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FORESTRY IN NEW ENGLAND 



up for the present the idea of getting more spruce on these lands 

 and to work for the hardwoods. The following facts lead to this 

 conclusion: prices for hardwood logs have not risen proportion- 

 ately with the advance in coniferous logs; the latter now com- 

 mand prices which are about maximum and in which relatively 

 little advance may be anticipated within the coming decade. 

 The prices of hardwood logs, on the other hand, have been 



Fig. 78. — A combined selection cutting and thinning in an old field spruce stand. 



relatively low, but are now advancing, and within ten years 

 should rise to a much higher level. 



In expectation of such an advance it may often be advisable 

 to refrain from cutting hardwoods for the next ten years. This 

 would apply even to overmature trees, which are not putting 

 on growth in volume, because the growth in value per unit of 

 their present lumber content will more than pay for their lack 

 of volume increase. 



Badly diseased and deteriorating hardwood trees, together 

 with the biggest and most unthrifty of the spruce, might have to 

 be removed in a light cutting, leaving the remainder of the stand 



