892 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



The policy adopted by Dr. Fernow was to clear-cut the areas for 

 hardwoods, leaving only such thrifty hardwoods and softwoods as 

 would be windfirm, and then burn the brush and plant the area with 

 desirable conifers. The latter was done in part, but various contin- 

 gencies which arose have delayed the reforesting operations to date. 



Although a screen of green timber was left along all highways and 

 other avenues of travel, the clear-cutting policy raised a storm of pro- 

 test from wealthy landowners in the Adirondacks, who desired, and 

 still desire, that the State land shall be kept in a wild condition, as a 

 pleasure ground for themselves. The withdrawal of State aid for the 

 College of Forestry, due to the opposition mentioned, led to the aban- 

 donment of all the experimental work which was under way. 



It is extremely unfortunate that such a short-sighted policy was 

 adopted by New York State, for it has delayed the practice of forestry 

 in the State for many years, and even now many regard the college 

 experiments as a failure, while as a matter of fact time has shown 

 the policy to have been right. There is no better vindication of Dr. 

 Fernow' s policy tlmn the present condition of the logged-oif areas near 

 Wawbeek. All plantations zvhich zvere made under 12 different con- 

 ditions have proved entirely successful. 



. Some of the early plantations made near Cross Clearing have suf- 

 fered severely from fire. One of them, on an old field which had a 

 heavy grass sod and a poor, dry, sandy soil, in which Scotch pine, 

 white pine, and Norway spruce had been planted in alternating fur- 

 rows, was badly damaged by fire. The white pine, most of the Norway 

 spruce, and some of the Scotch pine were killed. The latter, however, 

 have shown themselves to be quite fire-resistant and to have ability 

 to thrive on a poor, sandy soil. Another Scotch pine plantation on 

 a very sour, turfy humus proved successful, showing the tree to be 

 adapted even to such unfavorable sites. 



. One of the most interesting features of the trip was the visit to the 

 logged-oflF areas. On one area the timber was cut clear, brush burned, 

 and the area planted with conifers, the planting work being done under 

 poor supervision. Notwithstanding the unfavorable conditions sur- 

 rounding planting, there is now an excellent stand of young conifers 

 from 12 to 18 feet in height, consisting of an indiscriminate mixture 

 of white pine, Scotch pine, red pine, Norway spruce, and a few scat- 

 tering specimens of alien species. 



The spruce showed an especially favorable height and diameter 

 growth, some being from 18 to 20 feet high and 4 inches in diameter. 



