Western Yellow Pine Lands. 493 



This table shows that up to thirteen inches in diameter trees 

 are more valuable for ties than for saw timber. 



Referring to the above tables, it is plain why the average owner 

 does not hold his 65 year old trees (9 inches in diameter), that 

 he can get 24 cts. in ties for now, until they are an inch larger and 

 worth 28 cts. in ties. That would give him only 4 cts. interest 

 on 24 cts. in 8 years, or slightly more than 2% simple interest. 

 Neither, for example, taking the age of most rapid advance in 

 value for saw material alone, is he going to save trees 14 inches in 

 diameter, worth 90 cts. for logs now for 12 years, or until they 

 are worth $1.20. That would yield only 30 cts. simple interest 

 on 90 cts. in 12 years, or 2.8%. The average owner therefore 

 cuts all trees as soon as they are large enough to yield ties. In 

 fact the results obtained in Table VIII prove that the average 

 owner is correct in cutting trees at 11 or 12 inches diameter, or 

 about as soon as they are merchantable, but the objection to 

 present methods of cutting is that they seriously injure the pro- 

 ductive capacity of the forest and therefore the future prosperity 

 of the region. Even in a region so favorable to forest growth, 

 the cutting of all merchantable material does not leave sufficient 

 trees for seed and protection, and therefore for prompt and 

 sufficient reproduction. If reproduction occurred promptly, it 

 would require 65 years before it would produce ties. Lighter cut- 

 ting would permit logging again in 10 or 20 years. Thus the cut- 

 ting away of the remnants of the virgin forest, means the cessation 

 of wood using industries in the region for many years. 



Although clearing improves grazing conditions, fire kills the 

 grass even more completely than the forest. Accompanying illus- 

 trations show the ruin of grazing lands by fires. On account of 

 the dry porous soil originating from disintegrated granite, forage 

 conditions in this region must be protected from fire. Fortu- 

 nately for forestry as well as for the grazing industry, sheep and 

 hogs have never been run in the region. They would destroy 

 the scattered grasses at once. 



Are there possibilities of improving conditions on private lands ? 

 The presence of the National Forests in most parts of this region 

 gives fairly good fire protection to adjoining private lands. But 

 there should be better fire protection outside of the National 

 Forests. This is a matter of State activity and could easily be 

 arranged by co-operative agreements for expense sharing. 



