Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-02-19
4 Two Hundred Per Cent Profit
From Forest Land.

In addition to encouraging the reclama-
ton of lands within the State through
planting forest trees, the State Board of
Forestry is, in a great number of cases,
cooperating with timber owners for the
improvement of their forest lands Where
this is done the timber which is ready for
the axe is sold at a fair price. the logging
operations are conducted in such way
that the removal Of the trees which are
mature is not injurious to the younger
trees that are left, and the whole stand is
put in better producing condition than
ever before. Emphasis can best be given
this. and the work itself explained, by
citing a case in point.
In May, 1914, the State Forester at Bal
timOre was visited by a gentleman owning
$50 acres of wooded land in Anne Arun-
del county. 1t was an old stand of mixed
hardwoods. The chestnut was being rapidly
killed by the blight a large share of the
trees of other species were becoming over
mature. and the stand as a whole much in
need of an Improvement cutting. Appre-
ciatinG this, the owner was considering
the sale of merchantable trees, for which
he had already received what he consid-
cred a fair offer.
Before selling, however, he wished to
have the opinion of skilled forester on
the advisability of cutting over the tract
The State Forester accordingly went over
the land with him, and it was pointed out
that for a very small sum this timber might
be thoroughly covered by expert foresters.
the defective, diseased, and mature trees
marked for removal, and correct estimate
secured as to the amount and value of the
timber to be taken out.
This the owner agreed to have done,
and party Of three men was sent from
the Forester's Office to do the work. In
this connection 1t may be added that men
with special training are furnished to local
landowners at a cost Of 81 per day, the
man in charge So, in addition to travel
ling expenses and maintenance during the
time Of the job. The property in question.
$50 acres, was completely gone over in 6
days. the mature trees calipered, tailed
and marked. One blaze. about four feet
above the ground. clearly indicated the
marked trees. while the other, as near the
ground as possible and bearing a stamped
letter IN" served as check. making sure
that only trees so marked were cut.
The total expense to the owner was
1884, for the results Of field work are
tabulated and summed up free Of charge
in the Office at Johns Hopkins University.
Baltimore. This was done, and a map Of
the whole tract made. The estimate Of
the trees marked was mimeographed, and
this statement, showing the location of
the tract with kinds and amount of timber.
was sent out from the State Forester
Office TO several hundred sawmill men in
the same locality, who would be most
likely to take an interest in the purchase
Of the wood and timber.
Four months from the time the prelimi-
| wan
months after the marking had actually
been done. the timber had been sold. 1t
was sold for more than three times the
amount originally offered, and with the
purchase the buyer gave a written guar
antee that in the removal of the old timber
every reasonable precaution would be used
for the protection of the young trees.
Such work. an object lesson in good
management and economy. is Of value tc
the community; il is Of substantial and
lasting improvement to the forest, and the
financial profit to the owner is not the
least Of the benefits derived. The Statt
Board Of Forestry since then has been en-.
Gagged in many similar undertakings. anC
the work has been highly advantageous e
the owners. 1t is in a position to take ~
additional work Of this nature. and is pre-
pared to extend real assistance by expert
to Maryland woodland owners in the i'm
proving. marketing, and handling Of thei
timber.