SP]CRETARY'S REPORT. 221 



the practice of cutting clean. "Where the growth is of a species 

 that will sprout from the stool, throwing up vigorous shoots, and 

 the kind of wood not of any particular value for timber, or for 

 other purpose than fuel, we judge it commendable to make clean 

 work. We have now, in the mind's eye, a tract of land from 

 which the wood has been twice cut within our recollection, and it 

 is now nearly ready to have the axe again applied. The growth 

 is a mixed one, consisting of poplar, white birch, with various 

 oaks, soft maple, &c. 



If a wood-lot contains a goodly number of white oaks, hicko- 

 ries, beech, ash, or other varieties valuable in the useful arts, 

 and the soil is capable of producing large trees, in many local- 

 ities we would recommend that the less valuable trees be 

 removed by degrees, and by such a process as shall work no 

 injury to those remaining, but rather^ hasten their advance 

 towards maturity. We have a little experience of our own, and 

 more observation in respect to this thinning process, which may 

 as well be related here. 



B. F. Cutter, Esq., of Pelliam, N. H., has, for twenty-five 

 years, more or less, practised thinning out his young wood-lots, 

 procuring a large share of the fuel used in his house in that 

 way. This is his method of proceeding. In order, however, 

 to give a correct idea of the condition of his woodland, and the 

 character of growth, we will first state that thirty years ago the 

 old oak growth was taken away for shi}>timber. The stumps, 

 being too old to sprout, a mixed growth sprang up, with many 

 saplings then on the ground, altogether covering the land with 

 white pine, soft maple, grey and yellow birch, with some of the 

 oak family. The trees advanced rapidly, but being very thick, ' 

 many of them became over-topped by others, which caused them 

 to assume a smothered and sickly appearance, dying by degrees, 

 when thinning was commenced. The inferior trees were cleared 

 out to that extent, that none remaining appeared choked or 

 crowded. Where the white pines were numerous enough to 

 constitute the growth, all else was removed. In some instances 

 lots have been twice treated in that way ; for, where the pines 

 are thick, they not only kill every other kind of tree, but soon 

 begin to overshadow and choke out inferior trees of their own 

 kind. 



