Report on Forest Conditions in Delaware 



AND A 



Forest Policy for the State 



BY W. D. STERRETT 

 Forest Assistant, Forest Service 



INTRODUCTION. 



The study of forest conditions in Delaware by the United States 

 Forest Service, resulting in this report, was brought about by Profes- 

 sor Hayward, Director of the Delaware Agricultural Experiment Sta- 

 tion. Professor Hayward made application to the Forest Service No- 

 vember 26, 1906, for a co-operative forest study of the State, the ex- 

 pense of the work to be born jointly by the Service and the Station. It 

 was agreed that the work should consist of a careful examination of 

 existing forest conditions with the purpose of recommending practical 

 measures for the management of the various classes of woodland, and 

 of formulating a definite forest policy for the State. The Forest Ser- 

 vice commenced the work the middle of March, 1907, and the field 

 data, which form the basis of this report, were collected during the fol- 

 lowing two months by an officer of the Service. 



SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS. 



The conclusions and recommendations based upon this study may 

 be summarized as follows : 



1. Delaware is a State of farms, and most of the land is too valu- 

 able for agricultural purposes to be used for growing forests. How- 

 ever, a small woodlot is a necessary part of every well equipped farm, 

 no matter how valuable for farming purposes is the land already in 

 woods. 



2. It is advisable in certain parts of Delaware to plant and main- 

 tain trees to serve as windbreaks and shelter-belts in localities devoid 

 of extensive wooded areas, where the country is practically all cleared 

 up and under cultivation. 



3. The climate and soils of Delaware are uniformly well adapted 

 to extremely rapid tree growth. 



4. The market for forest products is as favorable as can be found 

 anywhere in the United States, and is extremely conducive to care and 

 economy in forest management. 



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