130 OUR VANISHING FORESTS 



been maintained at about an average stand without 

 a great deal of trouble. 



The first purpose of a wood-lot is to supply cord- 

 wood and timber for the individual use of the 

 owner. It has sometimes been said that if one- 

 eighth of the average farm is in timber, the wood 

 crop will just about take care of home needs. Actual 

 profit then depends upon an additional production, 

 and the far-sighted operator endeavors to grow 

 trees of such kinds and sizes as will best accommo- 

 date the market. It is usually advisable to develop 

 some special line. For instance, ash brings its 

 maximum income when sold for tool handles, oak 

 for furniture and quarter sawing, tulip poplar for 

 veneers, black cherry for furniture, etc. The grow- 

 ing of fence-posts and poles has been particularly 

 profitable as the saving of high transportation costs 

 permits a good local market everywhere. Poles 

 run from twenty to sixty feet in length and upwards, 

 the smallest top diameter usually being in the neigh- 

 borhood of seven inches, while fence-posts are ordi- 

 narily about seven feet long. Near a city or town 

 cord-wood often brings good prices, and, when sold 

 as pulpwood, spruce, balsam and some of the 

 southern pines are generally remunerative. In 

 northern New England, New York, Mississippi and 

 Louisiana many farmers are able to make consider- 



