Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-01-19
NO. 3
wooDLoT FORESTRY.
Simple Directions for Caring for the Wood
Supply on the Farm.


Supply on the Farm.
bulletin from the Forest Service depart
mcnt OF the United States Department
Of Agricultural
Throughput a large part Of the Eastern
| states nearly every farm has its woodlot
From that woodlot, which is often all that
remains Of the vast forests which
originally clothed the region, the farmer
supplies his own needs. II furnishes him
with fuel fence posts, rails, poles. and
even with timber boards, and shingles to
keep the farm buildings in repair A we'll
managed woodlot Is therefore a very
valuable part Of the farm, and the sum
total Of all farm woodlots represents a
very large national asset.
the United States Forest Service has
Tor some years devoted special attention
to the needs Of woodlot owners Its CO.
operation is offered to all who would have
, advice on the management of woodIots
ana many thousands of acres Of farm
forests are now actually cared for under
practical systems OF forestry which il has
recommended.
As general rule. but little care is de-
voted to the woodlot. 1t is left to shift
Tor itself, is often used too freely for the
pasturage of live stock, and Is rarely
guarded from fire or forest enemies. When
wood is needed but little discretion is
exercised in the choice of trees. and no
need is felt OF providing for renewal or
Improvement Of the stand. Yet Il is de-
cldedly a simple matter to care for the
woodlot The owner need not burden
himself with any very elaborate system.
Nor need be. in most cases reduce the
amount of timber which he cuts Event
ually, OF course, he can cut more for
more will be grown. The first require-
ment OF the ordinary woodlot is protec-
tion, and the second. selection in cutting.
ira fc fHs al,f ,f.F
Fires damage the larger trees starting
hollows in their butts or weakening them
until they begin to die in the tops, re-
ducing 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
and Kill the seedlings. The forest soil
becomes too dry to encourage the ger
minaton of tree seeds. Even II seedlings
succeed In finding root and begin to
flourish, the next fire destroys them.
Fires may easily be kept out of the
woodlot with little care. They are often
started to improve the grazing and pas-
ture, This is certainly poor policy. While
grazing may be improved for few years.
the woodlot is often permanently injured
IL is generally poor plan to expect land
TO produce grass and wood at the same
time. Neither will do well, and the owner
VIII be paying taxes on land which he
much injury to the woodlot. They browse
upon young growth and trample it down.
They also pack the soil with their hoofs
destroying Its power to retain moisture
and encouraging the entrance of 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 kind take the place Of
the old. just as soon as possible after they
are cut. One thoughtless stroke of the
AK will get rid OF a fine sapling half the
size OF a mans wrist. IL IL is a little In
the way, and dozen years OF growth is
lost sOn the other hand, the cutting OF
a 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 become too
open. In a good forest the soil will be
soft and moist, and this soil condition is
essential If the trees are to thrive and
make good growth. Opening the ground
to the sun dries out the moisture and
often burns out the young growth as
though by fire, while the trees tend to
become branchy II they stand too for
apart
Past neglect has produced many wood
lots in which the healthy trees of the
best kinds are choked with unsound and
dead trees and trees of inferior kinds
For such cases improvement cuttings are
needed. 1t will pay to spend the time and
labor necessary to remove the dead
crooked. and diseased trees, together with
the weed trees, so that the remaining
stand may be composed Of good timber
trees in sufficient number, under condi-
tions favorable for their best development
This can be done gradually, as the
material can be utilized.
When mi n1tff
has brought the woodlot into business
like shape, further operations should be
made with a view to reproduction and a
lasting supply. Care should be taken in
Telling, working up, and hauling out wood
to do as little damage as possible to young
growth If reproduction is to take place
from seed, the proper location OF seed trees
must be considered.
Where the forest is composed mainly
OF such trees as oak and chestnut, which
sprout well from the stump, it may be
advisable to cut most of the good-sized
trees, over a part of the woodlots, for the
purpose OF raising a crop of sprouts
Such sprouts grow rapidly and produce
good poles, posts, and ties at a COMPARE
lively early age. But the stumps should
be cut low and slanting, so as to prevent
rotting and secure strong and numerous
shoots.
There are a number of thinning sys-
TENS, some Of which may suit the re-
quirements OF one woodlot but not those
OF another. By a careful reading OF
Bulletin No. ~ Of the Forest Service,
entitled ''The Woodlot," the owner can
familiarize himself with these and choose
whichever one his own woodlore and OBJ
servation suggest as the best Or should
the owner desire a special plan for the
management of his woodlot, he should
make application to the Forester United
States Department Of Agriculture, for the
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