In good forest tn, soil
i'll be soft and moist, and this soil con-
1ition is essential if the trees are to thrive
md make good growth, Opening the
ground to the sun dries out the moisture
md often burns out the Young growth
as though by fire. while the trees tonu
a. become branchy If they stand too far
apart.
Past neglect has produced many wood
lots in which the healthy trees of the
best kinds are chokcd with unSound and
dead trees and trees of inferior kinds
For such cases improvement cuttings