Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-04-04
Building Up the WoodIot.
John NJ. Briscoe, Professor of Forestry in Fal

(John NJ. Briscoe, Professor of Forestry in Farm.
ers' Week.)
The fact that most woodlots have not
only been neglected but positively abus-
ed in the past, was brought out by Pro
| fessor Briscoe in his talk on "Building
up the woodlot."
The farm woodlot has been constantly
drawn upon for both fuel and construc-
ton material for buildings, fences, and
| implements about the farm. AZ rule
only the best and largest trees were
taken out, but this process continued
| from one generation I'd another, without
making any provision for the reproduc
| ton of the desirable species, has left the
average farm woodlot at present a col.
lection of poorly formed, unsound trees
of the least desirable species only.
Notwithstanding the wonderful recup.
erative power of our woodland crops,
this kind of treatment has not allowed
the reproduction of the best species be.
cause no seed trees were left of these
species, and consequently the poor
species had good chance to multiply
much more rapidly. If this condition
has gone too far, there is nothing left
but to replant the lot, but in great
number of cases this is not necessary
| Frequently q few old trees are left.
These may be in rather poor condition,
and not particularly desirable from the
standpoint of wood production, but they
will be very useful as seed trees to pro-
vide seed for building up the woodlot to
it's former productive capacity.
C~oh .hnn16 ho onorod oYnd q
large opening made in the stand around
them. From these openings all undesir-
able species should be removed, even II
they are useful for nothing but fuel at
the time, or even If they cannot be used
for that purpose, their removal Is essen.
tial.
Gradually the stand must be repro
duced from these seed trees, and the
other trees should be removed gradually
and at intervals so that the stand will
not be exposed to excessive heat and to
drying winds that would prove injurious
to the young seedlings, while the proc
ess Of regeneration is going on.
In some cases, where the robbing of
the woodlot has not gone 80 far, there
are still left some trees of the younger
age classes of desirable species. This
kind of lot is much easier to deal With,
and much quicker results may be obtain
ed by the application Of trimmings,
properly arranged 80 as to give every
advantage site and situation, for the
best development of the desirable trees.
The trees removed in these trimmings
will give return that will usually more
than pay for the labor involved, not to
mention tho advantage that 1t gives the
remaining trees and the shortening OF
the period of time to the final cutting
Such thinnings pay financially only
when there is q market for the material
removed, and where transportation facil-
tiles are favorable.
These conditions are usually met with
In rural communities where most Of the
woodlots are located; ;-but they are not
found in the lumber woods In general,
where this kind Of management would
be Impractical. Another great advan-
tage from the standpoint Of the farmer
is that all of the work of improving the
woodlot can be done In the winter when
both labor and teams are less In demand
FLOR other kinds OF farm work.