ADIRONDACK FOREST MUSINGS 



623 



economics of the case may bring a modification of the 

 former silvicultural plans. In other words, if the trees 

 which grow best in any particular location are made the 

 progenitors of the future forest, it is a reasonably safe 

 assumption that the relative ultimate values of different 

 species will take care of themselves. 



The highest wood production from the land, with fire 

 protection and regulation of cutting which assures the 

 maximum volume per unit of area, will provide about all 

 that can be expected in the Adirondack forest or any- 

 where else. The most that foresters can do is to help na- 

 ture, and if too radical changes are attempted nature re- 

 bels and goes her own way, despite all theories and poli- 

 cies to the contrary. To replace a tract of pure and 

 mature hardwood forest by planting evergreens may suc- 

 ceed, but the natural rotation proceeds by less abrupt 

 stages and ecological influences must be considered. 



The first demonstration forest in New York State, if 

 not in America, was located a few miles from Tupper 

 Lake, and here was accomplished the first extensive re- 

 moval and commercial utilization of Adirondack hard- 

 woods and their replacement by softwoods. If political 

 influences had not prevented the carrying out of their 

 experiment under the theories advocated, much more 

 would be known now after 20 years as to feasible 

 methods and actual outcome. In lieu of this, we have 

 on comparatively small areas, dense, vigorous growing 

 plantations of exotic trees, the Scotch pine planted near 

 Wawbeek and Axton being the commercial pine of Eu- 

 rope which has been transplanted bodily to this new en- 

 vironment. Some experts say that these trees will never 

 attain commercial maturity, despite the fact that at the 

 present time they are healthy and rapid growing. Neither 

 the native nor Norway spruce, planted at the same time, 

 have succeeded as well, although white pine has thrived 

 unless damaged by the leaderweevil. It is an interesting 

 proof of the youth of forestry in America that the white 

 pine seeds planted in the Wawbeek nursery in 1899 were 

 imported from Germany and were gathered from a 

 planted white pine forest near Frankfort which was pro- 

 pagated from seeds obtained in this country over 100 

 years before. The seeds from our own white pine trees 

 were ungathered and unavailable from seedmen until 

 forest planting became an established practice in the 

 regeneration of our forest lands. 



On the demonstration hardwood cuttings where soft- 

 woods were not planted, nature with her abhorrence of 



barren areas reseeded the ground with a dense stand of 

 miscellaneous hardwood. The composition of this young 

 forest is not all that could be desired, but the ground is 

 clothed and the ultimate suppression of the less desirable 

 brushy growth will finally give a hardwood forest of 

 definite value. On other areas it has been observed that 

 where fire destroyed the slash and the vegetable humus, 

 contrary to the desires of both man and nature, the re- 

 cuperative power of the forest has shown itself by a re- 

 stocking with conifers. But abuse of this kind cannot be 

 carried too far, or too" long continued, as is evidenced by 

 the most unfortunate phase of the whole Adirondack situ- 

 ation, namely the large areas which have been burned 

 over repeatedly until forest growth of valuable character 

 either large or small is practically lacking. Here there 

 can be only one policy ; that of replanting and stringent 

 fire protection. 



Foresters have advocated the removal of native Adiron- 

 dack hardwoods, and if the accomplishment of this turns 

 out to be the best for the forest it will be from continuous 

 wood production by private owners, because it pays, or 

 through the ultimate incorporation of cutover lands in the 

 state preserve. In either event, the Tupper Lake region 

 is one which foresters will watch and study with much in- 

 terest and profit, while from an industrial standpoint the 

 new lease of life given by hardwood production is an ad- 

 vantage to the community as well as to the State. The 

 transition period is at full flood with beech, birch and 

 maple replacing the white pine, spruce and balsam and 

 hemlock which has been coming into the Tupper Lake 

 booms for many years. There is still some mature soft- 

 wood within reach of the Raquette, but even if the best 

 forestry is practised and it proves feasible to replace the 

 hardwoods with conifers, it will be a long time before logs 

 from the new softwood forests will begin to come down 

 on the spring drive. In the meantime, pending the sta- 

 bilization of theories and policies, the best promise of for- 

 estry is in active manufacturing operations on a large 

 enough scale to justify long-time production and permit 

 complete hardwood utilization. Such private enterprises, 

 combined with the elimination of the constitutional bar to 

 state forest management would ultimately create an Adi- 

 rondack forest of high productivity, instead of one from 

 which income is restricted or prevented, and the deterio- 

 rating trees preserved as souvenirs, while the people of 

 the state import their wood products from distant points. 



"|%yT ATERIALS for the successful exploitation of a pa- 

 -'" per industry in the Philippines are plentiful, says a 

 Bureau of Science bulletin. Cogon (a tall fibrous grass), 

 soft grasses, and forest trees abound in the Islands. Cana 

 bojo, a species of bamboo grown in various sections of 

 the Philippines, but more especially in Central Luzon, 

 produces high grade paper, experiments show. Cotton, 

 rags, and office paper refuse would also make excellent 

 paper material The Philippines can never be lacking 

 in high grade materials for paper making, and tremen- 

 dous possibilities await the pioneer in the industry." 



'T'HE forests of the Philippine Islands are valued at 

 $400,000,000, and could well afford a good source of 

 revenue for the government, says the Director of For- 

 estry of the Philippines. 



"If these forests," he points out, " are properly handled 

 like the forests of other countries, money could be invested 

 on them by prospective lumber dealers by selling or leas- 

 ing them. And should this happen it is a sure thing 

 that our government wouldn't be floating bonds in the 

 United States as it is doing now." 



