A FARM WOODLOT 



Frank A. W'augh. 



There is al present a widespread interest in forestry, though tliis 

 interest is nowliere greater tlian the imminent importance of the sub- 

 ject justifies. On the other hand it is quite plain that many of our 

 resources, pubhc and private, state and national, are being shame- 

 fully wasted because of the ignorance or carelessness of the princi- 

 ples of forestry. It becomes a public duty, therefore, for an3-one 

 who has even an elementary knowledge of the subject, or who pos- 

 sesses even a modicum of practical information, to spread this 

 knowledge or information for the general welfare. 



One thing greatly needed in current forestry discussions is con- 

 crete knowledge of forest facts and of forestry operations. Too 

 much of the common talk on the subject stops with general princi- 

 ples, (which are mostly unintelligible when they are unconnected 

 with concrete examples), or even contents itself with the fervent as- 

 sertion that forestry is a good thing and ought to be encouraged. 



It is the purpose of this bulletin to set forth a single definite con- 

 crete example of practical forestry under conditions typical of nearly 

 the whole State of Massachusetts and of large areas in neighboring 

 States. The problem in hand is that of the ordinary farm woodlot, 

 and the conditions are those prevalent on a majority of New England 

 farms. 



The woodlot in question belongs to the Department of Horticul- 

 ture of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, and has been for 

 many years subjected to the same conditions, the same demands, 

 and, for the most part, to the same unsystematic management as any 

 farm woodlot. It has been called upon for stove-wood, fencing, 

 rough lumber, etc., and has not been made the theater of any general 

 experiment in scientific systems of forestry. There have been some 

 plantings of forest trees, however, in which particular the conditions 

 are not typical of the common farm woodlot. The tract contains 

 127/ acres of good land. In respect to the quality of the land the 

 situation is not exactly typical ; for the farm woodlot ought to 

 occupy waste land, while this tract, if cleared, would be prime 

 orchard or garden land. It occupies the top and north and west 

 slopes of a small hill or drumlin. 



Products required. — The woodlot in question is 'expected to pro- 

 duce stove-wood, fence posts, and dimension lumber. Recently 



