Iiine, 1942] University of Nf.w Hampshire 31 



40 acres of permanent open pasture, would furnish adequate pasture. 

 The remainder of 25 acres could be fenced to prevent grazing and 

 returned permanently to woodland, making a total of 43 acres which 

 would be enough at near full productivity to take care of the operator's 

 spare time. In the immediate future, the annual cut should be limited 

 to five cords of pulpwood plus the home fuel supply. After a period 

 of about 15 years, the cut can be increased gradually as the younger 

 stands l^ecome fully stocked. They then will benefit from the re- 

 moval of the overstory of older trees now present in the area used 

 as pasture. Eventually, a cut of around 30 cords of pulpwood should 

 he possible each year. With all harvesting done by the operator 

 and with no increase in taxes, the additional net cash income from 

 this cut would approximate $140 annually. 



Where an adjustment of the type just outlined is possible, it 

 appears desirable for farms in this group. Others should attempt to 

 purchase sufficient acreage to meet their normal needs. 



WAYS IN WHICH VARIOUS AGENCIES MAY ASSIST 

 IN BRINGING ABOUT ADJUSTMENTS IN THIS AREA 



The Forest Products Association, the local farmer cooperative 

 organized to market forest products, probably can make the most 

 significant contribution to bring about the adjustments that have been 

 suggested for this area. Already this organization, with the assistance 

 of the New Hampshire Extension Service, has gone a long way to- 

 ward bringing about better use of the forest resources. By furnishing 

 a market and advancing operating funds to members when needed, 

 the cooperative has enabled many farmers to carry on woods opera- 

 tions. A continuation of this program is highly desirable. 



From the standpoint of the local people it would also seem desir- 

 able to have a sizable proportion of the forest land managed in such 

 a manner that sustained production would result. Annual harvesting 

 of the crop would offer a market for local labor during slack periods 

 and tend to stabilize employment over a period of years. But, there 

 are several obstacles that stand in the way and make the realization 

 of the objective difficult. The large group of non-farm owners have, 

 for the most part, other business interests that yield a much greater 

 return for their time than could be expected from woodland manage- 

 ment on so small a scale. To carry on woods operations, both super- 

 vision and labor must be employed. The cost of hiring a competent 

 individual to supervise a single small operation would.be. in most 

 cases, prohibitive. This service could be offered by the cooperative, 

 however, spreading the cost over a large number of such jobs. One 

 of the present normal functions of the organization, namely, scaling 

 wood, requires at least the part-time services of two men. Trained 

 foresters employed for this purpose might also supervise logging, 

 mark timber for selective cutting, and do the surveying work request- 

 ed by members. The availability of these services would assist 

 owners desiring to put their woodland under the type of management 

 likely to give the greatest return over a period of years. 



