The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-12-07
WOODLOT FORESTRY.
Simple Directions for Caring for the
Wood supply on the Farm.


forests which originally clothed the
region, the farmer supplies his own
needs. 1t furnishes him with fuel,
fence posts, raiis, poles, anu even "itn
timber, boards and shingles to keep
the farm buildings in repair. A we'll
managed woodlot is therefore very
valuable part of the farm, and the
sum total of all farm woodlots repre-
sents a very large national asset.
~ y. G. r.vce. Service has for
some years devoted special attention
to the needs of woodlot owners. Its
cooperation Is offered to all who would
have advice on the management of
woodlots, and many thousands of acres
of farm forests are now actually cared
for under practical systems of forestry
which It has recommended.
AS a general rule, but little care Is
devoted to the woodlot. 1t is left to
shift for itself, is often used too free
ly for the pasturage of live stock, aud
is rarely guarded from fire or forest
enemies. When wood Is needed but
little discretion is exercised in the
choice Of trees, aud no need Is felt OF
providing for the renewal or improve
ment Of the stand.
Yet it is decidedly a simple matter
to care for the woodlot. The owner
need not burdenlhimself with any very
elaborate system. Nor need he, in
most cases, reduce the amount of tim
Der which he cuts. Eventually, of
course, he can cut more, for more will
be grown. The first requirement of
the ordinary woodlot is protection,
and the second, selection in cutting.
Fire is the chief enemy Of the wood
, lot. Fires damage the larger trees,
starting hOllows IN the butts or weak
eniug them until they begin to die in
the tops, reducing their value when
cut but the greatest harm is done to
| reproduction and the growth Of young
trees. Running over the forest soil,
they consume the litter and kin the
seedlings. The forest soil becomes too
dry to encourage the termination of
tree seeds. Even Ii seedlings succeed
lin finding root and begin to flourish,
the next ire destroys them.
Fires may easily be Kept out Of the
roodlct with little care. They are
often started to improve the grazing
and pasture. This is certainly poor
policy While the grazing may be im'
proved for a few years, the woodiot Is
often permanently injured. It IS gen.
orally a poor plan TO expect land to
produce grass and wood at the same
time. Neither will do well, and the
owner viii be paving taxes on land
which he only half uses. Grazing an
imaIs often do much injury to the
wood OF. They browse upon young
growth and trample II down. They al
50 pack the soil with their hoofs, de-
stroying It's power to retain moisture
and encouraging the entranceof grass
Grazing should be watched, and should
be permitted in the woOdlot 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 kidd take
the place of the old, just as soon at
possible after they are cut. One
thoughtless stroke of the AK will get
rid of a fine sappling half the size OF
a mans wrist, if it is a little in the
way, and dozen years of growth Ii
lost. on the other hand, the cutting
of good tree may simply open roou
for worthless trees to take It's place
In some regions care must be taker
not to permit the crown cover to be
come too open. In a good forest thu
soil will be soft ana moist, and thi'
soil condition is essential If the treei
are to thrive and make good growth
Opening the ground to the sun drieI
out the moisture, and often burns ou
the young growth as though by fire
while the trees tend to become branch,
If they stand too far apart.
Past neglect has produced man'
woodlots In which the healthy trees O.
the best kind are checked with un
sound and dead trees, and trees of in
ferior kinds. For such cases improve
ment cuttings are needed. 1t will pay
to spend the time and labor necessar,
to remove the dead, crooked, and dis
eased trees, together with the weeC
trees, so that the remainding stant
may be composed of good timber tree
in sufficient number, under condition
favorable for their best development
This can be done gradually, as th'
material can be utilized.
When once the improvement cut
ting has brought the woodlot into bus
iness.like shape, further operation
should be made with a view to repro
duction and a lasting supply. Car
should be taken in telling, working up
and hauling out wood 10 do as littl
damage as possible to young growth
If reproduction is to take place frou
seed, the proper location for see
trees must be considered.
Where the forest IS composed mair
ly of such trees as oak and chestnut
which oprour well from the stump, I
may be advisable TO cut most of tn
, good-sized trees, over a part of tn