The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-11-03
PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE TO OWNERS
OF WOODLAND.

The Act passed by the Legislature To estab-
lish State Board Of Forestry and to promote
forest interests and arborculture in the State
A, that the State Forester shall. upon request,
and whenever It seems advisable, cooperate
with the owners of woodlands and those wish
ing to plant forest trees, by the suggestion and
preparation of plans for forest management
and protection.
1t is estimated that about "A per cent. Of the
land area of the State is in woodlands. The
great bulk of this is in woodlois owned by
private individuals, and 1t is therefore with
them that the forestry problems Of the State
largely rest.
Since the acreage of unimproved land has
increased slightly during the past decade it is
likely that most of the lands now in forest
growth will remain so. The question is how
to make these lands the most productive.
Under improved methods of agriculture our
agricultural lands are producing much more
than they ever did before. We call it inten-
sive farming. On nearly every farm is a wood
lot. We pay taxes on this, and yet we do not
apply to it the same exacting principle that
we do to the other part of the farm. namely,
that every acre must yield the greatest returns
of which it is capable. Its true that the wood
lands are usually unfit for anything but forest
growth, but even so, are they doing for us the
best they can If every acre of the woodlot or
timber tract is not yielding the best returns,
consistent with the purpose it serves, whether
for fuel, fence-posts, poles ties, saw-logs, con-
a. ~foI ind roa Or7a mt
ombination of any Of these, there isa chance
to improve the management. 1t is fact that
not one woodlot in ten is yielding as good re-
turns as it should with proper care.
Practical forestry is simply the application
of economic principles in the treatment of
woodlands. These principles are based on a
knowledge of tree growth, the requirements of
different species, their relative value as associ
ated in the forest and as a final crop. It is
only by carrying out definite plan of man.
agement that our forests will be the most pro-
ductive and best serve the purposes of the
owner.
The State Forester will, on request, and as
his time permits, make examinations of wood
lots, timber tracts and lands upon which plant
ing is proposed, with view to introducing
forest management. An examination of
woodlot usually takes but few hours, and it
is very desirable that the owner or his agent
be present, since the Forester must consult with
him in devising plan of management that
shall not alone meet the requirements of forest
improvement. but also meet the wishes of the
owner. m M
The conditions, as provided by law, under
which this cooperative work is undertaken,
are That the owner shall pay the, travelling
expenses of the Forester from Baltimore and
return, and board him while making the me-
cessary examination The State also reserves
the right to publish any data or reports result
ing from such work. Where two or more APP
plications come from the same locality, SO that
more than one examination can be made on
the same trip, the expenses will be divided
among the applicants. Applications should be
sent in early in order to thus group them. A
blank form will be sent on request. Address
all inquiries to f. w. Besley, State Forester,
Baltimore, Md.