June, 1942] University of New Hampshire 15 



ment opportunities during periods when the market is particularly 

 active. 



FOREST MANAGEMENT 



In the Colebrook area most farmers are in need of work during 

 the winter months and woodland is one of the few sources, if not the 

 only source, of employment available. To date the pulp and paper 

 mills and other wood-using industries have offered a fairly continuous 

 market for the farm forest products. To maximize income from farm 

 woodlands over a period of years forest management for sustained 

 production will be essential. The form it takes and the intensity de- 

 sirable will vary in each individual case. 



A few fundamental principles which apply to all woodlands must 

 be observed if a crop of timber is to be produced. They are as much 

 a part of forest management as are cultural treatment and harvesting. 

 Most important among these is protection against fire and such nat- 

 ural enemies as disease and insects. 



The first measure necessary for the successful practice of forestry 

 is protection from fire. This enemy can cause death to standing trees, 

 injury to trees not killed, destruction of soil humus and subsequent 

 leaching of mineral ashes, reduction in growth rate, and insect and 

 disease attack. In many instances it will prevent stand reproduction 

 through effects on seed bed and the seed itself. Diligent efforts on 

 the part of the owner, together with those of State and federal govern- 

 ments, can prevent much serious fire damage. 



Such direct control measures are not well adapted to insect and 

 disease control. Results are likely to be better and more economical 

 if the approach is made through control of stand composition by silvi- 

 cultural ' treatment. Although results cannot be expected at once 

 through this approach, a gradual change to species less susceptible to 

 attack appears to be the most logical method of control. 



The practice of grazing livestock in the woods is often detrimen- 

 tal to timber production. Continued grazing destroys valuable re- 

 I'roduction growth and can lead to a condition of neither forest nor 

 pasture. Under present circumstances in this area the feed obtained 

 from this source, no matter how small in amount, may be necessary 

 to the maintenance of the dairy enterprise. But a program of pasture 

 improvement can largely eliminate the need to continue this practice. 

 When and where damage is evident, fencing to prevent grazing is 

 desirable. Usually pastures in the area contain enough tree growth 

 to furnish shade for dairy cattle. If not, a small portion of the forest 

 may be left accessible to them. 



The protection phase of management so far discussed applies to 

 all woodlands in the area. In general, these fundamentals must be 

 observed if a forest cover is to be maintained. More intensive man- 

 agement practices will be necessary to increase growth and keep the 

 land at near full productivity. These practices will be determined by 

 forest type, age, condition, and other pertinent factors. The follow- 

 ing- discussion deals with them in somewhat more detail. 



® Silviculture — producing and tending a forest. 



