Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-06-13
FARM WOODLOTS
BRING RETURNS
Are important Sources of Reve-
nue. to the Owners in Many
Instances.
PRODUCTS GROWING IN VALUE
Sales Of Wood by FARMERS In Eastern
States in One Year Exceeded
Value of Entire Potato Crop,
Says Uncle Sam.

| Contrary to general opinion the farm
woodlots of the country not only fur
nish immense amounts of material for
local use, but are important sources of
supply for timber for the general mar
ket, says an expert of Uncle Sans for
est service in a publication of the de-
partment of agriculture, on 1.-The
| Status and Value of Farm Woodlots in
the Eastern United States" Much of
the choice hickory, ash and white oak
now in use comes from farm woodlots.
Many woodlots contain timber every
bit as good as that in the larger tracts
and fully es capable of yielding high
grade lumber, If properly sawed and
seasoned. Others have large quantities
of pulpwood suitable for paper max
ing low-grade lumber for boxes, bolts
for slack and tight cooperage, and ex-
cellent material for veneer
In 1909, ii is stated. the farmers of
the eastern states alone received from
the sale of their woodlot products an
average of $S1 for each reporting farm,
or nearly $17O,O00,000. This was more
than the value of the entire potato
crop, nearly double that of the tobacco
crop, and more than twice that of the
combined barley and rye crops. In that
year there were more than 143 100000
acres of farm woodlands in the east
ern and central states. This amount
was a decrease of about 10 per cent
from the figures reported in 1880.
Products Increase in Value.
Where agriculture is in the pioneer
ing state, 1t is pointed out the sale of
wood very often enables the farmer to
tide over the first years during which
he has not enough land in cultivation
to support him. In later years the
woodlOt furnishes material for use on
the farm and if taken care of may
prove a valuable source of revenue. AS
settlement becomes intensive and the
value of land advances, there Is ten
dency for the area devoted to wood
lots to decrease. At the same time
woodlOt products increase in price and
the value of the wOodlots themselves Is
more generally recognized.
Because it is convenient source of
est direct value of the wOodIot, 1t is
stated is to the local communities. The
farmers use more of the wOOdlot prod
ucts than they sell. Much of the mate
rial which is sold is consumed in the
neighborhood and many small veneer,
cooperage and other woodworking
plants derive their entire supply from
local woodlots.
1t is pointed out that there is every
| incentive for communities to encourage
the development of local woodlots ana
thereby protect themselves from flu
ture timber scarcity and high prices.
With proper treatment woodlots can be
made to yield a revenue to individual
| owners, but the nature of the crop is
such that ownership of relatively large
areas is necessary to insure annual
supplies of the various kinds of timber
required for local consumption.
Community Ownership Practiced.
Community ownership of woodlands,
as already practiced by about sixty
cities In the country, will oftentimes
make available the necessary land. In
Europe community forests have long
been established and yield good re-
turns on the investment they represent.
The Swiss city of Zurich, for example,
derives about $4,000 per year from a
woodlot of $500 acres.
In addition to the actual money re-
turns the trees on the farm have a
value for protection and shelter which
will often justify their preservation
and care. Both live stock and crops
benefit by the protection from hot. dry
Ing winds afforded by woodlot, while
In winter even a small woodlot will do
much toward increasing the comfort
of farm life by breaking the force of
cold winds aud storms.