60 REPORT OF THE FOREST COMMISSION. 



are always salable, as are oak railroad ties; chestnut poles and 

 posts are in demand but ties are often slow. In the neighborhood 

 of Morristown the most profitable use of chestnut is for post and 

 rail fences; Fig. n. But every cutting, South or North, yields 

 much cordwood often a greater volume than of anything else. 

 Efforts have been made and are still making, to find a use for 

 this but thus far with no great success. Chestnut is not always 

 marketable as fuel and there is more than enough oak for all needs 

 within the economic delivery range. As a rule pine will bear a 

 higher freight charge than any hardwood but hickory. The solu- 

 tion of this problem apparently lies in the establishment of some 

 new industry, like a wood-alcohol still, in the heart of our northern 

 forests. In South Jersey it will come of itself when the fires cease 

 and the pine trees are allowed to grow to timber size. In any 

 case, no reason can be found for making cordwood the main crop. 

 Tops and thinnings always furnish enough where forests are well 

 managed. 



FOREST PLANTING. 



Our policy with respect to forest planting also differs from that 

 of most States. We find it unnecessary to plant trees except in a 

 small way. Bad as the fires have been, reckless the chopping, 

 deserts like those of the Adirondacks, the Lake States, and the West 

 are unknown with us. There are hillsides in North Jersey that 

 never should have been cleared, they will yield more in timber than 

 in farm crops or in pasture. These the owners are recommended 

 to plant, usually with evergreens, which are preferred chiefly be- 

 cause they produce more and better lumber (softwood) in a given 

 time, but partly also because the landscape needs them. About 100,- 

 ooo young trees have been planted this year under the direction 

 of the State foresters. Not less than 300,000 have been planted 

 within five years. Notable instances of this are found on the 

 water reserves belonging to the cities of Newark and East Orange. 

 The former has set out upwards of 100,000; the latter, working with 

 larger plants, has set out 10,000 and has in nursery 75,000 young 

 trees to be planted within the next three years. 



In South Jersey there is even less opportunity to make com- 

 mercial plantations. The clearings are practically all on the better 



