ONE CORD AN ACRE A YEAR 

 By Wilus M. Baker 



Assistant State Forester of Nezv Jersey 



Intensive forestry methods are rapidly becoming- practicable in New 

 Jersey. A considerable portion of the forested area of two million 

 acres consists of farm woodlots, usually with soils of fair fertility 

 capable of producing valuable timber crops, but either too steep, rocky, 

 or wet for agriculture. Many farmers have spare time and idle help 

 at certain seasons that could be profitably employed in woods work, and 

 it is gratifying to note that a constantly increasing number of them are 

 realizing that such work is worth while. 



Excellent markets for all kinds of wood products are located within 

 the State and at its borders ; the railroad, electric, water, and highway 

 transportation facilities are unexcelled anywhere. For several years 

 the extensive cutting of blighted chestnut has tended to glut the mar- 

 ket at times with certain products, but with the decline of his salvage- 

 cutting and a steadily decreasing supply of other merchantable stump- 

 age, it is constantly becoming more difficult to satisfy the increasing 

 demand for most kinds of wood. Good nearby markets for such prod- 

 ucts as ties, mine timbers, poles, piling, boat fenders, box boards, basket 

 stock, posts, dunnage wood, cordwood, etc., make close utilization 

 possible and practicable. 



The manner in which woodland owners have accepted forestry meth- 

 ods and are putting them to practice, especially during the last two years, 

 is decidedly encouraging. It is felt that actual demonstrations of wood- 

 land under forestry management — both privately owned tracts and 

 State forests — have contributed considerably to whatever success has 

 been met in this work. When a tract of woodland along a public high- 

 way has received proper treatment, or an idle field has been put to work 

 growing trees, a sign is erected to inform the public why the work 

 was necessary, and what results and benefits will be secured. 



F-^rts and observations regarding some of these demonstrations are 

 of interest. 



Thinning 20-year-old Second- growth Oak on the South Jersey Sands. 

 In many sections of the South Jersey sand region second-growth oak 

 has taken complete possession of the land formerly occupied chiefly 

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