120 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



TYPICAL WOODLOT 



RESULT OF SUCCESSFUL CULLINGS OF THE BEST REMAINING TREES AT EACH CUTTING, AND GENERAL 

 NEGLECT. OLD TREES OF INFERIOR GRADES, AND NO VALUABLE YOUNG GROWTH COMING IN. 



merit and tinder average farm condi- 

 tions, to provide a fair net return from 

 the lands, and make the woodlot areas 

 pay their fair share in the farm profits. 



Unquestionably one of the biggest 

 problems on the farms today is to secure 

 and keep good help. This can generally 

 only be done where year-around work 

 is given; and the woodlot offers one of 

 the most satisfactory solutions of the 

 problems. 



A belt of woods has proved of great 

 value in protection against the direct 

 mechanical effect of winds (blowing 

 down of crops, especially fruit; shifting 

 sands) ; against drying of soil ; to a 

 lesser extent in securing an even distri- 

 bution of protective snow cover, and 

 shelter after the snow has melted, for 

 winter crops; and in very greatly in- 

 creased comfort to people and stock. 

 This spells increased profits in better 

 and larger crops; and last, but not 

 least, in greater comfort in the home. 



It is a well-establish: d principle now 

 in successful farming, not to have "all 

 the eggs in one basket." The wood 

 crop is one which always has a market 

 at a fair price ; and with the price of the 

 product constantly advancing. It can 



truly be called a winter crop, as the 

 cultivation (improvement cuttings, 

 planting, etc. can be done at times 

 not required by any other crop. 



The woodlot may be compared to a 

 high class bond investment, and is 

 better than such investment. Good 

 sized thrifty material of desirable species 

 is always marketable at a fair price, 

 earning a fair ate (4 per cent, or more) 

 of compound interest all the time by its 

 growth in volume; in addition, it is 

 growing in value, both through increas- 

 ing prices of wood products, and because 

 material from larger trees is more 

 valuable than that from smaller trees. 

 After some calamity, such as barns 

 burning, or crop failure, it can then be 

 utilized when most needed; or, for 

 example, during a coal strike, when 

 other sources of fuel cannot be had, 

 except at exorbitant prices and with 

 great inconvenience. 



Nearly every farm has some land 

 which cannot be profitably used for 

 farming crops. This may be stony, 

 rocky land, wet land which cannot be 

 drained, pure sands, steep slopes, espe- 

 cially if subject to excessive erosion 

 (washing away), etc. Frequently, be- 



