FORESTRY AND CONSERVATION 435 



crowned mature tree be set free to light on all sides, the sap produc- 

 tion will be stimulated only to a very slight extent. From this it 

 follows that the number of trees per acre must be consistent with 

 the greatest possible crown development of each tree in the grove. 

 At the same time it is not to be forgotten that the maple is inher- 

 ently a forest species. The large crown of foliage has an exten- 

 sive leaf area for evaporation, and demands a protected soil which 

 can keep it well supplied with water. Such soil is best found in the 

 forest, where the ground is kept heavily matted with leaves and 

 humus, so that the sun and drying winds will have little access to 

 it, and a comparatively uniform degree of moisture and coolness 

 may be maintained under all conditions. Commercial sugar mak- 

 ing is confined to a small part of the botanical distribution of the 

 sugar maple, because of a peculiar climatic requirement. It is the 

 gradual northern spring, with the slow yielding of the frost by the 

 ground, which makes the sap flow long and continuously enough 

 to give a paying production of sugar. A sudden thaw affects both 

 the quality and the duration of the sap flow. On this account it is 

 always desirable to maintain forest conditions in a sugar grove, for 

 if the ground has a heavy carpet of leaves and humus, it will be 

 less sensitive to changes in temperature. (F. B. 252.) 



Turpentine. The production of turpentine is an industry in 

 which the farmer of the Southeastern pine regions is actively en- 

 gaged. It is probable, however, that the injury from boxing to 

 the growing trees overbalances in the long run the immediate pe- 

 cuniary gain. It is one of the economic problems presented to the 

 owner of the pine tree plantation. 



Turpentine orcharding, as compared with lumbering, requires 

 small capital and equipment. Transportation of crude turpentine 

 is simple and inexpensive, and the work of orcharding is liked and 

 well understood by the people. While the timber had as yet prac- 

 tically no stumpage value, turpentine stills went up everywhere, 

 and forests entirely inaccessible for their timber could be profitably 

 worked for turpentine. (F. S. B. 43.) 



Fur. From the fur-bearing animals of the forest, especially 

 where the timber is yet of dense growth, the farmer derives a con- 

 siderable income at a time of the year when little else could be done. 

 The preservation of species also depends upon the forest. Many 

 farmers have found the raising of wild animals a profitable business. 

 (F. S. B. 36.) 



Quality of Timber. Sapwood is light and weak if from an old 

 tree, but heavy and strong if from a young tree. Sapwood shrinks 

 more and decays more easily than heartwood. A young tree makes 

 heavier and stronger wood than an old tree, hence second growth is 

 often better than old timber. The butt cut of hard pine weighs 

 20 per cent more and is 30 per cent stronger than the top cut. The 

 heaviest stick of the same kind, when seasoned, is the strongest; a 

 piece of seasoned pine weighing 45 pounds to the cubic foot is one- 

 third to one-half stiffer and stronger than one weighing 30 pounds. 

 Broad-ringed oak and pine, with broad, dark bands of summer 



