128 THE CORNELL READING-COURSES 



trees unless the old timber is to be removed within a very few years. 

 This is because these trees will not grow well when shaded from overhead, 

 except when very young. Basswood will endure a moderate amount of 

 shade. Sugar maple, beech, hemlock, and spruce can be planted in heavy 

 shade. 



The method to use 



The sprout method can be used to advantage with hardwoods in the 

 southern part of the State, when the stumps are still vigorous and when 

 only the smaller wood products are wanted. 



Relying on seed from neighboring trees is a good method wherever 

 only a few trees are being cut here and there and the neighboring trees 

 are the kinds that are desired in the new crop. It is also a good method 

 to try when considerable areas are to be clear cut, if the neighboring 

 timber is of the right kind and has light seed. 



The method of scattering seed broadcast on the ground should not be 

 used on a large scale until it has been tried in a small way to see whether it 

 will yield anything. 



The planting of trees or seeds is recommended in all cases when one 

 wishes to increase quickly the proportion of the best kinds of timber, 

 and it should be done when other methods fail. 



OTHER SUGGESTIONS 



When is a tree ripe? 



There is much uncertainty in the minds of persons who wish to take 

 good care of their woods as to when a tree has reached the proper size for 

 cutting. In general, a tree is ripe and should be cut, unless there is some 

 special reason for leaving it, when it has reached the time at which it 

 will yield the greatest profit. It is not an easy matter to determine this 

 time, which varies with many conditions. One of the things we most 

 need to know in order to determine the average age or size at which it is 

 best to cut timber, is the rate of growth of timber trees at different times 

 in their life. As yet we have few figures on the growth of timber in New 

 York State. Until we have such information, the decision as to whether 

 a tree is ripe will be entirely a matter of judgment, in which some of the 

 following suggestions may be helpful: 



General quality. It the timber is desired for certain products, such as 

 telegraph poles or railroad ties, the right time to cut it is, of course, when 

 it has reached a good size for making poles or ties. Poor kinds of trees 

 should be cut in order to give room for better kinds, whenever possible. 

 Trees that are decaying rapidly are beyond their time of most profitable 

 growth and therefore are overripe. In some trees, however, decay goes 



