REPORT ON FORESTS. , 279 



farms, which they sell to all sorts of new-comers. Sometimes it 

 falls into the hands of speculators, who hold it indefinitely, with 

 various purposes in view. In consequence of this mode of treat- 

 ment, uplands which once produced pine fit for ship timbers are 

 now only bush-lands ; swamp-lands which have yielded choice 

 white-cedar are now cripples. The only suggestion of silvi- 

 culture is the custom of leaving a seed-tree here and there. 

 Many of these seed-trees were left, however, not for the purpose 

 of seeding the ground, but as line-trees, to mark the borders of 

 properties. 



The aim of the selection method is the constant betterment of 

 soil and forest. It prescribes that the soil must be kept covered, 

 and that the most valuable species must always be encouraged. 

 The dead and diseased trees must be removed, also all inferior 

 kinds which are a hindrance to a young, more promising growth. 

 Many minor points the owner or person in charge must settle. 

 The axe must be cautiously used, and always with a purpose 

 beyond the immediate reaping of a wood crop, and the operator 

 must be perfectly familiar with the peculiarities of the species 

 with which he is dealing. Caution in cutting, and the sowing 

 of seed, or the planting here and there of desirable kinds, will, 

 in the course of time, bring order out of chaos. 



On large areas of Southern New Jersey where there is little 

 more than bushes it will be necessary to plant afresh. In many 

 instances where the forest is very thin and of poor species it will 

 pay in the end to cut clean and establish a new forest by either 

 planting or sowing. The system of clean cutting and planting 

 has many advantages and disadvantages. One can work in a 

 systematic and regular manner and can start the kind of forest 

 he prefers. It is, however, usually expensive, the young plants 

 are in greater danger of frost, drought, weeds and disease, and 

 the fertility of the soil is impaired by being bared to the action 

 of the elements for a considerable period of time. 



If one has a pure, even-aged forest, the third system is proba- 

 bly the best. This is the system which is so successfully applied 

 to the spruce forests of Europe, and is an excellent way of 

 regenerating white-pine in this country, and also, perhaps, white- 

 cedar in South Jersey. In this system regeneration occurs uni- 

 formly over the whole area under treatment. When the trees 



