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black walnut and catalpa are types of the first class, and any of the ever- 

 greens types of the second class. The spacing should be about four feer 

 in rows six feet apart. At least half of the trees should be removed when 

 they begin to crowd badly. When a good protection has been well estab- 

 lished trees may be removed anywhere within the grove with practically 

 no danger of windfall. 



Work in Woods. — Another important thing to keep in mind is care 

 while working in the woods. The object of management is to have new 

 trees of the most desirable species to replace as soon as possible those 

 which are removed. Therefore it is necessary to protect young growth. 

 Care should be taken in felling trees not to injure others nor crush young 

 seedlings. Brush should be piled in places where danger to timber from 

 fire is reduced to a minimum. 



IMPROVEMENT. 



The second part of our examination, general improvement cuttings, 

 deals with defective and infected trees, tree weeds and a general plan 

 for harvesting. 



Defective and Infected Trees. — Many woodlots contain stag-headed or 

 entirely dead trees which are rapidly decreasing in value. They spoil the 

 beauty of a grove as well as furnish a convenient place for beetles and 

 fungi to live and propagate. They should be removed immediately. 



Tree Weeds. — Tree weeds are another waste of our resources. A 

 tree weed occupies space in a timber stand but has comparatively little 

 value. Ironwood, water beech, dogwood, scrub oak, pawpaw and sassa- 

 fras are examples. It is advisable to remove these as well as the dead, 

 dying and infected trees at once unless by so doing large spaces are opened 

 up in the forest cover which will not close before grass has a chance to 

 start. 



Mature Cutting. — One more general rule of improvement is in regard 

 to cutting. Usually only such trees as have passed their maturity or the 

 point where the amount of wood formed each year begins to decrease should 

 be cut. And no more wood should be removed than is actually grown. Thus, 

 if a woodlot is producing five cords of wood annually, it is better to cut 

 five or only four cords than six. If a method like this is used and care 

 taken to keep the ground fully stocked with thrifty young trees the wood- 

 lot may be kept up indefinitely. 



