422 



General Farm Uses. — Then there are other innumerable general uses 

 about the farm for poles, boards and lumber. After all these needs are 

 satisfied there should remain some timber (logs and railroad ties) for 

 market. 



Climatic Influences. — The influence of woodlots on the climate makes 

 their presence desirable. A great deal has been written about forests as 

 a factor in rainfall, but it has uever been satisfactorily proved that they 

 increase the total amount. It is known, however, that about twenty-eight 

 per cent, less of the annual rainfall is evaporated within the woods than 

 outside of them, and that the mean annual temperature of forest soil is 

 about twenty-one degrees lower than that of cultivated fields. In summer 

 this cool soil tempers the air above, and by starting currents from the ad- 

 joining fields lowers their temperature. Besides, woodlots, if situated 

 in favorable positions, check strong winds, in this way protecting farm 

 buildings and preventing fruit trees and crops from being blown down. 



Shelter.- — A woodlot is invaluable for the shelter it affords to live 

 stock in both summer and winter. Less food is required to maintain the 

 body warmth of animals when they are well protected from the cold win- 

 ter winds. Therefore the use of grain in fattening stock is much econo- 

 mized. The cool shade offered by a small portion fenced off from the best 

 part of the woodlot prevents fattening animals from losing flesh during 

 the hot weather. 



Aesthetic. — But these uses are not all. Every one knows that a good 

 strip of timber greatly increases the value of a farm, for by this means 

 not only the beauty of individual farms but also that of the entire com- 

 munity is increased as much, if not more, than by more expensive improve- 

 ments. For no other reason than this each farmer should strive to main- 

 tain a well managed woodlot. 



Water Supply. — Forests at the head waters of streams regulate their 

 flow. As has been said before, the amount of evaporation within the forest 

 is much less than that outside because the loose litter offers little capil- 

 larity to the water content of the soil and also permits of a more rapid 

 absorption of heavy rainfall. The water is then given out to the springs 

 and streams in an almost constant supply. 



Erosion. — The problem of erosion is a very perplexing one, especially 

 in a rolling country. The unlimited removal of forests has left but little 

 resistance to the flowing away of rainfall, for everywhere the soil is more 



