Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-01-07
An Experimental City Forest.

An ApChhmCutoh Sihy hVASoe
Following Immediately upon the first
announcement from the New York
State College of Forestry, at Syracuse
University, that it wished to cooperate
with woodlot and cumberland owners In
the state in placing timber under forest
management, the water bureau OF the
city of Syracuse applied for aid In the
care Of $50 acres of second growth tim
Der lying along an abrupt slope at the
south end of Skaneateles Lake. This
timber had been purchased by the city
to improve its watershed and to get rid
OF several hotels which were source OF
contamination to the lake. The College
of Forestry at once made rough survey
of the tract to show the nature OF the
timber and what should be done to
bring about immediate improvement.
The city maintained on the tract during
the past summer party of five forestry
students under the immediate supervis-
ion of An instructor from the faculty OF
the State College of Forestry. These
boys made careful Typographical sur
vey of the tract, mapping exactly the
boundaries of the tract and every natural
feature. They then built fire lines along
two sides, digging the humus down to
the mineral soil.
Experiment Station.-So-called sam
pie plots were laid out over the tract.
These plots vary in size from an eighth
to an acre, and are designated by red
painted posts. Each plot is treated as
a sample area, and is managed accord
ing to different methods Of forest i'm
provement. For instance, the first plot
is given heavy thinning to cut out all
the old and matured trees and trees
which will not grow quickly into timber.
The second plot is given lighter thin
ming, and more attention is paid to IA
voriDg the natural growth on the ground ;
another plot will be underplanted to
evergreens in the spring of 1913; finally
one or two check plots are left to see
what the original forest will do If no
improvement is given. Over the forest
not covered by these sample plots i'm
provement cuttings are being made.
The old and mature trees so commonly
found In our woodlots and woodlands
are removed, as they are failing rapidly,
and really occupy the land at a consider
able loss to the owner. Such forest
weeds as irouwood, sumach, dogwood
and other trees which will not produce
timber we're cut out at the time OF the
improvement thinning. This timber is
cut up into cordwood lengths and put on
the market as cordwood.
Replantlng and Underplanting.-ln
the spring of 1918 some replsnting will
be done over the more open portion OF
the woodland. Underplanting with
evergreens which will grow for few
years under the shade of other trees will
be carried out. When these young ever
greens begin to reach up from twelve to
fourteen feet the older and poorer trees
will be cut out out to give the younger
growth sufficient light. White pine, red
pine and the Scotch pine will be planted
to determine which is best suited TO the
soil and climatic conditions OF Central
New York.
During all of these operations careful
studies are being made as to the rapidity
of gro With of the various trees found on
the trsct-that is, studies are made OF
the annual increment which each tree
makes in wood. This is done that daH'
mite figures may be obtained as to Just
how long IL will take to grow red oak
or a bass wood or some other tree to pole
and sawlog size. Along with the study
of growth very careful figures are kept
as to the cost of each operation, that II
may be determined just how expensive
it will be to carry on the woodland I'M
provement and whether the ordinary
woodlot owner can afford to do 1t.