THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE WOODLOT 129 



on so slowly that it may not offset the greater value due to the growth 

 of new wood and the increasing market value of timber. The ground occupied 

 by very crooked or low-forked trees, or by trees that will make very knotty 

 timber, is usually not yielding so good an income as though these trees were 

 replaced with better ones. 



Crown. With good, sound trees of medium or large size, it is not so 

 easy to decide whether the tree is ripe. For example, if we have some 

 good oaks that are twelve or sixteen or twenty-four inches in diameter, 

 or even larger, are they ripe? As already explained, this question cannot 

 be answered until we know more of the rate of growth of our timbers. 

 However, much help can be derived by looking at the crown: trees with 

 compact, medium-sized, healthy-looking crowns are probably growing 

 well, while those that have poor, ragged crowns and a general appearance 

 of not being vigorous may "be assumed to be ripe. An important excep- 

 tion is found in many trees that have rather poor crowns simply because 

 they are closely crowded by their neighbors ; such trees may grow well if 

 given more room. Trees that have very wide-spreading crowns, taking 

 up much more than the usual amount of space for a tree of their diameter, 

 should usually be cut. These so-called " wolf trees " take up too much 

 room for the growth they are making. 



Width of annual rings. Some idea as to whether the timber is growing 

 fast can also be obtained by noticing the width of the rings on stumps and 

 logs in the neighborhood. Each of these rings is the growth of one year. 

 By knowing what is the usual width of ring in the locality, and then by 

 cutting a little notch in a few standing trees in your woods, a general 

 idea can be gained as to whether the timber is doing well. It should be 

 noted that even if the rings become somewhat narrower as the tree grows 

 older, the amount of wood laid on each year may be just as great. This is 

 because the last rings are laid on around a larger circle and up a taller 

 trunk than were the earlier ones. If there is a sudden, decided narrowing 

 of the rings, however, it shows slower growth. 



Increase in value. Asa tree grows larger the wood is worth more, because 

 large-sized products bring higher prices than do small ones. It should 

 also be remembered that even if the trees are not making much new wood 

 each year, yet the market value of good timber is increasing. The hold- 

 ing of good timber, so long as it remains thrifty, is usually a paying invest- 

 ment, unless the land is very valuable for other purposes. 



Summary. In deciding whether or not to cut a tree, the following points 

 should be considered : whether the tree has reached a good size to make 

 the product desired; whether or not it is a good kind; its soundness, and the 

 cleanness and straightness of the trunk; the crown development and the 

 general appearance of vigor ; and, whenever possible, the width of the annual 



