162 ELEMENTARY FORESTRY. 



the aim of the owner to keep out fires, and so encourage the 

 growth of underbrush and leaf mold, as this protects from dry- 

 ing out in summer, which is important on such land. The large 

 trees that are decaying had better be cut out, and the younger 

 growth favored by occasional thinnings, where too much 

 crowded. 



19. A. has a meadow which is subject to overflow in the 

 spring of the year. The stream which runs through it is liable 

 to sudden rises, and has made many channels for itself, and is 

 continually making new channels. The land affords fairly good 

 pasturage, but the cutting of new channels by the river is a 

 source of great annoyance and loss. Is there any way that this 

 can be prevented by planting trees? 



Answer: Such streams may be permanently straightened out 

 by planting willows across the cuts made, so as to confine the 

 waters to a straight course. By this treatment a stream soon 

 clears out a deeper main channel for itself, and the old high 

 water channels gradually fill up with the sediment from the water 

 which sets back into them from the river at times of freshet. 

 The banks of the stream should also be protected from washing 

 by planting willows on them. For this purpose willow cuttings 

 of large size should preferably be used. They should be not less 

 than two inches in diameter and six 'feet long, and be put at 

 least three feet in the ground where exposed to erosion. 



20. A. has forty acres near Minneapolis, covered mostly with 

 a heavy stand of Sugar Maple, twenty-five years old, and two or 

 three acres of Tamarack, Elm, Basswood and Oak. What treat- 

 ment would be more profitable than to clear up for pasture or 

 other purposes? 



Answer: Such land as this is probably much more valuable 

 for agricultural purposes than for forestry, unless it is stony or 

 on steep hillsides, for the tree growth indicates a strong, valua- 

 ble soil, and its being located near a large city should enhance its 

 value for dairying or similar purposes. 



21. Some neglected lowlands have become partially covered 

 with Cottonwoods and Willows, some of which are a foot or more 

 in diameter. These trees are in irregular patches, covering per- 

 haps two-thirds of the tract. The lowest places are quite wet 

 and boggy. What income might be derived from a careful man- 

 agement of the growing wood? 



