The Forest in Farm Management 19 



years. Yet there are millions of acres of wheat planted 

 every year, and not an acre of forest except for the pro- 

 tection of less valuable crops. 



These examples (and they are typical of thousands of 

 other cases) show clearly enough that the farm woodlot 

 deserves a definite and respected place in every scheme of 

 farm management. 



LOCATING THE WOODLOT 



It is clear, then, that there should be a woodlot on 

 every farm. The next thing is to choose the proper loca- 

 tion for it. For convenience we shall discuss this under 

 two heads : the hilly country of the East, and the level 

 prairies of the West. 



In comparison with the prairies, nearly all of the 

 eastern farm lands may be considered hilly. On almost 

 every farm there is a tract of land ill suited to cultivation, 

 either on account of the steepness of the slope or the poor 

 quality of the soil. In some cases it is so poor that it is 

 not cultivated at all ; in others it can be forced to yield a 

 slender crop which is often produced at a loss. In either 

 case it is the place to choose for the woodlot. The steep- 

 ness of the slope does not in any way interfere with the 

 growth of the trees, which require little, if any, cultivation 

 in that country, and the roots of the trees hold the soil in 

 place, prevent the hillside from eroding and burying the 

 richer soils of the valleys. Nor is the poor quality of the 

 soil much hindrance, for trees may do well on soil which is 

 too poor to support any other crop. Every one of these so 

 called " waste places" on the farm is capable of producing 

 a very respectable revenue from the growth of forest trees. 



