210 Forest Trees of Massachusetts. [April, 



the trunk, a similar course will be pursued, where it is an object 

 to get the greatest possible amount of wood. In both cases, those 

 stems and branches only will be removed, which interi'ere with 

 the rest. A crowded growth will be allowed, and the lower 

 lateral branches will be removed, where it is desirable to get a 

 lofty trunk and head." 



Mr. Emerson gives the result of his enquiry relating to the 

 proper time for felling timber for fuel. The following useful rules 

 we give again in his own languge, as we find it impossible to 

 condense the matter, without injury to it: — 



" From the answers returned, I find that, in felling for timber, 

 the practice is to select suitable trees, from any part of the forest. 

 No instances have come to my knowledge, of extensive woods, 

 cultivated with express reference to the production of timber. In 

 felling for fuel, the practice has been to select the old and mature 

 trees, especially such as have begun to decay. It has now be- 

 come nearly a universal practice to cut clean and close. Expe- 

 rience has uniformly shown this to be most economical. Several 

 of my correspondents have subjoined the reason. One of them 

 writes, — " Trees which remain where woods are thinned, are much 

 shaken by the winds, and often destroyed. Again, unless the 

 timber be all or nearly all taken off, the new growth is shaded, 

 sparse and feeble. But where a new forest springs up, it accom- 

 modates itself to all circumstances of wind and tempest." An- 

 other says, — " Some persons in this town have trimmed up young 

 white oak and walnut (hickory) woods, clearing the undergrowth, 

 when the wood itself consisted of young shoots of 10 or 12 years 

 of age. The result of this experiment does not seem to justify a 

 continuation of the practice." Experience here seems to confirm 

 a well known principle, that the quantity of wood formed depends 

 upon the number of the branches, or rather upon the extent of 

 surface of the leaves. To the question, — " How soon will a 

 wood, which has been cut entirely down, renew itself so as to be 

 profitably cut again?" the answers are very full and satisfactory, 

 though very various. The object is every where supposed to be 

 fuel. Some give a definite period, varying, for dilierent places, 

 from 15, 17, 18, 20, to 25, 30 and 35 years. The average of 

 ten such is 23 years. Others speak less definitely, from 15 to 

 20, 17 to 30, 20 to 25, 20 to 30, 20 to 33, 20 to 40, 25 to 30, 25 

 to 35, 30 to 35, for woods of miscellaneous growth. The aver- 

 age deducted from fourteen such statements, is, from 21 to 28. 

 The general average from all is a little over 24 years. These 

 statements are probably as definite as the case admits. Dififer- 

 ence of situation, exposure, soil, and kind of trees, would of 

 necessity lead to them. For particular trees, the answers are 



