186 FIRST BOOK OF FORESTRY 



of labor always pays and pays handsomely. The ordi- 

 nary wood lot in the eastern or forested portion of our 

 country is usually a remnant of the old forest; it is 

 on forest ground and commonly on rather good land, 

 when considered from the woodsman's standpoint, so that 

 quite a variety of timber may be grown here. Let us 

 consider what might be done with such a wood lot in 

 our eastern districts. 



First, we will see what kinds of trees the woods contain 

 and what condition they are in. In most cases we find a 

 considerable number of old, long-overripe trees of maple, 

 elm, oak, especially red oak, and others. Some of these 

 clearly show their bad condition by large knot holes, 

 numerous dead linibs, and other signs of degeneration. 

 They are growing neither in value nor in wood and had 

 better be removed ; but there is no need of haste, any 

 time during the next ten to twenty years is soon enough; 

 for there is no immediate danger of great loss. 



Besides the old, overripe trees there are a number of 

 younger trees with broad, spreading crowns, also trees 

 like blue beech and dogwood, which are not wanted. 

 We see that considerable change is needed here, merely 

 in respect to the kinds of trees to be raised. In most 

 cases we should wish to reduce the elm, bass wood, poplar, 

 and others, and give preference to oak. Moreover, we 

 would rather raise white oak than red or black oak, 

 because the former is durable and, therefore, useful even 



