The Oskaloosa herald., 1908-12-03
TIMBER RESOURCES OF IOWA.

The production or 10 cofdS OF luel
per acre in "a years in planted
grove of silver maple, of 1926 catalpa
posts in 81 years, and of 352 larch
telegraph poles in 80 years have yield
ed Iowa farmers average annual re-
turns of S665, s9.26,' and s1214 per
acre respectively. Even these are
not the highest figures reported. Here
however, plantation must necessarily
pay well or be supplanted. Iowa has
a smaller proportion of nonagricul-
tural land than any other state, and
with the increase in demand for fields
and grazing lands, woodland must con-
tend for possession of the land with
annual crops grown by excellent meth
DDS in an ideal agricultural region.
The remaining natural timber and
planted woodlots, however, so far from
receiving similarly the best methods
of treatment, have often been sadly
neglected and misused.
The rapid removal of native wood
greatly reduced the local supply of
posts. fuel, and small timbers. In
consequence prices have risen from
ohe-third to opeyhalf, and JIM the case
of posts, at least, will continue TO, in
crease. A famine in the supply of
posts is so imminent that experiments
in. methods OF. extending their dura-
5ility through preservative treatment
are being conducted at the State col
lege. These experiments indicate
that the usefulness of each post can
be materially. heightened at a reason
Iably low cost; but even with preserv-
alive treatment many posts will be
required to supply the needs of Iowa
farmers, more than are now being
grown within the state.
There is 50 slight difference in
altitude and other physical charac-
teristics in Iowa that the differences
N tree growth depend mainly upon
the moisture requirements OF the trees
The natural timber forms two clear
ly distinguished types-one in the low,
moist areas along streams, made up
largely of alluvial soils. and the other
N higher, we'll drained slopes and
uplandS back from water courses and
on the undulatIng prairie On the
bottoms some trees are cottonwood,
willow, elm and cohee trees abound,
and on the uplands hickory, oaks, iron
wood, white ash, and blackberry.
Throughout the state the soil is adapt
ed to the growth OF forest trees.
1t is probable that in the future
IS frequently in the past, large pro-
portion Of the grove paintings will
be for the combined purposes of pro-
lection and the production of wood.
In this case it will be necessary to
select species which will most nearly
meet these combined requirements
sideration of the home, orchard and
Ibarnyard. The protection of a wind
break is now appreciated by all sue
cessful fruit growers, and yet il is
not best closely to surround an Or
chard on all sides with a heavy belt
of larger trees that will prevent free
circulation of air On bottomlands sub
ject to overflow, and consequently not
adapted to tillage, cottonwood and
silver maple can be grown for lumber
with excellent returns
To aid IN the movement toward prac
teal forestry in Iowa, Investigations
were made during 1905 by the Forest
Service TO determine the extent, char.
acter, and value of the native farm
woodlots and planted groves The
report of this Investigation, with
measurements of the groves examin-
ed, and an estimate of the profits
which have accrued from growing tim
Der in commercial plantations are en-
bodied in Circular 1874 OF the Forest
Service, Native and Planted Timber
of Iowa" This publication can be
had on application to the Forester at
Washington.
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