Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-10-21
TALK ON FORESTRY.
Prnf. !Iuwc. Tells What Has Bee
Done nnd What should BE Done.

Done and What should BE Done.
\ lecture on forestry was given In the
parish house before the Mems club of st
pauls Church Monday evening BY state
Forester \. +. Halves The lecture was
scheduled TO begin ut eight o'clock but
owing to some misunderstanding with
the new stereoptcon which has recently
been purchased by the club there was
II slight delay. 4 number OF gentlemen
tackled the problem but the carburc-
tor was lost, or something and not a
ray Of liGh, could be ELECTED from the
machine. An electrician was procured.
He made two swift passes at the stere-
opticon ana presto change. a picture ap-
reared on the screen.
Professor Ilawca began by speaking
of the increasing interest in forestry
ana the rapid advance which the pro-
fession Is making in this country. He
gave a brief outline of its history in
Europe, where it originated, and spoke
especially Of the German forests.
In order to properly manage forest
thorough understanding Of the scien-
tilc principles which urderlie the growth
end development of trees is necessary.
Forests may he divided into two classes,
pure and mixed. The pure forests are
those which contain only one variety
OF tree and are usually of soft wood.
The mixed forests have moro than one
variety and often contain an admixture
Of hard wood
In Europe the tendency has been to
develop pure forests because they are
on the whole. more economical. But
there is something to he said for the
mixed forest, however on the ground
that disease usually only attacks one
Kind Of tree and thus tho mived forest
is Only partially affected Modern for
estry began about LOO years ago In
Germany and was made necessary by
the shortage of wood for fuel purposes.
Before the forests which were planted
could grow to maturity coal was In
troduccd ana market conditions under
won't complete change. The hard wood
trees which had been planted for fuel
were no lorger IN great demand rs
soft wood is more used FOR building
purposes. Adaptation to tho change OF
conditions. however, was effected
In virgin forests there are all ages
and consequently all sizes OF trees ON n
burned area the trees grow up Of the
same age and this Is desirable The
forester, in his operations. cuts tim
her from n forest with the second
growth in view. A lumberman on the
other hand, has no such care but de-
sires to get rs much out of the forest
as possible. He has no thought for the
future
When any attempt is made NJ forestry
by lumbermen they usually select trees
by the diameter system. This implies the
selection for Telling of all trees above a
n,
This is not the best method, for trees
which have reached maturity may often
he left standing. while immature trees
that have grown to n large size NAV
be cut down. The experienced forester
Will take out the mature trees only, no
matter Of what size they may be-
The strip system is also one which |
is extensively used. This consists in
cutting off n strip Of forest and letting
the trees on each side seed the cleared
area. The main idea in all this Is proner |
harvesting so that second growth may
be secured. Proper thinnng is an i'm |
portant factor In forestry for It is ne
cessary to exercise much care In weed |
ing out The inferior trees.
Through the efforts OF Professor
Jones Of the University of Vermont
State nursery was started by m an |
preparation from the LEGISLATURE soue
three years ago and seedlings have boen |
sold all over the State. White nine and |
Norway spruce are the two varieties of |
seedlings found to be most profitable
in Vermont.
Professor Halves concluded by COM |
pairing the forests of the United states
with those of Germany and France 10 |
the distinct discredit Of the former. The
federal government does not own any
lands east of the Mississippi but a
great deal of good work has been done
in the public forests west of that stream |
The burden Of the work however, must
rest with the States especially in the
eastern part Of the country