The Robesonian., 1908-09-21
TIMBER LANDS.
AS Permanent Investments -
What is Forestry?-Principles
of Forestry Management.

AS Permanent Investments -
What is Forestry?-P Principles
of Forestry Management.
During the past twenty years
timber lands have constantly in
creased in value and owners
have derived a profit from their
holdings due to this appreciation.
This is a speculative, although
legitimate profit. Timber lands
are capable of yielding an addi-
tional profit independent of the
increase in the value of the
stumpage, which is due to the
annual growth of the timber.
This profit, which comes from
growth, is greater on cut-over
lands and from young timber
than from old growth. Although
it accumulates on all land which
has any timber growing on it, it
can be greatly increased by def
mite methods of management,
by protection and systematic cut
ting. 1t is evident then that the
value of timber lands as perma-
net investments depends primari-
| ly upon the amount of the annu-
al growth of timber taking place
on the land, just as the value of
farming land depends upon the
amount of the crop which is
yearly produced. The farmer
can determine without difficulty
the amount of his yearly crop
and his profit or loss from it. It
is difficult for the owner of tim
Der land to ascertain the amount
of annual growth on his land and
it's consequent earning value.
It is still more difficult for the
owner of timber land to ascer-
tain methods by which he can
increase the yield from his land.
) It is in fact a complicated prob
lem involving the determination
, Of the yield, the grade and the
, value of the timber which grows
, each year, as we'll as the rate of
growth of the trees of different
sizes. Many owners have con-
sidered the earning from annual
growth too small to be consider
ed. They expect to secure
profits only from the increase in
, the value of the stumpage or the
speculative profit. By failing tC
J apply business methods to the
management of their timbered
land they only relalize partia
profits. Heretofore we have
O been dependent upon the ole
growth of timber. Every year
as the amount of the old growth
. becomes smaller we are more de
pendent upon the second growth
d and must evidently be entirely
dependent upon it and upon the
u annual growth of timber which
W comes from it to supply the
United States with lumber.
The natural rate of growth o:
- timber which takes place can bt
accelerated by certain systems O.
management. This is called for
1. estry. 1t is the means of secur
: ing the greatest amount of tn
most valuable wood growth iron
the land and increasing the earn
ing value of the timber lands t
a maximum. 1t is in fact tn
: application of business principle
to timber lands to obtain tn
highest profits from them jus
as banking secures the highes
returns from the use of none
compatible with safety of tn
investment. Forestry is the metF
cd of cutting the timber not or
ly so as not to destroy the pre-
ducing power of the land, as
frequently the resnlt in ordinar
S. numbering, but so as to increas
|, the producing power of the LAM
A. The same system of manage
ment is not applicable to all Ian
or to all kinds Of timber. It
usually necessary to modify tt
method to adapt it to the cond
tions of each locality and eac
kind of timber as we'll as on al
q count of the use to which tt
! timber is applied. The san
system, for example, would n
be used even in the same locali-
for obtaining the highest vie
from cordwood as from say
/. logs.
, In general, the forester mu
determine the following facts
order to develop a system.
l. The rate of growth of t
timber must be ascertained
70. determine the yearly growth al
=. 80 to fix the period which mt
elapse between cuttings, and
ascertain the amount of timb
which will be produced duri
given intervals, as for examl
the amount Of timber which C
be cut from a property eve
ten years, or what period MI
elapse before a cutting yieldi
5000 feet of lumber to the al
can be made.
2 The diameter above VIII
~ the most rapid growth tax
place. Trees have, at differe
diameters, different capacit
for growth. On the basis of I
yield per acre there is a diar
ter when the productive capac
of the forest is at a maximU
a. The forester fixes the diane
~ limit for cutting sofas to alw;
puyo..-oDr