354 PRODUCTS OF THE FOREST AND WOOD LOT 



like a sponge or blotter will hold the water poured on it from a glass. 

 The escape of water from this forest floor was gradual, so that no 

 floods occurred. The water escaped gradually and supplied free 

 water for the subsoils of the surrounding fields. The effect of 

 long periods of dry weather was much less serious; stream flow 

 was more uniform at all seasons; springs were more permanent and 

 pastures were well supplied with water for stock where now it 

 must be pumped. The flow in wells is regulated by forests. Wells 

 that were supplied with an abundance of good water go dry a 

 part of each year after nearby forests are destroyed. 



The actual loss of soil from erosion is often due to the removal 

 of forests from the hills above. Many areas which were once con- 

 sidered useful fields for raising crops become so badly washed and 

 gullied that they must be abandoned. In many cases the best 

 remedy is to reclothe them with forest growth. 



It is needless to say that the farmer is economically interested 

 in forestry because it will supply him with better and longer fence 

 posts, lumber and fuel. 



Growing the Crop on the Farm. In the more humid 

 regions of America, and where the land is not in the form 

 of a perfect floor, there are often rough lands which could be more 

 profitably used for timber than for other farm crops. The great 

 advance in prices paid for good posts, poles, railroad ties, and lum- 

 ber will warrant the growth of a farm woodlot as a farm crop. The 

 wood lot may also furnish to the grower his own supply of fuel and 

 perhaps leave some for sale each year. At present the income from 

 such wood lots in the United States is greater than from the sale 

 of any other single farm crop, except corn. As land is used for 

 this purpose that would otherwise be wasted, the profit from such 

 sales is usually much greater in proportion to the income than for 

 other crops. Eroding hillsides should be used for trees. Rough, 

 strong land, whether high or low, is found better for trees than for 

 other crops. Low, wet lands may be used for certain species of 

 trees when drainage would be too expensive. 



High knolls, where the surface soil has become too thin to 

 yield good returns from field crops, may prove to be good soils 

 for the production of locust posts and other wood products. On 

 many farms in all Sections the areas along ravines and streams are 

 already well supplied with natural mixed growth. Proper care 

 and management will aid nature in making areas far more 

 profitable. 



