The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-09-21
Care of the Farm Woodlot.
=. pRnFEssoR GORDON E. TOWER.

~ PROFESSOR GORDON E. TOWER.
r.. woodlots of Maine form an i'm
----t a-junct to the farm. The in
~, which the farmer derives from the
.--5r and the material it furnishes in
/. az Of fuel, fence posts and build
~ ~s;erial for use on the farm greatly
--..-5ss the value of the farm. The
--zr.I treatment which the woodlot has
-,y=- has not led to its improvement
--7.dce1 an increase of the total wood
Il. but on the other hand has re-
- n 2 deterioration of our wood
So that today the wooded areas of
ms are not producing more than
.~5. or three-fourths as much wood
nav are capable of growing. Many
= --s xoo1ots contain naturally mix
.-- ! many different kinds of trees.
"a naterial was cut to supply a
-..-+ emaai. the best was taken, and
wen lockwood was cut for home
-..-.c-'o. the same practice has been
z-- a. rule. Such culling process
-- again and again leaves the poor
tn.-Ss growth which frequently
-c ;ediy inferior quality even for
J- Such growth encumbers the
ant seriously interferes with the
57 OF a better crop of trees or
prevent their starting at all.
sEaced farmer will deliberately
4rt in such manner as to re-
fertility Of the soil to a point
viii produce only one-half or
II a crop and yet that is the
-to which the woodlot has been
Not only has its worth depre-
g.. g. the value of the farm as we'll.
ri the Woodlot at this stage into
AMI IS not an alternative because
Z occupies the poorest part of
either is il prudent to turn it
sure land for the farm stock.
M and if properly treated and
-v4-ed can be made to yield bet
50 can the woodlot be improved
~ood which it will produce be in
a IN quantity and quality if it is
H. .,r proper treatment. To improve
r. ot and bring it into condition
&C. ics larger and better crop, does
5sltate the Introduction of radi-
sIres hard to execute, neither
~ lean that all cutting shall cease.
l- ae-hods easy of application, will
.l~,ish the purpose. Assuming that
~ - Win has reached a size suitable
O. x and that the fire danger is duly
..sa against, the condition of the
-an be improved by regulating
grszing and by proper trimmings.
TIE pasturing of the farm stock in the
f Us >rould be carefully regulated and
: Ing growth of trees is starting or
--- ywner wishes to have such growth
..ar' stock whatever should be per-
,=1 70 Craze in them.
Tesu any cutting is done care should
- -4.-n to thin out the undesirable
r sri. and improve the composition of
stand Instead of selecting the best
---~s and those which produce wood that
= rs =asily, the crooked, rotting,
ard. and .broken-to trees, those
Fl, r are crowding the good trees or are
orped by them, and those of poor
IS should be taken as a general
-L 1t IS rarely possible to remove
undesirable growth in the first
and the cuttings should be so
a.. as 70 make several rather light
Is. By making repeated thin
to the drying action of the sun
IL ana lLlS is dll important point
Membered with all Trimmings, for
RE soil becomes dried out too
F- trees grow slower instead of
At times portions of the wood
no such state as the result of
seem and uncomfortable circum-
that it makes more or less ex-
hitting imperative. When such
.- arise as the result, for eX-
WiHdfall, the thing to do is to
@ best OF a bad situation and
material in the best possible
In selecting the trees to be cut
l. given not only to the quality
-s to be left but to their ability
r.g shade the ground. With a
having naturally very open top
Ike the birches and poplars
lJ-- thinning would have to be
IL stand of beech or mixed
-4rlwoods. The kind of trees
Hot makes a difference there
The number of trees to be re-
Although several factors must
into account in making thin
inc Improvement of the wood
" comes down to the matter
sing a little good judgment and
IT, I.ts attained will De we'll worth
...'-
roval of all the trees is meth
commonly practiced in our wood
IT, Aa=n used in hardwood growth,
'' spring up from the cut stumps
Try quickly form an effective
7t ne protection OF the soil. The
- rould be felled with an ak, stumps
ri inches high, the top left smooth
q. .aatlng to shed water and care
a--o not to injure the bark on the
s'-, I the best conditions are to be
'-.,r.I Tor the production and growth
-luItS. The area cut over should
1a5 he too large and can be made either
q 1T " strip, or several strips alternat-
WIZ strips of standing trees and dis
-.' -'~ over the whole area; or the cut
an be done in small patches or
s1 which are uniformly scattered
'-. ls woods.
The aiVantages of burning the brush
-. liter the cutting, are o. that the
s g7r rom fire is greatly lessened and
q there Is TO refuse to interfere with
i91' ( growth which might spring up.
''1s- turning is not recommended, how
s-I 4nless care is exercised in doing it,
.1-f"lse more harm than good may re-
,-. Attention is necessary in piling
u orash so that the fire will not injure
.s remaning trees and the burning
-t> be- done at a time when there is no
II @@f Of the fire getting beyond control.
S1ca lines of management for the i'm
y 'ement of the woodlot as have been
~r.ly indicated, Systematically and
.--1ilIy carried out, will greatly i'm
!. we me conditions for the growth of
W -LAES Thara will ho On ;,a.nannd