248 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



estimate, however, it is probably true that thinnings cost |1.15 to fell and 

 saw, while the final cuttings cost but 85 cents. The average sale price for 

 white pine for 1911 was |17.50. The total cost of delivery, according to the 

 figures secured, amounted to $8.30. In other words, there was a net profit of 

 $9.20 per M. feet for white pine. The cordwood sales of white pine tops 

 probably just about balance the cost of cutting and stacking. Even on the 

 poorer quality hardwoods, taking the total cost of delivery to be in the neigh- 

 borhood of $10.20, there would still be a net profit of $3.30 and on the better 

 quality hardwoods from $9 to $15 and up according to quality and species. 



THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FOREST 



Before the Harvard Corporation would agree to the purchase of this 

 tract they wanted definite assurance that it would not be a source of ex- 

 pense to the university. In other words, Mr. Fisher agreed that it would be 

 self-sustaining. The object of the management, therefore, has been (1) to 

 secure a reasonable return, (2) to cut first the timber that was mature and 

 secure immediate regeneration and to make intermediate cuttings to improve 

 the growing stock. 



There is at present no working plan, but it is expected that by 1914 a 

 complete working plan will be drawn up. This lapse of seven years between 

 the purchase of the tract and the completion of a formal working plan is 

 accounted for by the fact that only student labor is used in the collection 

 of data and it was desired to be very certain of local conditions and require- 

 ments before the management was committed to a definite line of action. 

 At present the tract is mapped for topography, types and a portion for age 

 classes. There is a rough growth table, volume table for white pine based 

 on the mill run and more or less complete volume tables for chestnut and 

 red maple are now being compiled. Tentatively, it is desired to manage the 

 white pine and hardwoods on a rotation of about 60 years, but blocks of 

 rapidly growing pine will be reserved. The actual cut at present has been 

 fixed roughly at 250,000 feet of saw timber (chiefly pine) and 250 cords of 

 wood. The data already collected for the complete working plan indicate 

 that this cut may be greatly increased — possibly even doubled — with absolute 

 safety. 



Since there is considerable land either entirely bare or only covered with 

 a scattered growth of gray birch, forestation has been started. About fifteen 

 acres of white pine, two year old seedlings on the better sites and three year 

 old transplants on the unfavorable sites, all spaced 6x6, have been put in. 



During 1911 a good many of the white pine seedlings died during the 

 drought and it was definitely determined that in similar exceptional seasons 

 on the less favorable locations only transplants would succeed when planted 

 in the open. Root competition from low brush did surprisingly little damage ; 

 in fact, the young trees succeeded better under huckleberry and other bushes 

 than on bare ground. In the large openings the plantations will undoubtedly 

 be successful, but in the small openings with a diameter of 50 to 100 feet^ 



