Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-12-07
THE FARM WooDLoT.
Every Farmer Should Endeavor to
Have All His Land In Producing
Condition.

At the time of the early settlers this
state was almost entirely covered with
forest growth The colonists depend
ing on agriculture for living had to
destroy this forest growth before Gull
tivation cf the land was possible The
best of the timber was. exported, but
the greater part was burned where it
fell. Tfds condition. gradually de-
Veloped the attitude that the forest
should be considered an enemy. The
capacity of the native timber species
to reproduce and to at least partially
recover from damage has allowed this
idea to hold in many places even to
the present time.
The agricultural development of the
state continued until the maximum
amount of land under cultivation was
reached during the period from 1910
to 1860. The forests at this time were
found for the most part on the rough
est land and in small holdings near the
farms. These small holdings were es-
pecially valuable as they contained the
fuel supply ofithe owners With the
change in the conditions of transpor-
tation, the development of the West
and the loss of population 1T the time
of the Civil War farm land IN this
state began to be abandoned over
large sections only the better portions
and the areas near markets being kept
under cultivation. The abandoned
encroaehlng On the clearinss in the
form of brush pastures which in time
have developed into woodland. This
gradual encroachmen- has aided in the
keeping alive of the feeling that the
forest is an enemy to be kept down.
During the east few wears there has
been very rapid change throughout
the country in the attitude towards the
forest land. The Development of a
protective policy, the acquiring of
Federal Reserves and the esta blishing
Of the Forest Service by the Federal
Government is reflected in tie differ
ent states with their forestry depart
ments and the enactment Of laws for
the protection of the forests from
damage and excessive taxation and to
assist In the spreading of information
as to the best methods of handling
the .woodiot-
Perhaps even more recently the rap
i'd spread OF business methods as ap-
piled to the farm, together with the
more economic use CT the land has
taken place within this state. One of
the greatest problems on the farm is
the question of keeping the help busy
during the winter months. There seem
to be as yet very little realization Of
the value Of the woodlot to the farm in
this respect. This is largely due to
the fact that the woods have been left
to take care Of themselves and If the
area cut for cordwood, or IL he needs a
stick Of timber he either cuts the first
tree that will be satisfactory or turns
to the lumber yard without even look
ing in the wocd1ot At very irregular
intervals there may be sale Of ner-
charitable timber to rome mill man and
the farmer considers that money clear
gain without stopping to think that
the other crops Of the farm have had
to pay the taxes OF the woodlot during
the intervening years.
Every farmer should enGeavor to
have all his land in a producing con-
ditfon. On most farms there are at
present threes classes Of land, culti-
waited land, wood land and waste land.
The first two are in at least partial
producing condition while the later is
not. as the name indicates. Waste
land may be in large or small areas
and should include the brush pasture
where there Is no cattle forage as well
as the sand land where even brush
does not grow. The owner should
consider each part of the farm and de-
vote each part TO its best use. There
Is no necessity for unproductive areas
Forest trees will grow on all areas OF
the state except In some OF the wet
ter Swamps. The unproductive areas
may by the use Of forest trees De put
on the producing side Of the farm ac-
count.
The woodlot, needs wedding and Gull
tivatfng as much as the other crops Of
the farm and will pay in proportion
to the attention given it. The great
est advantage of this work, however
is that it can be performed during the
winter months TO the best advantages
both to the owner and the woodlot-
A. e.. Moss, Department of Forestry
Connecticut Agricultural College.