48 THE AMES FORESTER 



against woodlot is $6.40. This is mainly due to lack of mar- 

 ket and low value of fuel wood. 



If the direct returns included all the values and advan- 

 tages of a woodlot on a farm, the showing would be good 

 for the timbered districts where the land is not agricultural 

 in character. But there are other advantages to the farm as a 

 whole, such as shade for stock, protection from storms, pasture 

 value, prevention of erosion on steep slopes and utilization of 

 inferior land of little or no value for other purposes. 



Where the woodlot is perhaps related most closely to the 

 welfare of the farm in its intelligent and systematic manage- 

 ment is in furnishing work for men and teams through the 

 slack period, usually the winter. Even where the returns are 

 only sufficient to pay the expenses or part of the expenses of 

 the labor in getting out the material it raises the total income 

 of the farm as the expenses of carrying necessary work 

 stock, and help through the winter are eliminated or re- 

 duced. 



The convenience of a ready supply of wood material at 

 wholesale cost for repairs on the farm is no small item, par- 

 ticularly in the rush season. 



The following are important points relating to the man- 

 agement of the farm and woodlot : 



1. Region where located, whether generally timbered or 

 untimbered. 



2. Agricultural value of the land its fertility and ease 

 of cultivation. 



3. Whether there are home needs for woodlot products and 

 a steady market value for the surplus. 



4. Value of direct returns including wood products used 

 at home and sold. 



5. Protection value, i. e., windbreak, shade and erosion. 



6. Grazing value. 



7. As a means of fully utilizing inferior land on the farm. 



8. As a means of furnishing labor for idle help and work 

 stock through the winter or other slack period. 



The Des Homes Sawmill Co., Iowa, it is reported, manufactures 

 more gunstocks than any other factory in the world. 



