St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-10-13
The Farmer and Forestry.

The state of Vermont is showing a rea
interest in the matter of forestry in an
official way but public sentiment has not
been fully developed in its favor. A
reason for this is a mistaken idea OF
what forestry is and how simple it may
be made for the average farmer. The ex-
hibits at the fairs this fall have had to do
largely with the nursery end of forestry
and impresses one with the long period
of cultivation and expense necessary.
This tends to create the idea that for
estry is a speciality in which a man must
work for a long time before he can hope
for good results, thatsto enter forestry
man must study thoroughly the planting
and cultivation of trees and then wait
until the next generation for the reward
of his labor. That may be one form of
forestry and it may be necessary to in
crease forestry in that form as the
scarcity OF timber increases. But it will
never appeal to the average person until
necessity demands it.
There is, however another form of
forestry more easily attained, that
brings quicker results and that would
pay the man who does the work good
returns for his labor That is intelligent
forestry on Vermont farms by the farmer
himself Every farm of any size has a
wood lott. From it the farmer gets
his wood in the winter and in too many
cases has cut from it all the marketable
or useful timber Then he let's his dairy
run through it in the summer and
browse on all the young growth. The
result of this policy is a tract that is
deteriorating in value each year. 1t
amounts to very little as grazing ground
for his cattle and less in the production
of desirable timber.
Here is the farmers opportunity for
practical and profitable forestry. First
fence the cattle out of whatever portion
of the wood lot he wishes to keep in
growing timber. He cannot grow
cattle and timber on the same ground at
the same time. Then so far as possible
get in touch with the state forestry de-
partment and find what that can do to
help. Nature and science will then be
combined in an effort to improve the
value of his land and they working. to-
gether are sure to bring results. The
first beneficial result will be perennial
supply of timber for the farm itself. Be-
cause if given the chance a small portion
of land will keep the timber supply good
for all farm needs. 1t will make no diff
erence to the farmer what the market
price of lumber is. he will have lumber OF
his own.
AS to the profit of such an effort it is
only necessary to look about one and see
the value of land that has timber on it.
Compare the value CT it today with its
value twenty years ago and see if there
is any other class of property that car
show higher percentage of increase
Another benefit will be the development
of sane methods of forestry among the
farmers as whole and will be sure tc
develop some reasonable method of con
Quoting forestry work by the state as g
whole, At the present time there is &
great deal of talk about forestry ant
but little general knowledge oft. What
is needed is practical knowledge of the
subject and then an application of this
knowledge with beneficial effect.