The Woodlot that Pays 



side. It is proposed to prove in a very practical, convincing 

 way that it pays a farmer to raise wood. No radical change, 

 such as introducing the intensive forestry methods of European 

 countries, is contemplated. The gradual introduction of improved 

 methods suited to varied American conditions is the plan. This 

 means an educative process that must move slowly. Every 

 woodlot is a miniature forest. The smaller the forest the more 

 simple and definite the problem of making it pay. That forest 

 husbandry pays in America is proved by numberless examples 

 of farmers working out plans of their own devising. Large 

 profits have been realised on very slight investments of time 

 and money, often by people who did not know that they were 

 practising scientific forestry. The plan is to substitute good for 

 bad methods, to make the wood harvest pay a good interest on 

 the plot as an investment, and at the same time to keep the 

 forest in good condition, and year by year to increase its pro- 

 ductivity. 



Any farmer, or other owner of a woodlot, may place it under 

 the supervision of the Bureau of Forestry, free of cost. The 

 Bureau sends an expert forester to go over the land carefully. 

 With data thus obtained, a working plan is formulated and sub- 

 mitted to the owner. If it is accepted, the owner carries it out 

 under the supervision of the forester who has it in charge. The 

 owner does the work, or hires men to do it. He receives all 

 money returns. The Bureau asks only that the plan be carried 

 out and accurate records kept. It pays the expenses of its agent's 

 visit, and asks nothing for his services. 



The agreement entered into is very simple, and may be 

 abandoned on ten days' notice by either party. It is binding, 

 therefore, only as long as it is perfectly satisfactory to both. 



The owners of woodlands need instruction in the manage- 

 ment of their property, down to the least detail. They need 

 definite, typical examples of what has been accomplished in 

 their own section of the country. A balance sheet is a very con- 

 vincing argument. The forester's method of tackling the problem 

 is an eye-opener and an inspiration to the average farmer of 

 intelligence. 



In exchange for the making and supervising of these woodlot 

 plans the Department obtains a body of facts of inestimable 

 value. The various sections of the country are represented by 



482 



