Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-06-10
ECONOMIC VALUE
OF FARM WOODLOT
EVERY HOMESTEAD SHOULD BE
PROVIDED WITH PROTECTION
FROM WIND.
TO UTILIZE WASTE OR POORER
LAND AND PROVIDE FUEL
AND POSTS.

The woodlot and suggestions for
its use and care are subjects of re-
cent bulletin by the forest division of
the United States department of agri-
culture. 1t is timely and its import.
ance lies in the proposition that
farm without a woodlot is incomplete.
In general, the report says, not less
than one-eighth of the total acreage of
each farm should be devoted exclus-
lively to timber growing. If properly
managed the wOodlot win supply the
farmer with posts, fuel, building ma
terial, and some timber for market.
Every farmstead should be provided
with protection from winds. For the
live stock grower, shielding the barn
yard and feedlots will economic the
grain necessary 10 fatten animals,
since less food will be required to
maintain the body warmth of the
stock in winter In summer a small
part fenced off from the woodlot will
afford cool shade to fattening animals,
which lose flesh in very hot weather.
A belt of forest trees viii greatly re-
duce the danger OF late frosts TO the
fruit blossoms of an orchard.
The woodlot should occupy the waste
land not suitable for farm crops.
Steep hillsides, ravines, Gwamps,
sand dunes, creek banks, rocky slopes
and corners cut off by bitches, creeks,
or railroads will sustain a good
growth of timber and become an i'm
por' ant source of revenue. For
est growth on steep slopes and
river banks protects them from eros
ion by heavy rains and freshets. On
farm without waste land the wood
lot should be so located as to afford
the best protection. Strips at least 5
rods wide should be maintained
along the wayside. usually the north
and west, and in addition there should
be a shelter belt around the house
= and farm buildings. Such timber
tracts odd materially to the attract
iveness and sale value of the farm.
Constant care should be taken to
keep fire from running through the
woodlot 1t is poor policy to burn off
the leaves to improve the grazing,
since the presence OF grass In a for
est indicates an unhealthy condition,
and the destruction of the leaf litter
and humus impoverishes the soil and
retards tree growth, and young
sprouts and seedlings, upon which the
future OF the woodlot depends. are
, often either destroyed or badly
} stunted.
1t is not single fire which causes
the greatest loss, but the combined
, effects of many fires, One fire will
/ scorch the bark of a tree and leave a
small scar. Gradually, with each sue
ceeding fire, the scars become deer De-.
until the trees are either burned com
pletely through or are so weakened
that they are easily thrown by the
wind. Moreover, these scars afford
; openings for insects and rot-produc-
ing fungi, which not only destroy the
tree first attacked, but become a
source of injection for others
A fault with nearly all woodlots is
the absence of a dense border as a
protection from winds. The margin of
a forest which has been unprotected
from the time the trees were small is
usually provided with its own wind
break mantle through the develop
ment of numerous branches on the
exposed trees. If, however the pres.
ent margin was protected by a neigh
boring stand during its early years
and has later been exposed the wood
lot is likely to suffer from windfall.
Trees growing in dense forests de-
pend upop their close association with
! 9th fhr4 vii dc
When the forest is suddenly opened
the trees are aot sufficientls stable
to withstand the changed conditions.
and many are blown down. This is es-
pecially apt to happen where the soil
IS wet since trees growing in such
: ground have shallow root systems
If a windbreak is planted. it is usu-
ally best TO employ two species. one a
rapid grower to afford early protec-
ton; the other of slow growth to
make a permanent and more efficient
shield Carolina poplar. black walnut
and hardy cataIpa make very quick
growth. while many of the evergreen
trees. such as Norway spruce. aroor
vitae. or white pine can be planted in
outside rows for permanent protec.
ton The spacing should be feet in
rows 6 feet apart When the trees be
gin 10 crowd badly. half OF them
shorld be removed.
In cutting. the first precaution Is 20
be careful of the young growth. One
important object OF forest manage
ment is to have new trees Of the most
useful kinds replace just as soon as
possible those that are cut Care
should be taken in telling to see that
ee h tree is thrown where il wiz nor
unnecessarily injure other trees or
crush fha Young seedlings and sprouts
upon which the future os III Forest
depends
-Se Modet Woodtot.
The model wood'Jt should contain
the number of trS,ss per acre con.
sisten, witS he most rapid develop
ment of the best timber Trees should
stand close enough Together in youth
to stimulate growth in heign, and
produce long. clear trunks Later more
SPACE for each tree viii be needed.
Stands under 10 years of age may con
ain from 1000 to 5000 trees per acre.
This number should be gradually di-
! min}Shed as the trees de top until