REPORT ON FORESTS. 41 



ings, notably near Manumuskin creek, in Cumberland county, 

 where the sand is piled in great shifting dunes. The mild- 

 winter climate of the region, which deserves its increasing 

 popularity, will undoubtedly be most unfavorably affected, for it 

 is due in no small measure to the shelter afforded by the pines 

 against the cold west and northwest winds. 



In the purely deciduous forest, fires do not gather serious 

 headway, and the timber also resists fire more effectively. The 

 pitch pine and mixed coniferous and deciduous areas on Kitta- 

 tinny, Bearfort, Green Pond and Copperas Mountains, and in the 

 swamps of the extreme northern Highlands, about Canistear 

 and Wawayanda, suffer considerably, but most of the timber 

 affected is of small value. 



FOREST MANAGEMENT. 



The coppice chestnut of the State produces the best results 

 when cut at an age of from 40 to 50 years. If not cut, it 

 deteriorates rapidly by rotting at the heart or by becoming 

 shaky. For railroad ties, telephone and telegraph poles or fenc- 

 ing, second-growth chestnut is always preferred, as it is a firmer 

 wood. On the other hand, if cut too young, each succeeding 

 growth becomes weaker and less valuable. Where it has been 

 most frequently cut some areas now need re-planting. 



When we consider how much of the Highlands forest is com- 

 posed of coppice chestnut it becomes immediately apparent that 

 it would be a mistake to reserve any large part of this forest 

 and allow it to stand indefinitely without cutting. The result 

 would soon be serious deterioration and most undesirable condi- 

 tions in the forest from the decaying coppice wood. It follows 

 that scientific forest management must of necessity go hand-in- 

 hand with any system of forest reservation if such reservation is 

 to at all improve upon present conditions. 



We have already pointed out the possibility that the soil may 

 become exhausted by continuous cropping with forest trees. 

 This possibility must be taken into account in forest manage- 

 ment. The most serious evils of present management seem 

 to have resulted from too frequent cutting, a practice which has 

 at present almost ceased, the browsing of cattle in the young 



