REVIEWS AND NOTICES OF BOOKS. II5 



in fact it is often a remnant of the original virgin forest which 

 has not been cleared oflF for this reason. In other cases, wood- 

 lots have originated from abandoned land which was once tilled. 

 In the central parts of the country where, owing to competition 

 with rank herbage, trees do not naturally reproduce themselves, 

 the wood-lot is formed artificially by sowing and planting. 



Farm forestry is simply a special branch of general forestry, 

 and aims at bringing about the best conditions for the growth 

 of trees suitable for the objects in view. If all land on the farm 

 were fertile and suitable for farm crops, there would be no room 

 for farm forestry, but there are only too frequently areas of land 

 too poor to grow food crops, and such land is utilised to grow a 

 crop of forest trees, which is the only profitable use to which it 

 can be put. Farming and forestry thus go hand in hand in 

 America. 



It will surprise many readers in this country to learn that the 

 area of wood-lots and idle land owned by farmers in America is 

 estimated at 200,000,000 acres, an area larger than all the 

 national and State forests. Idle land on the farm, if utilised in 

 the proper way to produce tree crops, can contribute materially 

 to national wealth and prosperity. The productive capacity of 

 the 200,000,000 acres of farm wood-lots is enormous. They 

 yield, on the average, even if only fairly well-stocked with trees, 

 about 3000 board feet to the acre, and if under proper forest 

 management the annual yield in timber would more than equal 

 the cut of the entire country, which is about 40 billion board 

 feet. It is on account of the great value of the wood-lot to the 

 nation and to the individual that the subject of farm forestry is 

 of importance. 



A good-sized wood-lot will furnish work for both men and 

 horses in winter, when it is often a problem to know how to 

 employ them profitably. The two industries make a good com- 

 bination, each providing profitable work in its own season, and 

 it is easier to secure, keep, and train good labour when there is 

 work all the year round. 



In America, the value and necessary nature of wind-breaks 

 and shelter-belts is well understood and appreciated, and the 

 wood-lot often takes the form of these shelters for growing 

 agricultural crops and for stock. Nor is the value of the wood- 

 lot as a protection of the water supply and a preventive of soil 

 erosion undervalued or ignored. 



