Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1921-01-14

Cutting d Crop From the weodlot.
ton. though the progress OF deteriora-
ton is not so rapid and may extend
over long period of years.
A properly cared-for wOodlot will
furnish the farmer cash crop at reg
ular intervals and win always afford
a supply OF timber and fuel for home
use. The harvest season for the wood
lot comes In the fall and In the winter,
and the gathering Of the harvest as
sists also In the thinning and cultiva-
ton of the crop.
Require Different Methods.
In general, there ARE two types OF
woodlots, says the United States De
partment OF Agriculture, and each OF
them requires a different method Of
handling. The irst type is character
lied by the presence of Old trees
which dominate the stand. The sec
ond type IL made up Of a nearly even
aged stand of second growth.
In the first type the old trees may
almost exclude the younger growth.
or they may exist as 0 few scattered
individuals throughout the stand
Such material II very likely to be
losing value. The way to check the
loss Is to cut the old trees which have
attained . mature growth and make
room for new stand Of seedlings. A
mature tree should be cut for the
same reason that one cuts crop Of
wheat when II is thoroughly ripened
No dead or diseased timber should be
allowed TO stand.
A woodIot composed entirely of ma
tnre trees should NOT be cleared at one
cutting. The work should be carried
on in stages with sufficient interval
between the cuttings 10 allow a new
crop TO come Up. If this method IL fol
lowed carefully. the farmer win al
ways have crop Of wood ready FOR
harvest On his woodlot. When the ma
tnre timber Ii removed In two or
three cuttings, fTe first cutting should
be 70 managed as to open mp the
crown cover somewhat. so that the
leaves On the forest fi0or may tlecom-
pose more rapidly and the termination
OF the seed be made more certain.
The remaining trees become more wind
firm. and, AS q result Of their crowns
receiving more sunlight they produce
more seed. when the forest floor IN
In good condition the second cutting In
n mature woodlot cnn be made during
the winter following heavy seed
year. Neither the first nor the second
@Akx Sac -
low an abundance Of sunshine to reach
the forest floor, since sunshine sfimu-
iates the growth Of weeds and other
trash.
Thinning the Stand.
In the second type Of woolIot,
where the farmer has mn eyen-aged
stand Of econd-growih timber. he may
begin 10 harvest hls crop By select
Ing first the undesirable species.
Often In such stands. such trees ~
ironwood threaten to oyertop. crowd
cot, N damage the more valuable Hpe-
eges Ike white ash OF tulip poplar.
Sprouts sometimes arise too thlekfy
fr0m the stump IF trees recently clt,
or The reproduction Of 4 good species
II too dense In amy Of these cases
some Of the trees should be removed
This process Is nothing more than
the wedding 0ut Of flhe poorer lndlvid-
pals where they interfere with the
better ones IN somewhat the same
manner. thinning cutting Is used
when. In from Is to 20 years. the
young stands reach d denae condition.
The principle 4 exactly the same III
that applied by the truck gardener
who fhins suk his plants 10 secure the
best development d. i portion. rather
Aaemss : $3.50 aM.aas sssszs.sa.a - a.. .ga.s