276 AMEKICAN FOKESTKY 



have not been carried out stringently; so that, the solving of this question 

 wisely would meet with their hearty approval. 



Another point, of which there is an increasing practice going on among 

 the timberland owners, is the judicious cutting of their trees for the propo- 

 gating of a future growth, principally among the large owners who have mills 

 to conserve or others who wish a continuous investment and return. 



Planting is principally going on among railroad companies for railroad 

 ties and among the farmers whose labor is not a cash charge and by large 

 owners who have both very favorable land conditions for planting and long 

 time investments to secure. It is very doubtful, however, if private owners 

 can afford to plant trees to any extent for some time, unless the markets 

 improve or timber becomes more scarce than at present, which is not imminent 

 in view of the fact that large bodies of uncut timber can be purchased at low 

 prices in Canada, and in the United States, and markets will be steadied by 

 the constantly improving means of communication such as the Panama Canal 

 will furnish. 



On the opposite hand, another point which I think is appealing to the 

 far-sighted timberland owners is, the advantage in the Federal and State 

 ownership for the reason that the State can carry on and develop many 

 tracts into a future growth, create future supply, and be a steadying influence 

 upon future markets. 



In fact, all forestry, if looked at in this light, will be to the timberland 

 owners' future advantage and good, as well as to the good of the country at 

 large. But it is equally true that its growth must be slow and sure and 

 achieved step by step and the present worth of each step must be demonstrated 

 and proved to meet with the timberland owners' hearty support, which I think 

 they are in a frame of mind to more than willingly give. 



A FOREST THAT PAYS $40 AN ACRE YEARLY 



By GEORGE W. KEHR 



^^r^HERE is a tract of timber containing 90 to 100 acres near Port Matilda, 

 xS'J Center County, Pa., owned by Christian Sharer, that has not been 

 "hogged" over during the last fifty years. It covers a steep, rocky 

 mountain-side, and consists of chestnut, oaks, white pine, and a few other 

 varieties of hard and soft wood. 



During the winter of 1911-12, the ripe timber, on five average acres of 

 this tract was cut — telephone poles, railroad ties, mine props and a little 

 saw stuff. The 700 thirty to fifty foot chestnut poles taken out are worth 

 $3,000 f. o. b. cars. Cutting and hauling them cost $350. Fifteen cars of 

 small ties and props are worth |225 net. We have no figures to show the 

 number of railroad ties and quantity of sawed lumber cut, but there are 

 200 to 300 ties and several thousand feet of plank. 



The chestnut that was cut had reached the "hypermature" stage. Ninety 

 per cent of these trees were dead at the tops. All the other trees cut were 

 either ripe or were crowding and needed to be removed. The stand left is as 



