26 The Farm Woodlot 



The right way 



The first necessity for a man who is attempting to clear 

 a cut-over or timbered claim, unless he has unlimited 

 capital and does not have to depend upon the farm for his 

 livelihood, is the realization that land devoted to the 

 growth of timber is capable of producing a good revenue 

 if protected from fire. Without that realization his success 

 must necessarily be very limited and very uncertain. 



Next, he must bear in mind that not all land is worth 

 clearing. Many a man has devoted his whole life and 

 sacrificed his family in the effort to clear a farm which 

 proved to be useless when it was cleared. Select good 

 land ; a poor farm is worse than none. That same land 

 will produce good profits in timber ; as a farm it will be 

 only an expense to the owner. 



A piece of good land chosen, the next thing needed 

 is a definite and comprehensive plan of operation. Five 

 acres is more than the average man can clear alone in a 

 year. Eighty acres is more than he ought to attempt in a 

 lifetime. If he is going to accomplish anything, he must 

 be on the place all the time ; if he is going to be there all 

 the time, the place must support him from the very start. 

 This means that the first crops must be such as he can eat. 

 Fortunately these can be raised on a small patch of the 

 right kind of land. 



The first step, then, is clear. The first clearing should 

 be made in the place best suited to a garden. From this 

 he can easily raise enough to support him and sell enough 

 more to buy the mere necessities of life. 



The brush land furnishes good pasture for cattle and 



