FOREST commissioner's REPORT. 199 



as to actual practicability thsin anythinu- that could l)e said by 

 the prenent writer. 



The first extract, from a letter of Mr. Crawford dated at 

 Boston, July (), l-SilT) is as follows: 



The question of the reproduction of spruce by crowlh in 

 New Enirland and the Provinces is a very difficult one to 

 settle on account of the various conditions found. The prin- 

 ciple estimates of growth that I liave made are in the forests 

 of Nova Scotia and New Hampshire, In the former the 

 oriiiinal growth was ciuite dense, the conditions of soil and 

 climate very favorable, and the first cuttino- called for no trees 

 less than eleven inches in diameter at the small end to be 

 taken. This method of cutting necessarily leaves standing 

 more trees in number to fft'ow than were taken. Under these 

 conditions, I have estimated that the annual growth might be 

 200 feet board measure per acre. The increase will be greater 

 the tenth year than the first, and will he in an arithmetical ratio, 

 but in ten years there will l)e an increase of 2,000 feet i)er 

 acre. But this depends lari^ely on the density of the ori<>inal 

 stand and the number of trees left after the first cutting. 



In connection with a New Hampshire forest of 50,000 

 acres where the original stand was 8,000 ft. board measure per 

 acre, I have estimated that should 4,000 be cut leaving 4,000 

 to grow (and, if carefully cut, the growing trees must be 

 much areater in number than those taken) barrin"' windfalls 

 and fires, the annual growth must l)e at least four per cent 

 on the 4,000 left, compounded. That is 160 feet the first 

 year and so on. I know nothino- of the spruce forests of 

 Maine from personal examination, except a slight examination 

 in the Androscoggin valley, in which are some very fine 

 stands, but 1 have seen nothing there equal to the lands in 

 the Aramonoosuc vallc}' and those south of the White Moun- 

 tains. In these districts it is diflScult to find any largo tract 

 that has been cut with a view to ])crpetuate the growth. No 

 such system will be generally adopted until it is too late. 



The following, written to Mr. Crawford, may be worth 

 printing for its own sake as well as to introduce Mr. Craw- 

 ford's ideas : 



Your letter suggests an im[)ortant topic. You si)eak of the 

 practicability of cutting a stand of timl)er at several cuttings 

 instead of one. 1 would like to know how nnicli more it will 

 cost to lumber in that way — like to have you discuss all the 

 difficulties and changes that will arise in adopting such a 



