RKFORKSTIXG OF CHKSTXUT-IiLIGHTFD LANDS 855 



feet. The soil to a depth of 8 inches is a fine loam, ranging in texture 

 from silty to sandy, and varying in color from brownish-red to reddish- 

 brown. The subsoil is a sandy loam, grading with depth into a clay 

 loam. The soil is relatively moist and the drainage good. The aver- 

 age rainfall is 36 inches. The average temperature for the year is 

 54° F. 



The stand before cutting was composed of chestnut, chestnut oak, 

 white oak, and red oak, averaging 408 trees to the acre, of which chest- 

 nut formed 60 per cent and chestnut oak 20 per cent. The area had 

 been cut over 35 years ago to supply "coal wood" for the iron furnaces 

 operating in the valley at that time ; consequently it was of even age. 

 The trees were fairly uniform in size, averaging 6.9 inches d. b. h. and 

 58 feet high for chestnut, and 6.3 inches d. b. h. and 53 feet high for 

 chestnut oak. 



The work of cutting the tract was let under contract, the Department 

 of Forestry receiving a specified stumpage price for each product. This 

 contract was under the supervision of the forester in charge, who re- 

 ceived each month a sworn statement of the amount of material re- 

 moved. Check statements were also received from the companies to 

 whom the products were shipped. The contract called for the removal 

 of all merchantable trees of all species within a specified time, the 

 working of the material into products having the highest stumpage 

 value, the making of fence posts from trees not infected with the 

 blight, the cutting of all brush and small inferior trees which could not 

 be used, and the piling of these, together with the brush from lumber- 

 ing, into suitable piles for burning in the spring. The reason for clean- 

 cutting the area was twofold: First, to make the operation a paying 

 one ; second, the oaks, although good species and producing valuable 

 timber, have a slow rate of growth, and it was thought better to replace 

 them with faster-growing species. 



In the beginning of the operation four cordwood cutters were em- 

 ployed, who cut and worked the trees up independently of each other. 

 They were paid at the rate of 60 cents per cord and averaged two cords 

 a day per man. Later a gasoline wood-saw was installed. Under this 

 method the trees were cut, trimmed, and skidded to the saw and there 

 cut into four- foot lengths. The average cut per day was increased to 

 five cords per man and the cost lowered to 40 cents per cord. From 

 the larger-size trees sawlogs, railroad ties, and telephone poles were 

 cut out first and the tops worked into cordwood. Where chestnut was 

 used, the bark was peeled before the material was removed. 



The hauling was done under contract, at $1.25 per cord. The haul 



