PAPERS ON BIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE 227 



local prices for lumber, fence posts and shingles. One 

 question dealt with the durability of various species for 

 fence posts and another with the attitude of the farmer 

 towards annually burning over the woods. About 440 of 

 these questionnaires, completely or partially filled out 

 on these various points, were returned to the Natural 

 History Survey and the figures resulting from averaging 

 the data may be of interest. 



GENERAL FACTS 



The average farm contained 354 acres. Fifty acres, 

 or about 14 per cent of the average farm, was woodland. 

 Compilation of results on clearing for farming and pas- 

 turage showed that within the next few years this 50 

 acres is to be reduced to 34 acres, or there will be a re- 

 duction of 31 per cent of our present timber stand for 

 the farms represented. The 16 acres which is slated for 

 clearing will be about equally used for farm and pasture 

 land. Inquiry as to the amount of land which might be 

 planted or reforested showed that an average of five 

 acres should be planted, being considered more valuable 

 for forestry than for farming. The average amount of 

 forest plantation for each farm was only one acre. 



The value of the woodlot to the farmer as revealed by 

 the answers is considerable. From his woodland he se- 

 cures on the average 223 posts, or nine more wooden posts 

 than he needs to keep his fences in repair. 



Besides furnishing him with fence posts, this same 

 woodlot yields 15.5 cords of wood annually to its owner, 

 and during the last five year period has supplied him 

 annually with 2,863 board feet of lumber, about two- 

 thirds of his total needs in this line. While as a rule 

 the farmer takes less care of his woodlot than of his 

 other crops, in addition to the pasture it yields him, his 

 average annual return from it, according to our figures, 

 is as follows : 



Total yield 

 Price per piece per farm 



Amount or number of pieces cord or ML feet per annum 



223 fence posts 2 2 cents each . . . . $ 49.06 



15.5 cords of wood $1. 95 per cord 30.22 



2863 board feet of lumber $31.30 per M. feet. .. . 89.61 



Total $168 . 89 



