22 PROTECTION OF PLANTS, 1916-17 



THE MANAGEMENT OF WOODLOTS 

 G. C. Piche, Chief of Forest Service, Quebec. 



Recognizing the gradual diminution in merchantable timber, and even, 

 in certain places, of firewood, it becomes more and more eviderit that it is 

 necessary to take proper precautions for managing the forest property in a 

 systematic fashion. The Provincial Government, controlling the greater 

 part of our forests, has established very suitable regulations, whose execution 

 is supervised by the members of the Forest Service. However, a certain very 

 important part of our forest domain escapes this control. I speak here of the 

 woodlots or private woodlands which are distributed through all the prov- 

 ince, in all the villages, and which constitute an important part of the inheri- 

 tance of our farmers. 



I should say here that many of our woodlots are very well managed, 

 and could not be handled in a better way. Consequently, the remarks 

 which follow do not apply to these good foresters, but to those who have not 

 heretofore considered the woodlots in a serious manner. 



The proper management should be carried out so as to remove only the 

 annual crop, that is to say, an amount of wood equal to that produced 

 by the woodlot during the year. If one cuts more than the yearly 

 production, what the foresters call the "increment," there results a 

 gradual reduction of the forest capital. It is necessary to understand 

 that often owners of woodlots are obliged to make heavy cuttings, 

 for instance when one wishes to construct a building or to realize a 

 certain sum of money which he requires; but with proper organiza- 

 tion one foresees such a necessity and, instead of removing each year all the 

 crop of wood, a certain portion is left in reserve. Just as is done in properly 

 managed financial institutions, such as banks, the proprietor of a wood lot 

 ought to establish a reserve fund by economies made each year. A second 

 point to observe is to direct the cutting towards the trees which have 

 practically reached full growth. If we consider the tree as a capital, yielding 

 each year a certain percentage of interest, we should remove the tree when 

 its percentage of interest, that is to say, the annual increase, falls too much 

 below the mean, and replace it by a younger and more vigorous tree. Trees 

 injured by storms or lightning should also be cut out each year so as to obtain 

 all the benefit the wood can give before it deteriorates by rot. Also, those that 

 are attacked by insects or fungi are equally exposed to destruction and ought 

 to be rernoved without delay; finally, when fire sweeps over a portion of the 

 woodlot it is necessary to hasten the removal of the injured trees in order to 



