RAISING OR KEEPING UP THE FOKEST 57 



considerable timber about ten or twelve years ago, but 

 that he has since then been more frugal. Let us go over 

 to where he is plowing and ask him something about it. 



"Am glad to tell you all I can. I came here about 

 thirty-five years ago ; the farm was in bad shape, and the 

 first winter I cut a lot of logs for fencing, where you saw 

 that young growth you speak of. Since then I have been 

 cutting wood and timber for my own use every winter, 

 and now and then a little to sell. Ten years ago I cut a 

 large amount for the sawmill; sleighing was good and 

 prices rather high. For firewood I cut everything, and 

 if it does not make four-foot wood, it is cut sixteen to 

 twenty-four inches long and split to suit the people. In 

 this way I have cleaned up pretty much all through the 

 piece. For the rest I merely pick out where the timber 

 stands too close. 



" Of course I can raise all kinds of timber, for the 

 trees do not have to sprout and I can cut them at what- 

 ever age I choose. So far I have been careless. Except 

 in my sugar bush, where I want as pure a stand of maple 

 as possible, I have let them come in as they would. 



" In the future I am going to do differently and cut out 

 more of the kinds I wish to get rid of, thus favoring 

 those kinds, like oak, which are of more value to me. 

 I intend also to plant some conifers,, most likely some 

 white pine, as this does well hereabouts. How do I get 

 a new growth started ? Well, so far I have done nothing 



