{Some Types of Forest Weeds. 113 



grazed, that on the right has not been grazed for 9 years. Many 

 farmers regard an undergrowth of young trees such as is shown on 

 the right as so much weed growth, and it is by no means un- 

 common to find owners desirous of improving their woodlots, 

 going to considerable trouble and expense to clean up such 

 growth. This is a very great mistake. An undergrowth of 

 young forest trees not only insures the perpetuity of the wood- 

 lot — furnishing young trees to immediately occupy the places 

 opened by the removal of mature trees — but greatly contributes 

 to the vigor of growth of the larger trees present by shading the 

 soil from sun and wind. The function of the undergrowth in 

 shading the soil from the light is to prevent the growth of moist- 

 ure-robbing weeds and to conserve the humus content in the soil. 

 The exclusion of the wind prevents direct evaporation, and 

 enables the fallen leaves to lie in place to form a protective 

 surface mulch, which is alike valuable as a conserver of 

 moisture and as a fertilizer. 



The forest reserves of the United States estimated to be 

 worth $250,000,000 in cash are now being administered at a cost 

 of less than one-third of 1 per cent of their value, while increase 

 in that value of not less than 10 per cent, a year is taking place. 

 Receipts from sales of timber are increasing so rapidly that in 

 the near future the forest reserves will be self-sustaining. 



That forest planting on waste lands and watersheds will 

 prove profitable is the opinion of many large industrial companies 

 in the United States. The rapidly diminishing supply of rail- 

 road ties, mine timber and lumber, has made the necessity of 

 planting clear to far-sighted users of forest products. Among 

 these are the H. C. Frick Coke Company. The Keystone Coal 

 and Iron Company, The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, The 

 Johnstown Water Company, The Monroe Water Supply Com- 

 pany and the Pennsylvania and Lehigh Coal and Navigation 

 Company. The water supply companies have been forced to 

 take action on account of the decreasing water supply, due to 

 the denudation of the forest. The U. S. Forest Service co- 

 operates to the extent of sending a technical forester to make a 

 preliminary examination of the lands on which planting is 

 contemplated. This determines whether planting is advisable. 

 If the preliminary report is favorable, a detailed plan for plant- 

 ing and nursery work can be made at a cost to the owner of 

 the actual expenses of the work. 



