68 



N. H. Agri. Experiment Station 



[Bulletin 298 



sistence farming and other income would definitely raise their living 

 content. There is considerable diversified ability among the present 

 inhabitants, and over a period the workers could acquire the special 

 skills of forest management. Such a program should be a democratic 

 approach to the aiding of the people in the area to get together in a 

 cooperative way the land, labor, and capital needed to develop and then 

 maintain the forest resources under scientific management. 



New Hampshire is not generally thought to have a tenancy prob- 

 lem ; and yet here are 289 families, many of whom are dependent upon 

 laud resources owned in large part by non-resident individuals or 

 corporations. 



The need and the approach should be one of relating the land re- 

 sources more definitely to the communities and the local people. A 

 Forest Conservation Program as suggested above instead of purchas- 

 ing the local man 's timber area would encourage him to develop the tim- 

 ber resources but might suggest that he live in a better area of the town. 

 The local people who have little timberlaud might be encouraged to in- 

 crease their holdings. It might be possible in this way to build many 

 individuals into a position of operating their forest farms on a sustained 

 yield basis. 



The carrying out of the four programs suggested here (see page 58) 

 is admittedly a large order. Habits and traditions accumulating for 

 a century are not easily diverted. But after all the people of the State 

 are its real assets, and the souls in this area are just as precious and 

 have the same potential assets as people anywhere. They are surrounded 

 by potential resources — timber. This suggested plan is a method of re- 

 lating them to these resources. 



Barns are usually in bad condition and would have to be rebuilt 

 for commercial agriculture. 



