The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1905-11-30


Thrcu gbout a large part Of the Eastern
States nearly every farm has . woodlot.
Fiom that woodlot, which 10 often all that
remains Of the vast forest which originally
clothed the region, the farmer supplies his
own reede. il furnishes him with fuel,
fence pe ste, rails, and even with timber,
boards, ard shingles to keep the farm
buildings 10 repair. A well-managed
woodlot 10 therefore . very valuable part
Of the farm, IN the sum total OF oil farm
wot dlots presents.a very large national
asset.
The U. s. Foreat Service has for some
years devoted special attention to the needs
Of wo0dlot owners. Its co operation 10
fired TO all who would have advice on
the management Of woodlots, aud many
thousands II acres Of farm forest are now
&C u,lly cared for under practical systems
Of forettiy which II has recomme nded.
Asa general rule. but little care ID devot.
ed 10 he woodlot. u 10 left to shift for
ittelf, 10 often used too freely for the pas
lurage Of 1--we stotf, and 10 rarely gusrdt d
from fie OF forest enemies. When wood
10 net ed but little discretion is exercised
IN he Cd. cs Of u, es, and no need Ia felt Of
provioi 6 for The renewal or improvement
Of be stand
YET 1t is decidedly simple matter 10
care fer he wCodlot. The owner need
lot luld.n himself with any very elaborate
-yst,m. Nor Lied he, 10 most cases, re.
duce the amount Of timber which be cuts.
Eventually, I course, to can cut more, for
more Nil b. grown. The first requirement
Of the Ordinary wot blot 10 protection, and
the t,cold, seitctio. In cutting.
Fire 10 the chief enemy Of the wcodlot.
Fires damage lhe larger trees. starting hol-
lows In the butts or weakening them until
they begin 10 die In the tops, reducing
their value when cut; hut the greatest
harm 10 done to reproduction and the
growth Of young trees. Running over the
forest soil, they consume the litter and kill
the seedlings, The forest soil becomes too
dry to encourage the germins.ion Of tree
seeds. Even II seedlings succeed 10 finding
root and begin to flourish, the next Ore de-
stroy them.
FRS may easily be kept out Of tho
woodlot With little care. They are often
started to improve the grazing and pasture.
This certainly Is poor policy. While the
grazing may be improved for few years,
the woodlot 10 often permanently Injured.
1t IL generally 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 tsxes on land which he only
Lslf uses, Grazing II imals often 90 much
injury to the wooclot. They browse upon
young growth and trample II down. 1Ley
also pack the soil With their hoof, destroy.
Ink its power 10 retain moisture and eL-
coursgiDg lLe entrance u grass. GruzIg
should be wstchc d, and should be pei miI.
ted Ia the woooi,t only when such harm
v al not rtlull.
In cuttiI G, The first thing 10 look out for
is the you, & growth. The whole point "
forest man. gem,Il 10 TO have ne~ trees Il
The mist useful kind take he place Of ne
OH, just - 500 - possibie sfter they sie
cut. One though less stroke Of the AZ vi
get rid u nae s.pplirg half the lizs VI
mans whist, II IL 10 little In the way AID
= d zen years of growth 10 los.
On The o,her hand, the cutting Of
good tree may simply open for wor.hais
trees 10 take 10 iscs.
Ia zone ies iols care must b taken not
10 permit The cIswD cover 10 become 700
pen. Iu = GOO forest The sCu Will ~
solt and moist. aid This soil coIdition 10
Il The 'rees are 70 thrive sno
max good growtt. Opei irg the groulo
b The slL dries cut the moisture, and oiseI
burns cut the young growth - though b,
Ore. while ibs trees tend 10 btc me
branchy IL lhey stand too far apart.
Pas, nesac bas produced nAay wood
lots 10 which tnr hsaithy trees Of the best
nds are chsk d with unkound and dead
trees Of ID, inferior Kinds, For such cAses
Improvement cut irgs are o, eded. IL ~iii
pay TO spend a . time necessary ~ remove
tbe dead, cr.oIei, AID diseased uss, to-
getb.r with ne " ED uees, 20 that ths -
mAlnir 4 slAlc may be composed Of xooc
timber trt,s ID slffcisnr number. uDdsr
favorable for their BEST develop
ment. This can BE- done gradually, ~ The
material can b. utilized.
when ones The Improvement estiloG hAa