The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1916-12-28

~ To be deterioratHg In quality, ana
the problem Is that of removing II
and at the same time providing fer :
new stand of seedlings. From TIN
standpoint of strict business manage
ment timber when nature should h1
cut just the same Is wheat or oats
and usually this is also desirable fo5
the good Of the wood lot itself. n
dcad or diseased timber should unde
any circumstances be allowed to stand
The first operation necessary then, il
wood lots of this type, is the cuttins
out at once Of the dead and diseased
material The second is To cut tn
mature living trees as soon as sutl
eient reproduction Is started in tn
openings and marketing condition
permit a satisfactory sale. Heav
stands composed almost Wholly of ma
tare trees should not be removed a
at once unless the owner expects L
provide for the new crop BY planting
To secure natural reproduction tn
old stand will normally have to be II
moved in two or three cuttings, eaC
taking from one-third to one-half q
the trees. The first cutting IS desisnef
70 open up The crown cover somewhat
50 that the leaves on the forest foo
may deeompose more rapidly, 81
mineral soil become exposed, and fh
termination of seed be more certain
The remaining trees become more
Rndtirm, and as result of thei
crowns receiving more sunlight the.
produce more seed. When The flores
floor is in good condition the see0Hl
cutting can be made during the viii
Ter following Il heavy seed year. Wit
the removal of these trees the eond
tions will be favorable for the gel
minati0n of the seed and growth o
the seedlings. Neither of the first tW.
cuttings should be SO heavy that ahHl
dant light will reach the ground an
encourage a heavy growth of weed
or grass.
In wood lots where the stand of eli
trees is not dense and reproduction
already well started, the older tree
should be cut as soon rs practicable
Unless removed these will sHppres
and kill out young trees which Weule
eventually be highly valuable.
.. Wood lots which are made up q.
a nearly eyen-aged stand of seconc
growth.
HI this type Of wood lot, trees of IN
desirable species may predominate il
the stand and may be crowding OH
the better ones; the whole stand may
be overcrowded or it may be under
stocked and not reproducing The in
provement of such wood lots may b.
brought about by various cuttings
known as Improvement cuttings" AM
by methods of regeneration such a,
restocking by seed, renewing by
sprouts, planting. or artificial sowing
Pasturing Is Harmful.
Pasturing of wood lots has been ont
of the chief causes of their deteriora
ton. The severity of the damage de
ponds largely upon the number o
stock and the size of the wood lot
One characteristic of heavily pas
tured wood lot Is the almost complet,
absence of young growth, or It's exist
ence only in small ragged patches.
Horses, cattle, sheep or goats eat
young seedlings. particularly the hard
woods, trample them out, or brush
against them and break them off. Hogs
eat the seed and thus prevent repro
duction from starting, or root young
seedlings out of the ground, and some
times eat the roots The old growth
is damaged through trampling and
wounding of the roots, and through
compaeting the soil so that it is almost
impervious to water. Horses some
times peel the bark from the trees.
They should at no time be permitted
in the wood lot When it is desired to
secure natural reproduction hogs may
be turned into the wood lot just before
the seed is to fall. They viii root UP
the ground and thus put 1t in good con
dition for the reception of the seed.
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