RAISING OR KEEPING UP THE FOREST 59 



mountain woods, where forests are difficult to start if 

 once cleared away ; it is the best way of treating the for- 

 est border to keep it close and dense ; and it is an excel- 

 lent way wherever the forest is small and the owner can 

 go over it often, so that he knows all parts and can pick 

 out, or select, with proper care and knowledge. 



In all cases he should see to it that the ground is cov- 

 ered with the right kinds of trees; he should cut out 

 those kinds which do not sell, or grow too slowly, or 

 never grow large. What the right kinds are depends 

 on the land. On the better kinds of soil in a temperate 

 and warmer climate most of our broadleaf trees do well, 

 and in many places a mixture of these with pine and 

 spruce would be profitable. At present oak sells better 

 than elm, ash better than maple, and any of these better 

 than beech, while logs of white pine and spruce sell best 

 of all. 



Since such kinds as the oak are quite intolerant or 

 sensitive to shade, they must be mixed with others that 

 can stand more shade. Of these the beech and maple 

 are good. Often it pays to plant them under the older 

 oaks when these no longer shade the ground and there 

 is light enough to encourage grass and weeds. 



One of the chief difficulties in this way of treating the 

 forest lies in the danger of damaging the young growth 

 in felling old timber, and in cutting and barking young 

 growth and trees in dragging out the larger logs. 



