The Republican journal., 1906-01-25
WOODLOT FORESTRY.
SIMPLE DIRECTIONS FOR CARING FOR
THE WOOD SUPPLY ON THE FARM.

Throughout large part OF the EaoI-
ern States nearly every farm mas us
woodlot. From that woodlot, winch Is
often all that remains OF the vast JOE
ests which originally clothed the region,
the farmer supplies his own heeus. ~
furnishes him with fuel, renee posts'
rails, poles, and even WIN timDeI,
boards and shingles to Keep the laIln
buildings in repair. A Weli-mahageu
woOdlOt is therefore a very valuaole
part of the farm, and the sum total VI
all farm woodlOts represents very
large national asset.
The u. s. Forest Service has for
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
woodlots, and many thousands OF acres
Of farm forests are now actually careu
for under practical systems OF forestry
which it has recommended.
AS general rule, but little care is
devoted to the woodlot. IL is le1t 10
shift for itself, is often used too freely
for the pasturage of live stock, ana Is
rarely guarded from fire or forest enc
mics. When wood is needed but niue
discretion is exercised in the cholce OF
trees, and no need is felt OF proVldins
for the renewal or improvement OF the
stand.
Yet it is decidedly simple matter to
care for the woodlot The owner need
not burden himself with any very elaDo-
rate system Nor need he, IN most
| cases, reduce the amount OF TIMBER
which lie cuts. Eventually OF course,
! he can cut more, for more VIII pe
grown. The first requirement OF the
ordinary woodlot is protection, ana tile
second, selection in cutting.
| Fire is the chief enemy OF the WOOD
| lot. Fires damage the larger trees,
starting nollows i'll the butts or weak
ening them until they begin to die IN
! the tops, reducing their value Wheh
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 kill the
seedlings. The forest soil becomes TOO
dry to encourage the termination of
! tree seeds. Even if 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 pasture. This is certainly poor
policy. While the grazing may be I'M
proved for few years, the woodlot Is
often permanently injured. 1t is gen
| orally poor plan to expect lana 10
produce grass and wood at the same
time. Neither will do well, and the
owner will be paving taxes on land
which he only half uses. Grazing AMI
mails often do much injury to the
woodlot. They browse upon young
growth and trample it down. Ihey
also pack the soil with their hoofs, de-
strOying its power to retain moisture
and encouraging the entrance of grass.
Grazing should be watched, and should
lie permitted i'll 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 pos
slble after they are cut. One thought
less stroke of the AK will get rid OF
fine sapIing half the size of mans
wrist, if it is little in the way, ana
dozen years of growth is lost. On the
other hand, the cutting OF good tree
may simply open room for worthless
trees to take its place.
In some regions care must be taken
come too open. In 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 far apart.
Past neglect has produced many
woodlots in which the healthy trees
of the best kinds are choked with I'M
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 necessary
to remove the dead, crooked, and dis
eased trees, together with the weed
trees, so that the remaining stand may
be composed of good timber trees in
sufficient number, under conditions
favorable for their best development.
This can be done gradually, as the
material can be utilized.
When once the improvement cutting
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 haul
ing out wood to do as little damage as
possible to young growth. If repro
ducton 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 part of the WoodlOt for
the purpose of raising crop of sprouts.
Such sprouts grow rapidly and produce
good poles, posts, and ties at a COM
paratively early age But the stumps
should be cut low and slanting, so as to
prevent rotting and secure strong and
numerous shoots.
There are number of thinning syS-
tens, some of which may suit the re-
quirements of one woodlot but not
those of another. By careful reading
of Bulletin No. AZ of the Forest Service,
entitled ''The Woodlot," the owner can
familiarize himself with these and
choose whichever one his own wood
lore and observation suggest as the
best Or, should the owner desire
special plan for the management OF his
woodiot, he should make application to
the Forester, U. s. Department OF
Agriculture, for the cooperation of the
Forest Service
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