62 IMPORTANT TIMBER TREES 



for the other, and the same necessity for their control is 

 ever present. There can be little question but that the 

 owner of a woodlot would find it to his interest to clear at 

 once more or less of it of any worthless stuff that may be 

 there and plant trees or seeds of such species as will suit 

 his purpose and location. There is no more reason why he 

 should permit useless trees to grow in his woodlot than there 

 is for permitting weeds to grow in his cultivated fields. 



A little reflection will show that close planting in the 

 woodlot will be equally as profitable as in the forest, for 

 the reason that then there will prevail the best conditions 

 for merchantable timber, if trees are left for that purpose, 

 and the thinnings will provide fuel and wood for other pur- 

 poses. By this method there will be secured the fullest 

 yield possible. To leave the distribution of the trees to 

 chance, as in the case of naturally planted forests, should 

 be no more contemplated than for a farmer to use a seed 

 drill that will not do its work properly. 



The restoration and perpetuation of the woodlot must be 

 the work of its owner. He cannot afford the services of an 

 expert forester, but must learn for himself just the same, 

 if he be a farmer, as he has learned to do all other things 

 connected with his farm. He should no more depend on 

 unaided Nature to bring forth his fuel, posts, poles, lumber, 

 and other forest products without his supervision and care 

 than he should depend upon her to provide him with hay, 

 grain, and fruit without his direction and labor. He may 

 and should be able to grow his own timber and fuel, and 

 some to dispose of to others. 



