MAKING MONEY OUT OF FORESTRY 65 



As a rule conifers should be encouraged upon poorer 

 situations since they make less demand upon the soil 

 for plant food and moisture. Practically any boy in 

 the country can plan the cuttings in the farm woodlot 

 greatly to improve its conditions. Of course the easiest 

 scheme would be to cut the winter's supply of wood 

 right near the road where the trees could be easily cut 

 up and loaded on the sled or stone boat. This recalls 

 a story told about Daniel Boone, who it is said always 

 moved his abode to a new spot in the virgin wilderness 

 when the clearing about his cabin became so large that 

 trees for fuel would not fall across his door. 



Starting the Forest Naturally. In this cutting for 

 the winter's wood, the slower-growing and imperfect 

 trees can be removed, favoring the fast-growing valu- 

 able species. Too many trees should not be re- 

 moved from the same group, as big holes in the 

 forest cover will expose the soil too much and reduce 

 its fertility. In such a removal the starting of new 

 growth is not intended, although a heavy improvement 

 cutting in a forest old enough to produce seed may 

 result in a fine stand of young seedlings the following 

 season. This, however, is by accident rather than design. 

 Where it is intended to start a new forest and the 

 proper seed trees are found in a mixed forest, the first 

 step should be to remove the forest of weeds, like horn- 

 beam, blue beach, etc., and trees of slight value whose 

 seed is not wanted. Ordinarily the removal of such 

 trees and those which are diseased and defective will 

 open the canopy sufficiently to give full light to all 

 parts of the crown. This results in marked increase 

 in seed production. The seed falls, germinates, and 

 the young seedlings commence to grow. Under ordi- 

 nary circumstances, there would not be sufficient light 



