The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-10-11
VERMONT INITIATING
GERMAN FORESTRY
Plans 1t To Cut the Mature Trees and
Secure Profit From the Greater
Timber Wealth.

One of the tasks laid on the state Off
GERS by the last general assembly was
the presentation on July !, 1914, OF
an inventory of all state property. In
order to have ready an accurate esti-
mate of the state forests, an assistant
has been employed by the forester, IN
going over these lands in scientific
way. The following four forests have
been completed: Joseph Battell forest in
Huntington and Duxbury; l.. r. Jones
forest in Plainiield; George Aitkin for
est in Mendon; and the newly acquired
tract in Arlington.
The total area of these forests is APP
Fortunately 5000 acres; and it is esti-
mated that there is about 100000 feet
of lumber; 1000 railroad ties and 1900
cords of wood on them. The lumber is
chiefly of spruce, balsam and birch; the
railroad ties chestnut and oak; and the
wood of birch, beech and maple. Over
half of the lumber is on the Camel's
Hump tract, which was given the state
by Col. Battell, and which is being used
more and more as park by the peo-
pie of the state and from abroad. There
undoubtedly should be good trail up
through this timber, which is some of
the best remaining in the state. The
present trails, both from Bolton and
Duxbury, are almost entirely in unin-
teresting burned areas.
1t is the plan of the forestry depart
pent to develop the other three forests
as models of good business management,
similar TO the forests of Germany. The
inventory, such as that just made, is
the first step necessary in any business.
The European plan is to derive an an
nual income from the forests by cut
ting the mature and inferior timber,
thus making room for better and faster
growing trees. No more is removed,
however, in given period than grows
during that same period. As soon as
studies, now under way, by the Yer
mont agricultural experiment station,
are completed, it will be possible for
land owners to accurately determine the
annual growth of timber on their lands.
No trees are cut on any of the state
forests except those marked under the
direction of the forests. These are eth.
er sold standing, or are cut under con-
tract. As it is often difficult TO sell
stumpage under restrictions of this kind,
more usual way is TO have the lum-
Der and wood contracted. On account of
lack OF funds, no operations of this kind
can be carried on at present. and the
forests cannot serve their full demon
stration purpose. II money is made
available for this purpose, it will, OF
course. be returned to the state treas
ury with profit as soon as the ma
terial cut has been sold.
The estimating mentioned above was
done by H. /. Ames of Island Pond
who graduated from the University OF
Vermont and state agricultural college
in 1911. Mr.. Ames specialized in for
estry during his agricultural course, and
since graduation has had wide expert
euce with lumber companies and others
in forestry work There are few courses
in college which fit men to earn money
on the side better than one which gives
them a knowledge of timber estimat-
ing. since there is growing demand
for information of this kind. 1t should
also be a part of every young farmers
training. The method pursued in esti-
mating the state forests, was to measure
the diameters of the trees with calipers
on strips amounting to five per cent
of the total area; and the heights OF
some Of the trees with a hypsometer, a
small German instrument. From vol
ume tables, which give the average con-
tents of trees of different sizes, it is
possible with the above data TO arrive
at very accurate estimate.