Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1911-07-14
THE RANCH WOODLOT.

By George W. Peavy Professor of Forestry, Ore
gon Agricultural College.
1T is one of the trite sayings that of
all people the rancher is the most in
dependent. With advancing civiliza
tion, and it's accompanying specializa-
tion, however, people come to be more
and more dependent upon each other.
We no longer know the tallow dip but
we buy Standard Oil. Homespun
gives way to the products of the wool
en- trust. We sell our livestock and
buy meat of the beef trust, and so on
to the end of long chapter. Finally,
the Independent wood supply of the
farmer is threatened by the exhaus-
ton of the ranch woodlot.
One renders himself liable to be
looked upon as visionary when he un-
dertakes to warn people of the danger
of timber shortage west of the Cas-
cades. Yet shortage there will be, in
spite of any precautions which may
be taken. The writer very we'll recalls
from his younger days the jeers which
greeted any suggestion that the mag
nificent pine forests of the Lake states
would soon be exhausted. Yet, at
the end of 25 years, the people are
cutting off stump tops for shingles
and digging up the roots for the man.
ufacture of wood alcohol, charcoal and
turpentine. The farmers are paying
the prices exacted by the iumbermen's s
association for the lumber they need,
and are hauling coal from town for
fue at such prices as the railroads are
willing to sell it.
In this state, fir wood is selling in
Portland for Sc per cord. In the
smaller towns, from 81 to S.. Fence
posts, hop poles and other farm tim
bers are proportionately dear. Not
only that, but as time goes on these
prices will increase, for the supply of
timber the country over, is constantly
decreasing and the demand will be
more and more centered upon the tim
ber products of the Northwest.
BY little wise management large
part of the ranchers west of the Cas-
cades may make themselves independ-
ent in the matter of supply of fuel
and farm timbers for domestic use.
Nearly every ranch contains tract of
land which, owing to the character of
the soil or the situation, is better
suited to growing timber than for reg
ular ranch purposes. If the rancher
does not possess such tract, it would
be good economy for him to buy some
cheap land just for woodlot purposes.
Recent Investigations show that
second growth Douglas fir, 40 years
old, will, in good situations, grow
over two cords per acre per year.
When one knows the character of his
soil and the amount of wood he uses
each year, he can easily calculate the
acreage he will need to supply his
wants.
While forest trees are not as exact
ing in their demands for light, soil,
moisture and care as the fruit trees
are, yet there are certain rules which
can be observed with profit in manag-
ing an ordinary woodlot. First of
all, stock should not be allowed in the
woods, except in small numbers.
They get but little forage if the lot is
properly cared for and they trample
down the young stuff and pack the
soil so that air and moisture do not
circulate freely through it. If shade
is needed for the stock it will pay to
fence a small portion of the woodlot
for that purpose.
Fire should never be allowed to run
through the woodlot, since it destroys
the young growth as well as the litter
and humus which increase the fertility
of the soil and serve to hold the moist
ure. AS far as possible, young
growth should be kept on the sides
from which the severest winds come,
to protect the soil from the drying
effect of the air. The forest floor
wants plenty of litter and humus,
shade and good supply of moisture,
for the production of the largest
amount Of timber.
To illustrate by use of special case,
suppose one has 20acre woodlot and
that he uses 20 cords of wood per
year. Suppose also that the stand is
about 40 years old. He should begin
on the lee side of the tract and cut
strip containing half acre each year.
All material, except very young
stuff, should be removed. These sue
cessive strips will be quickly seeded
up, for the fir produces an immense
amount of seed, which the wind will
distribute over the cut area. Nearly
everyone is familiar with cases where
nature has seeded up cut over lands.
= When the area has been completely
cut over the different strips will pre-
sent the appearance of huge steps
with the youngest stuff on the wind
ward side.
Of course, if one starts with an
even-aged stand, the last cuttings will
coptoip larUer amount of material