Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-02

ment Of conditions in the woodlot- accom-
plished by the removal of inferior ma
terial to render conditions more favora-
BILE for valuable individuals. to in
crease the rate of growth over the entire
woodlot. and TO better soil conditions.
The material to be removed may be
grouped as follows.
l. Weed TreeS-Those which produce
material of little value or which inter
fere with the reproduction of valuable
species. Occasionally such tree may
have a temporary value in forcing other
trees into rapid height growth. but
should be removed as soon as the work
is performed
> Nature Trees-Those which have
attained their growth and are develop
ing slowly. Such trees are open 20
disease and should be utilized as soon
as possible. Their removal will encour-
age reproduction on the areas they oc-
cupied-
;. Wolf Trees-Those which, because
Of excessive light. have developed n
short branchy stem and large crown.
They produce little material of value
and interfere seriously with reproduc-
ton. Such individuals partake Of the
nature OF ornamental shade trees.
1. Deformed Trees-Those young
trees with storms so crooked as to pre-
clude the possibility of their produc-
ing valuable material. Such trees may
have a temporary value on the edge of
a woodlot in the protection of the val
liable species within the lot.
;. Deformed Trees-Those trees of
all ages which have been attacked by
insects or disease. Such trees are often
~stag-headed' dead in top), or show
a rotted ffrescar at the base. Occa-
siOnaIly, one sees the fruiting bodies
of disease on the stem. Hollow stems
are diseased.
6. Suppressed and Dead Trees-All
dead and dying trees should be removed.
Often this material may be used as
fuel. If left in the woodlot ii renders
the danger of fire greater.
Conditions for best development as
wen as the value of the species must
determine teh trees to be retained At
no time should large openings be made
in the crown cover unless there is a
good stand Of reproduction already on
the ground. Natural forest conditions
must be maintained
Naturally valuable species will be IA
vored whenever possible. although il
will be occasionally necessary to retain
others for cultural reasons. The ma
ture tree desired has a loog, straight,
clear. cylindrical stem and a small
crown. of possibly one-third the total
height of the tree. All trees to be re-
tanned should be measured by this ideal.
In the Seeding stage not so much can
be told about their possibilities. In
the sapling stage and pole stage, how
ever. the trees have begun to take on
their permanent form and one may east
" select those with sturdy. straight
cylindrical stems and crowns composed
with large coarse branches near the
ground are very apt to develop into
EVOLVES" often a tree, otherwise good
in form, has a lop-sided crown, due TO
crowding by an equally strong indiVid-
uaI The removal of this competition
will give the tree an opportunity TO
right itself. One should cultivate the
habit of looking upward so as to best
Judge the space occupied by each crown
and the possibility of increasing this
space.
The improvement cutting may accom-
pany the regular winters work in the
woodlot. Great care should be taken
not TO remove too much material at
any one time. Remember, it is much
easier TO correct too light than too Sc
we're cutting.
on nearly every farm there are areas
not suitable to the production of agri-
cultural crops, because of roughness or
the character of the soil These areas
will. at least. produce trees, thus yield
ing some return from otherwise non
productive tracts. The financial return,
allowing for interest on the investment,
will range from so cents to 81 or SO per
acre a year, depending upon the char
acter of the soil, soil moisture, the quail
ity of the product and the market de-
Locust CRobinia pseudocacia) is yield
ing from So to 81 per acre per year in
the production of fence posts. This is
in addition to interest on the invest
ment at current rates.
There is an added satisfaction in the
possession of an ideal woodlot, and the
knowledge of a perpetual and continu-
Gus supply of building, repair and fuel
material A supply of seasoned ma
terial may be kept on hand for util1za-
ton in the repair of agricultural i'm
elements. vehicles double trees and
buildings. Most of the repairs on a
farm can be made in the farm workshop.
This means saving of time and worry
when repairs must be made quickly. A
trim to town means a loss of time vary
ing from half a day to several days. The
item of fuel alone is worthy of consid-
Grafton
No one can belittle the beneficial eff
fects of a stand of trees in protection
from wind and storms. About the farm
stead this means shade for man, stock
and chickens. 1t means pleasant, cool
ing breeze in summer instead of a wave
of heat Such planting enhances the
value of the farm from the aesthetic
standpoint. One farmer said that he
considered the grove of threes about
his farmstead worth not less than So
900 in the sale of his farm, and that
this had been his experience in selling
farm land. Another farmer stated that
he had cleared the price Of his farm in
the sale of woodlot products, and he
still had an excellent woodlot He made
an improvement cutting, selling the
mature and defective material only and
retained the well-formed, young trees
of the valuable kinds.
F-ERTILIZING LAND WITH VELVET
BEANS.
J. r.. SopertOn. Ca. writes: I have
several tons Of velvet beans in the hull I
have been thinking Of grinding and mixing
with - per cent phosphate which is
very finely ground ami using for fertilizer.
I would like your opinion to the value OF
this for fertilizer. Is the raw phosphate
better than 16 per cent acid for cotton?