It is therefore the purpose of this paper to collect and present 

 in concise form for the use of the people of Maine the important 

 facts already established as to the proper use of the existing 

 woodlands, and the best methods for extending or re-establishing 

 them, rather than the presentation of any original data. 



Thk Maine Woodlot. 



Almost every farm in Maine has its woodlot from which logs, 

 posts, and fuel-wood are taken as they are needed. The wood- 

 lot therefore, constitutes one of the component, and by no means 

 least important parts of the farm. As such, it deserves at least 

 a pro rata share of the attention that is given to the other parts 

 such as the corn field, the potato field, or the market garden. 

 Like each of these other parts of the farm, it furnishes a regu- 

 lar supply of a very necessary commodity, the only difference 

 being that the returns from the latter are annual while those 

 from the woodlot are usually periodic, occurring sometimes only 

 at long intervals. The very fact that the crop is a long time one, 

 is all the more reason for giving it the same kind of careful and 

 thoughtful attention that is now given to the management of ag- 

 ricultural crops. 



While the average woodlot is rather small and can not be de- 

 pended on to yield any very large or very regular supply of tim- 

 ber, and the quality of the product is sometimes not as good as 

 that of virgin stands, yet the size of the tract devoted to the 

 growing of timber can often be increased to advantage, and the 

 quality of the wood produced may be greatly improved by 

 more care in the method of cutting and a better understanding 

 of the treatment required by the different kinds of trees forming 

 the stand. 



The extensive practice of forestry, it is true, can not be profit- 

 ably undertaken in any large way by the average individual and 

 must, therefore be left chiefly to the State and National Govern- 

 ment; yet every land-owner, resident or non-resident, can prac- 

 tice good forestry on a small scale by using a little care and 

 forethought and by the observance of a few simple rules. 



SII,VICUI,TURE. 



Silviculture is as important to the up to date farmer for the 

 management of his woodlot as is agriculture for the rest of his 

 farm. The former, moreover, requires but little outlay of either 



