14 



Weed Trees. 



Many wcodlots contain a large percentage of weed trees or in- 

 ferior species. Weed trees such as Ironwood, Hawthorn and Blue Beech 

 have gradually taken possession as an undergrowth. 



Everything seems to favor the development of these species. In 

 cutting operations these trees are seldom disturbed. The stock in graz- 

 ing prefer the leaves and branches of the better species, thus giving these 

 weed trees another advantage. The seedlings of the Ironwood and Blue 

 Beech seem very hardy and vigorous and can stand a great amount of 

 shade, so that they get an early start in the struggle for possession of 

 the soil. When once the Ironwood has obtained a footing its dense 

 foliage so shades the ground that better species cannot develop beneath 

 it. In many woodlots from seventy-five to eighty per cent, of the 

 trees urjder three inches are made up of Ironwood (Fig. 2). 



Inferior Species. 



The question of the inferiority of a species is relative and depends 

 on local conditions. 



Inferior species, as Poplars and Slippery or Red Elm, are often 

 growing on soils which are capable of producing much better species. 

 Then in some cases the woodlot has gradually become filled with Sugar 

 Maple when it might be wise to introduce other species. 



Defective and Overmature Trees. 



The average woodlot contains many defective and overmature trees. 

 The defective trees are of various descriptions. Trees with old fire scars, 

 trees injured while young by the felling of neighboring trees, trees wan- 

 tonly scarred by the careless blow of an axe, trees broken and deformed 

 by wind or snow, are all forms which should gradually be removed. Over- 

 mature trees frequently show a tendency to become stag-headed and if 

 left standing gradually deteriorate in value. Such trees are a menace to 

 the surrounding growth and frequently in felling destroy more than their 

 own value. 



Improvement Cutting. 



Cutting operations which aim to overcome the above defects, namely, 

 weed trees, inferior species, defective and overmature trees, are spoken 

 of as "Improvement cuttings." 



In the farm woodlot all cutting for firewood should be made from 

 such trees. It is not to be understood that it is advisable to go through 

 the woods and cut down all the above mentioned trees without regard to 

 the future of the area thus cut over. The first consideration should be to 

 protect the soil, that is, do not cut down a tree or a group of trees unless 

 you are certain that there will follow another crop. If you do not get 

 reproduction the following season it is almost certain that grass and 

 weeds will come in and the soil will soon lose its valuable character as 



