28 NORTHERN HARDWOOD TYPE 



tive for the whole type because they only apply to the most 

 accessible lands. 



On the basis of a loo-year rotation with compound interest at 

 3 per cent and assuming a final yield of 15M board feet per acre 

 hardwood lands show a value of $4 per acre. This yield is con- 

 servative because it does not include thinnings. These latter 

 should easily give a margin above possible losses from fire, insects, 

 fungi, etc. 



For agricultural purposes this type of soil has a higher value 

 than spruce land because it is deeper, has a higher percentage of 

 loam with less raw humus and the growing season is longer. 

 Reference has already been made to the use of these lands for 

 pasture prior to the Civil War. It is conceivable that a similar 

 demand may recur but it seems more probable that the steepness 

 of the slopes and number and size of the rocks will prevent profit- 

 able cultivation. Taken as a whole at least 90 per cent of the 

 type may safely be said to be better adapted to the growing of 

 timber than to either tillage or pasture. 



Titles. — The past history of land in the hardwood type makes 

 the searching of titles a difficult problem. The unit areas are 

 small, the surveys are poor and transfers are not recorded accu- 

 rately or completely. Such a condition of affairs is inevitable 

 with land which has been considered of little value for a long 

 period. The only saving factor is that these so-called " back 

 pastures " and " sugar bushes " have in many cases been regarded 

 as integral parts of the farm and transferred accordingly. It is, 

 however, always necessary to look up the probate and tax sale 

 records to make sure that there are no liens on the property which 

 do not appear in the County Recorder's Office. 



