Issued , 1917. 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. 

 L. O. HOWARD, Entomologist and Chief of Bureau. 



SOME TIMELY SUGGESTIONS FOR THE OWNERS OF WOODLOTS IN 



NEW ENGLAND. 



By F. H. MOSHER, Entomological Assistant, and G. E. CLEMENT, Assistant in Forest 

 Management, Gipsy Moth and Brown-tail Moth Investigations. 



Farmers and other woodlot owners in New England have, at the 

 present time, an unusual opportunity not only to realize appreciable 

 sums from their timber but also to better the condition of their 

 woodlands and lessen the liability of their being attacked by the 

 gipsy moth. Because of the increased demand for cordwood it is 

 now possible to dispose of classes of material not ordinarily mer- 

 chantable, and while labor is scarce and high priced the increased 

 cost of getting out cordwood, it is believed, will be offset by the 

 higher value of the wood. For these reasons timber owners, by 

 puting into effect a few simple rules regarding the handling of their 

 timber, will often be able to accomplish all the following objects at 

 one time: 



First. A large amount of low-grade wood can be disposed of to the 

 advantage of the owner. 



Second. A better class of trees with improved growing conditions 

 will be provided by the removal of inferior trees now standing. 



Third. The numbers of gipsy moths may be reduced by the removal 

 of those trees of which they are particularly fond and upon which 

 they thrive particularly well. 



In cutting cordwood heretofore, the practice generally has been 

 to cut clean. Where most of the trees on an area are mature, dead, 

 dying, or defective, a continuation of this practice is to be recom- 

 mended, but where a large number of young trees are standing it is 

 often preferable to thin judiciously. Such thinning should be based 

 on several considerations, among which are : 



1. All dead, dying, and defective trees should be cut to make room for live trees, 

 and in the case of dying trees, to check the development of injurious insects which 

 may breed in them. 



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