June, 1942J University of New Hampshire 5 



large number of people is through public ownership. Stable owner- 

 ship would permit a continuity in management likely to provide the 

 greatest use of the timber resources. In an attempt to determine the 

 feasibility of such an approach, farmers residing in areas adjacent to 

 the National Forest were interviewed to ascertain the success of pub- 

 lic ownership in relating forest resources to near-by residents. It 

 was found that a number were using the National Forest as an outlet 

 for their spare labor, but. for the most part, they were operators of 

 part-time or subsistence farms. Except for those located very close 

 to this area, dairy farmers did not find it practicable to purchase 

 stumpage on this forest because of the short time available in any one 

 day for work in the woods. They could not travel more than two 

 miles and still make efifective use of their time. 



Information concerning prices and trucking costs was obtained 

 from local people and from the pulp mills. An attempt was made to 

 obtain a series of prices paid and quantities of wood purchased over a 

 period of years. Lack of adequate records prevented getting more 

 than enough information to indicate what a normal price for wood 

 delivered at the mill might be. Trucking charges were obtained from 

 local truckers and from farmers throughout the area. 



Certain farms, each typifying a large group, were selected for 

 more intensive study. Alternative programs of production, based on 

 farm management records previously collected, were worked out for 

 these farms. " In this work the woodland management was considered 

 along with other farm enterprises. Income expectancy was worked 

 out for short and long time periods. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA 



The area studied is one of the most concentrated dairy areas in 

 the State and one likely to remain permanently in agriculture. Pro- 

 duction of wholesale milk is the prevailing type of farming, with 

 potatoes and forest products as the main cash crops. Farms vary in 

 size from those at the subsistence level to commercial enterprises with 

 large herds and commercial acreages of potatoes. Herds generally 

 tend to be larger than in most section,s of the State. Potato produc- 

 tion has averaged about two acres per farm in recent years. 



The topography of the region is rolling with rather narrow val- 

 leys and rounded hills. Pastures and fields are irregular in shape and 

 quite often steep. Many of the farmsteads are located on the high 

 land, and often the valleys are covered with tree growth which is 

 contrarv to what is usuallv found in other sections of the State. 



WOODLANDS 



Although the Colebrook area is one of the best agricultural areas 

 in the State, it might also be considered a forest area. Approximately 



2 Woodworth, Harry C. and Hangas. Arno: Farm Organization and Management in the Colebrook 

 Area, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin i22, June, 1940. 



