The Ordway new era., 1919-11-07

EsAH matter of course, but the
- ~ 80 number of people in that
day was small compared
with the population of the United
States now. In those olden times peo-
pie would have been aghast Mt the
thought of paying $S or $40 cord for
firewood. Yet these prices, and even
higher ones, have been charged in many
cities the last two seasons. When cold
weather approached and no coal had
been put into the cellars, great num-
bers OF people turned to the wood
yards and to the farmers advertising
wood us n last resort. Fuel commits
sions have advised the burning of
wood, pointing out that IL cord of the
best quality hardwood, thoroughly sea-
soned, has the same potential fuel
value us ton of anthracite coal.
Moreover, 1t Is decidedly more eco
nomical for heating purposes during
the early fall and late spring. when
only temporary fires are required Also
wood ashes have definite value as
fertilizer.
That the farmers of the country
helped materially In conserving coal In
1918 by substituting wood as fuel is
shown by the bureau of crop estimates
or The department of agriculture. An
average of 11.5 cords of wood, or n to-
tai of 71,O92OOO cords, was burned on
the farms of the country during 1918.
The total production of cordwood dur
Ing the year, which includes wood
burned on farms and that sold by
tod IN.
approximately 2.903, 900 cords. The
average farm value In 1918 was 73
cents cord. Upon the basis of estl-
mates for 1918 the farm fuel-wood
crop Is one Of the important crops of
the farm, inasmuch as only five crops
corn, wheat, oats, rye and cotton-ex-
ceeded 1t In value in 1915.
In the utilization of the forests of
the country, including farm woodlands.
n great deal of wood material Is pro-
duced which cannot find n use other
than as fuel. While some of 1t is used
| for acid wood, charcoal, etc. most of
1t is left for fuel or wasted Since
many OF the trees in our forests are fit
only for fuel. they will not be cut un-
less there is demand for fuel wood.
Improvement cuttings, which take the
small, diseased, or defective trees, can
profitably be made use of only In case
| there is such demand. Trimmings can
frequently be made to pay for them
selves, IL the material Is used for fuel.
Sometimes products of Trimmings can
be used for other purposes than fuel,
but more often they cannot. As proper
Trimmings and Improvement cuttings
are n great stimulus to increased pro-
duction and at the same time improve
the quality of the timber. fuel wood
demand opens up n great opportunity
| for forest improvement and, IL wide
spread and continued. will produce a
vast total effect for the better in the
character and quality of our forest re-
sources.
The great bulk of wood-fuel supply
in farming regions should come from
Trimmings and Improvement cuttings on
farm woodlands. Except under stress
of emergency, trees which will produce
lumber or other material of higher
value than cordwOod should not be cut
for fuel. Trees which are better suit
ed for fuel than for any other purpose,
whose removal will be of benefit to
the remaining stand. are: Sound stand
ing and down dead trees; trees dis
eased or seriously injured by insect at
tacks; badly fire-scarred trees; crook
ed and large-crowned short-boled trees
which will not make good lumber and
which are crowding or overlapping
others trees which have been overtOp-
ped by others and their growth stunt
| ed; trees of the less valuable species
where they are crowding more valuable
ones like beech, black oak, birch. hard
maple, white oak, or white pine; slow
| growing trees which are crowdlng fast
growing species Of equal value.
On many farms former pastures have
become overgrown with red cedar,
gray birch, aspen. pine or other trees.
| The trees came In slowly and through
neglect were allowed to steal much of
the pasture. If fuel Is to be cut some
where on the farm. such land as this
should be drawn upon first of all and
redeemed by removing all the trees
and restoring the land to grass. Also,
uncleared corners of fields or patches
| of agricultural land within the border
| of the wood lot may be cut clean, the
wood used for fuel and the land
eventually farmed. The expense of
| clearing is thus largely or entirely met
| by the value of the fuel thus produced.
With the increased use of wood fuel.
which is likely to continue for several