FORKST commissioner's REPORT. 65' 



The removal of all the trees is a method quite commonly prac- 

 ticed in our woodlots. When used in a hardwood growth, 

 sprouts spring up from the cut stumps which very quickly form 

 an eiTectivc cover for the protection of the soil. The trees should 

 be felled with an ax, stumps cut 4 to 6 inches high, the top left 

 smooth and slanting, to shed water and care taken not to injure 

 the bark on the stump, if the best conditions are to be secured 

 for the production and growth of sprouts. The area cut over 

 should not be too large and can be made either a narrow strip, 

 or several strips alternating with strips of standing trees and 

 distributed over the whole area ; or the cutting can be done in 

 small patches or groups which are uniformly scattered over the 

 woods. 



The advantages of burning the brush left after the cutting, 

 are (i) that the danger from fire is greatly lessened and (2) 

 there is no refuse to interfere with young growth which might 

 spring up. Brush burning is not recommended, however, unless 

 care is exercised in doing it, otherwise more harm than good 

 may result. Attention is necessary in piling the brush so that 

 the fire will not injure the remaining trees and the burning must 

 be done at a time when there is no danger of the fire getting be- 

 yond control. 



Such lines of management for the improvement of the wood- 

 lot as have been briefly indicated, systematically and carefully 

 carried out, will greatly improve the conditions for the growth 

 of the trees. There will be an increased production of wood 

 that in itself will repay for the added labor ; besides the material 

 obtained which in most cases will be sufficient to cover all ex- 

 penditures of labor and money even if time is taken to burn the 

 brush. 



The improvement made in the University woodlot is cited as 

 an example that such work pays for itself. The stand of tim- 

 ber in which the thinning was done covered an area of about 16 

 acres and consisted of a mixed growth of conifers and hard- 

 woods. White pine was the predominating conifer, there being 

 some hemlock, a little fir, and a few spruce and cedar trees. 

 White and gray birch, soft maples and- elm were the most abund- 

 ant hardwoods. The estimated stand of the conifer before the 

 thinning was done was 10,000 board feet per acre. One-half of 

 the area was cut over one year and the remainder the next. The 

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