CHAPTER XI. 

 FOREST PROBLEMS. 



THE object of this chapter is to give general suggestions 

 which may be applied to a variety of conditions, and 

 not to prescribe exact treatment for any special forest 

 problem. It has seemed that certain methods of treatment 

 could be best given in this way. 



i. A has a swamp covered with thrifty Black Spruce, 

 in all about seventy-five acres. Last year he got 500 

 Christmas trees from it, which he sold at eight cents 

 each. There is also some Tamarack and Pine on the 

 higher land. For what trees can this land be used for 

 greatest profit? How long does it take to- grow Christmas 

 trees? 



Answer: If the Black Spruce are thrifty, it is a very 

 sure indication that the soil is not overly wet during the 

 summer, and that it is in very good shape for Tamarack 

 or other more valuable tree. The Black Spruce is a very 

 slow grower, and it is doubtful if it should be encouraged 

 under any condition. Our native White Spruce grows 

 much faster, and this would be much the most profitable 

 of any of our native trees for paper pulp ; but some studies 

 by the Minnesota Experiment Station seem to show that 

 the Norway Spruce could be grown at even greater profit 

 for paper pulp. This tree is fully as rapid a grower as 

 the White Spruce, nearly as hardy, and the seed of it is 

 much more easily obtained. If it is thought desirable 

 to use this land for pulp wood, a small bed of spruce seed- 



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