Forests As a Farm Crop 



BY E. T. MEREDITH, SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE 



(From American Forestry Magazine) 



A larger portion of the farm area of the United 

 States is devoted to wood than to any other crop. 

 The total area of woodland on farms, according to the 

 1910 census, was double the acreage of corn, nearly 

 three times that of hay and forage, four times that of 

 wheat, and six times that of cotton. There was as 

 much farmland in woods as in all cereal crops com- 

 bined. 



In New Hampshire and Vermont, the forest prod- 

 ucts of farms were second only to hay and forage in 

 total value; in Maine they stood third, exceeded only 

 by hay and forage and potatoes, while in Alabama, 

 Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina 

 they also held third place, following corn and pota- 

 toes. The value of timber products from farm wood- 

 lands for the entire United States was more than 

 $195,000,000. 



Yet, in spite of the enormous area of farm woods 

 and the value of their product, this branch of farm- 

 ing has, in practically the whole country, received less 

 attention than any other. Few farmers nowadays 

 would expect to make a profit from their wheat, corn, 

 hay or cotton fields, or from their orchards, without 

 giving them a great deal of care and attention. They 

 certainly do not attempt to raise these crops merely 

 by harvesting what chances to grow wild, with no 

 preparation of the soil, no fertilizer, no selection of 



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