15 PROCEEDINGS OE THE 



is the natural sponge or source of every mountain 

 stream. If this source is protected or created we are 

 at the very foundation of economy, assisting to create 

 a condition of preventing torrents. 



Private owners of timberland should be encouraged 

 to plant annually as compensation for the removal of 

 trees, for the reseeding of burned lands, and thus make 

 a beginning to restore the natural conditions of the 

 soil. It has required years of education to have this 

 feature of forestry become attractive to the lumbermen, 

 yet to-day it is with pride that New York State can 

 announce to this Congress that denuded tracts are 

 being planted. One lumber firm has successfully 

 planted pine seed on a tract which had been burned, 

 and the method employed was to sow the seed in rows 

 of six feet and six feet apart, thus leaving a space 

 between the rows which will be planted with seedlings 

 as soon as they have attained sufficient growth, This 

 same firm has established a nursery and is giving 

 special care to the growing of spruce and pine seedlings 

 for planting on its own preserve. 



The system of timber cutting or lumbering is of 

 tremendous importance bearing upon the future 

 growth, especially for spruce trees which no doubt are 

 the most valuable products of the Adirondack forest 

 to-day. The natural tendency of the spruce tree is 

 to rest unless the proper amount of light is admitted 

 to its immediate surroundings. The plan, therefore, 

 of timber cutting is to remove mature trees, using 

 judgment to cause as little destruction as possible to 

 the small trees. The use of defective hardwood trees 

 for the building of roads and bridges and for the use 

 as skids will benefit the conditions of growth for the 

 remaining spruce trees. 



The importance of leaving on high ground an occa- 



