20 Agricultural Experiment Station [Bulletin 337 



returns to the owner. In many instances labor has been hired for the 

 specific purpose of removing all timber in a single operation. 



The first step necessary to make greater use of resources involves 

 a change from exploitive to more conservative forest management on 

 these areas. Rather than hiring forest laborers and selling all mer- 

 chantable timber at one time, farmers could spread the operation over 

 a period of years and use their own labor and e(|uipment to advantage. 

 Present practices yield only a stumpage value plus a return for that 

 portion of the operation carried on with farm labor. By adopting a 

 policy of sustained-yield management farmers could expect an in- 

 crease in income from at least three or ])ossibly four sources. 



First, by using their own labor and equipment, for which there 

 is no other market, net earnings would be increased. This, of course, 

 assumes a continuous market to permit sales each year or at regular, 

 short intervals. Such is the case in the particular area studied. But 

 in some locations and under certain price conditions it might be de- 

 sirable to alter this policy. If prices were at any time high enough 

 to make stumpage values abnormally high, it might be more profitable 

 to hire labor and sell a large quantity at that price. The additional 

 cut could take the form of removal of several years' growth or it might 

 even be desirable to cut somewhat heavily as long as productivity is 

 not seriously impaired. Such a procedure would be particularly desir- 

 able in locations where stumpage value is normally low. For those 

 farmers near to markets, the advantage gained through hiring lal)or 

 during such a period and making a heavy cut could well be offset by 

 the decreased growth due to reduction in growing stock and conse- 

 quent lengthening of the rotation period. 



Second, higher income due to better management would result 

 from greater production per acre over a period of years. These three 

 towns are located advantageously with respect to market. Should 

 demand for forest products continue about the same as in the past, 

 there would be little difficulty in disposing of the increased produc- 

 tion. With little or no additional out-of-pocket cost to the farmers, 

 the higher returns would be largely reflected in net incomes. 



Further increase in income might be expected from improvement 

 in quality. More complete utilization of each tree for a higher grade 

 product would be possible. At present a large part of the stand is 

 suitable only for fuelwood for which there is little demand. Proper 

 care can be expected to keep this proportion to a minimum. 



A few farmers might also get more income because of higher 

 ])rices for quality products. Some operators would get under way 

 faster than others and some would have a better foundation upon 

 which to build. As the volume of the better grades increased, how- 

 ever, there would be a tendency for this advantage to disappear. 



A second group of farmers are those who have large acreages of 

 woodland supporting little or no material ready for market at present 

 because of the condition of the growing stock. Such areas may be 

 poorly stocked with desirable stems or well stocked with young, grow- 

 ing timber not yet ready for cutting. Forest management could in 

 time increase production to a point where most of the available labor 



