960 A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 



follows by Mr. Ralph K. Day, of the Central States Forest Experi- 

 ment Station 



Probably the outstanding examples of what can be done in the way of profitable 

 woodland management are to be found among the Mennonite and Amish com- 

 munities of Ohio and Indiana. These thrifty people have for generations utilized 

 the otherwise slack winter months for woods work. In this manner they keep 

 themselves and their teams profitably employed the year round. One owner 

 who has kept an accurate record of all cash sales from his woodland, has per- 

 mitted an analysis of his timber operations since the war. During the 13 years 

 from 1919 to 1931, inclusive, he has received in cash a total of $10,457.73 for 

 the forest products cut from 75 acres of farm woodland. This represents a gross 

 return of $10.73 per acre per year. The entire area is classified under the Indiana 

 forest tax law, and the annual taxes probably do not exceed 10 cents per acre. 

 Since no outside labor was employed and the work was done at times when the 

 men and teams would otherwise have been idle, the per acre return compares 

 very favorably with the gross return of less than $19 per acre for all cereals 

 grown in Indiana in 1929. During the 13 years for which records are available 

 this owner has cut, sold, and delivered 266 thousand board feet of hardwood 

 logs at an average price of $35 per thousand board feet. In addition, he has 

 sold and delivered 643 cords of fuel wood at an average price of $3.10 per cord 

 and supplied his own 'needs for fuel wood to the extent of approximately 25 cords 

 per year. This does not include an unestimated amount of fence post material 

 and other timbers cut and used on the farm. Although over 700 board feet per 

 acre have been cut during the last 2 years, the farm woods appeared to be at 

 least 90 percent stocked at the time of examination. An analysis of the annual 

 returns of 10 other Indiana classified woodlands has been made by T. E. Shaw, 

 extension forester of Indiana. This analysis reveals net profits ranging from 

 $1.10 to $6.25 per acre per year and disregards the intangible values in fuel, 

 fence posts, and rough timbers cut and used on the farms. 



Current depression conditions emphasize the fact that farmers are 

 generally overlooking their woodlands as a source of annual income. 

 The foregoing quotation also emphasizes the desirability of farmers 

 marketing timber in the form of logs or other material ready for 

 manufacture. It is a general experience that farm-woodland timber 

 sold on the stump brings only a small fraction of its actual value. 

 Even more serious is the destruction wrought by portable mills on 

 such tracts. The timber is invariably cut below merchantable size 

 and future returns thereby deferred for a generation or more. 



MEASURES NECESSARY TO IMPROVE FORESTRY PRACTICES 



It is obvious that private ownership will continue to be of great 

 importance in this region. One measure that can help in improving 

 forest productivity is equitable assessment and collection of taxes, 

 which is discussed elsewhere in this report. Another such measure is 

 promotion of the public attitude which favors precautions against 

 forest fire, trespass, and other public injuries. In addition it is 

 necessary, where large continuous areas of woodland are involved, to 

 build up definite organizations for the purpose of fire protection. 

 These subjects are discussed elsewhere in this report. 



A third measure, which is indispensable in promoting better use of 

 the forest area, consists in putting into the hands of forest owners the 

 necessary information regarding the proper care of their properties. 

 This involves three steps : First, research, which is discussed elsewhere 

 in this report; second, the establishment of demonstration areas and 

 community projects; and third, extension work. By extension work 

 throughout the region State foresters and extension foresters have 

 already brought about considerable improvement in management 

 practices. These efforts need further support. In order to obtain 



