AN AGRICULTURAL SURVEY 467 



The valuable are left to struggle for supremacy with the useless but 

 hardy species, and in addition are frequently required to withstand the 

 ravages of stock. The fact that useful woodlots persist in spite of 

 these conditions is evidence of the excellent adaptation of this region to 

 the growth of trees. 



It is a deplorable yet self-evident fact that only a few of the farmers 

 in Tompkins county have done anything toward improving their wood- 

 lots. When a piece of land is cut over, little attention is given to saving 

 the young growth. Probably one-third of the woodlots of the county 

 are being pastured. Such land is rarely worth much as a pasture, and 

 the stock greatly injure the woods. 



The woodlots are worth saving. Farmers are usually not aware 

 of the value of their woodlots. Estimation of the value of standing 

 timber is not easy for an experienced lumberman. Many farmers seem 

 to have no idea of the value of timber. The following are a few examples 

 taken from lumbermen's books : 



EXAMPLE I. 



A farm of 122 acres, 80 acres of which was woodland consisting of 

 mixed hard and soft wood timber: oak, basswood, hemlock, maple, 

 cherry, beech, ash, birch, elm. 



Price paid for farm $ 1,75 



Proceeds from lumber sales : 



500,000 ft. mixed lumber at $20.00 per M 10,000 



500 cds. slab wood at 5oc 250 



Resold farm with top wood 7 



Total sales $io,95 



Cost of cutting and marketing 4> 2 5 



Net sales $6,700 



Cost of farm . 



Profit . $4,95 



EXAMPLE II. 



A farm of 50 acres, 35 of which was of mixed hardwood. 



Price paid for farm $ 5 



Proceeds from lumber sales: 



110,000 ft. mixed lumber at $20.00 per M 2,200 



2,600 R. R. ties at 45c 1,170 



1,700 R. R. ties at 6gc IJ73 



