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Not only are the indications that they will grow as rapidly, but also 

 that they will maintain themselves in a healthy state, in good form and be 

 relatively free from insect attack and fungus disease. While it is true 

 that the oaks which are at present in very high demand will not make 

 such rapid growth, it has been found that they will make a sure and 

 healthy growth and that in all probability a natural regeneration of the 

 existing wood tracts with our native oaks and other high grade timbers 

 would be easily within the range of possibility, were it not for over- 

 pasturage, damage by Are and destructive lumbering. 



All of this means that in the use of the wood lot or small timber 

 tract the owner should have constantly in mind its perpetuation in unim- 

 paired value. No tree should be cut unless there is evidence that its place 

 will be quickly taken by another equally desirable form and this evidence 

 is always at hand in the presence of an abundant young growth. If such 

 a young growth is not present, cutting cannot be done without diminish- 

 ing the value of the stand. In every case the owner should regard a stand 

 of timber as an investment from which he should derive a constant rev- 

 enue, while at the same time the investment remains unimpaired. The 

 scarcity of high grade timber, the eagerness with which it is sought and 

 the relatively high stumpage values all combine to tempt the owner to such 

 an impairment of his investment, but a yielding- to the temptation is an 

 indication of poor business judgment. 



It may be necessary in many instances to reinforce the relatively slow 

 process of natural seed regeneration. This may be done cheaply and effi- 

 ciently in many ways, which are self-suggestive, yet which will bear re- 

 statement. The weeds and brush may be cut away from the immediate 

 neighborhood of the "mother seed tree" in order that the seeds may come 

 in closer contact with the ground when they fall, thus greatly increasing 

 their chances of successful germination. If the soil is hard and compact 

 it may be broken with a hoe or plow so as to furnish a more satisfactory 

 seed bed. In some cases where the litter of leaves is quite deep it may be 

 advisable to rake it off in order to expose the mineral soil and even in ex- 

 treme instances to burn it off, although burning over a tract to reinforce 

 natural seed regeneration is an extremely doubtful process in unskilled 

 hands. The methods suggested do not cover wide areas and are the ordi- 

 nary methods used in the management of other crops. Whatever form 

 they may take the result sought is the same, an increase in the number of 

 seeds germinating by improving the character of the seed bed. 



