154 FARM FORESTRY 



the purpose for which it can best be utilized. If trees are 

 grown for fence posts they are ripe and should be cut when 

 they reach fence post size. If a fence post is wanted from 

 a woodlot a tree suitable for the purpose should be selected 

 and cut, provided it is not needed by the woodlot for protec- 

 tion to the soil or for seeding up the ground with seedlings, 

 and provided it will not serve a better purpose later if allowed 

 to grow larger, and also provided there are no poorer trees 

 that will serve the purpose just as well. The aim should be to 

 utilize each tree for that purpose for which it is best suited. 

 Trees often are cut from the woodlot without any thought 

 as to their fitness for any definite use. If a tree will make a 

 good sawlog it should be kept until lumber is needed, and 

 not cut for cordwood because the wood is straight grained 

 and easy to split. If a tree has a wood that is suited for a 

 particular purpose and for which there is a high demand it 

 should not be cut for another purpose. 



When trees are cut from the woodlot for sale they should 

 be utilized when they will yield the highest returns in money. 

 The size and age will vary in different regions with the con- 

 ditions. Often trees cut when small and grown several short 

 rotations by coppice will bring in a larger revenue than if held 

 before cutting an equal time until they become large in size. 

 Small second growth hickory, for example, is in demand for 

 spokes and ax handles. It is often grown on short rotations 

 for this purpose. As soon as the sprouts become large enough 

 they are cut and sold. Chestnut and red oak coppice are grown 

 on short rotations often of eight to twelve years to produce 

 small sticks or lagging for use in mines. More can often be 

 obtained in this way where there is a good market than if 

 the trees were allowed to grow to large size before cutting. 



As we have seen trees grow slowly at first, but soon begin 

 a rapid height and diameter growth that continues to middle 

 life or through the pole stage in some species, after that the 

 rate of growth decreases until in an old tree the annual rings 



