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SPECIAL OBJECTS 



The general silvicultural methods that have been outlined must 

 be modified in practice to meet specific conditions. An important 

 influence on management is the class of timber to be raised. This 

 depends upon the ownership of the land and upon market conditions. 

 If the owner needs a certain class of timber for his own use — as posts 

 for the farmer or props for the mine operator — he will find it advan- 

 tageous to grow it on his own woodland and have his own supply 

 close at hand and independent of the market. Other owners of wood- 

 land, who use none or only a part of their timber product, must grow 

 material for which there is a good general market. 



Farm Timbers. — Under this head are included fence posts and 

 timber for all kinds of rough construction work on the farm, such as 

 should come from the woodlot. Since it is seldom necessary or desir- 

 able to cut much timber at one time, the mature and inferior trees may 

 be selected and cut as they are needed, constantly improving the stand 

 and opening it up for reproduction where desirable ; and each tree can 

 be selected for cutting with reference to the good of the forest as well 

 as to the use to which it will be put. 



Cross-ties. — The tie market affords a convenient means of disposing 

 of surplus wood from farm woodlots, and in this case no special form 

 of management is necessary. The ties may be the product of a thin- 

 ning of an overcrowded stand, or may be made from that portion of 

 a final cutting which can not be more profitably used in other ways. 

 In some localities, as in the rougher parts of the Ozark Hills, cross-ties 

 may be the chief object of management, since here the local demand 

 for timber is less in proportion to the amount of absolute forest land. 

 The poorer situations with abundant black oak are especially suitable 

 for the purpose. Since a shorter rotation is possible than if saw- 

 timber were desired, a clear-cutting system with sprout reproduction 

 is recommended. Sprouts grow more rapidly in youth than seedlings, 

 and will produce timber of tie size in less time. To secure the best 

 sprouts, felling should be done in the winter season and the stumps cut 

 low and- clean. Since eventually the sprouting capacity of the stumps 

 is exhausted, provision must be made for the gradual renewal of the 

 stand with seedling trees. This is done by leaving a few to stand 

 through a second rotation, during which time they will partially seed 

 the area. Not as many trees need be left as in the ordinary clear- 

 cutting system with seedling reproduction. The stand should be kept 

 more heavily thinned than if clear saw-timber were the object, and 

 incidentally the trees will become more wind-firm, and those left for 

 seed may be distributed singly, where they will do the most good, 

 instead of in groups. Two or three per acre should be enough. 



