438 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



However, as fires annually rage over large sections 

 of our grounds, it is hazardous nay ! it is almost 

 folly to invest money in silvicultural pursuits. At 

 Biltmore we are forced to restrict reforestation to such 

 regions in the proximity of Biltmore House in wh'di 

 we can control fires absolutely. In a large primeval 

 tract covering 120,000 acres of backwoods, absolute 

 fire protection is out of the question. Here I do not 

 attempt to enforce regeneration, simply allowing Na- 

 ture to do the work as best she can, trying at the same 

 time to protect the second growth from fire wherever 

 it appears. 



Foresters are very frequently, I think, of the opinion 

 that the little trees second growth are really the 

 best money makers. Foresters working in the Appa- 

 lachians might just as well begin to change their 

 minds. The fact has been pointed out to-day re- 

 peatedly that the price of hardwood stumpage is 

 increasing rapidly. If that is true, the big tree is the 

 best money maker, and really mature trees do not 

 exist moribunds excepted where and as long as the 

 price of stumpage advances rapidly. 



In 1896 I sold many a fine white oak at fifty cents 

 per thousand feet, board measure. I wish I could 

 replace these trees. I would gladly put them back in 

 the woods at $4 a thousand because they are worth 

 now $5 a thousand. In 1898 I got for similar trees 

 $1.25 a thousand feet, board measure; in 1902 I re- 

 ceived $2.50, and last year I found a man who was 

 willing to give me as much as $8 per thousand! 



Thus it happens that the big trees the three, four, 

 five and six-footers are my pride, more so than the 

 seedlings and saplings. I hold the big giants dearly ; 

 I refrain from cutting them merely for the reason 

 that they are my best money makers, the best part of 

 my investments and also the safest part of my invest- 



