18 FORESTS OF WISCONSIN. 



■witli those of other men, and also by comparison with results of 

 oalcTilations based on probable cut per 40, or per town and the 

 area supposed to be still covered with timber. Moreover, the 

 probability of the correctness of the various estimates was sub- 

 jected to scrutiny in various ways and tested by personal inspec- 

 tion of the field. 



Upon such basis, utilizing partial and imperfect estimates, 

 checked and counterchecked, the attempt was made to approach 

 as near the truth as was possible by such methods. After the 

 writer had made up his own estimates he once more submitted 

 the same to his informants and their divergence of opinion, 

 wherever essential, will be found noted in the part of this report 

 which refers to conditions in each county. 



The white pine appears to seed heavily and quite regularly; 

 the trees in all parts of North Wisconsin were laden with cones 

 in the fall of 1897. The seedhngs thrive best on sandy soils, 

 but grow on loamy soils almost as well; the young growth forms 

 dense thickets, grows very fast in height (1 to 2 ft. per year) 

 as well as in thickness (often one-half inch and more) and the 

 sapling timber cleans itself quite well of its dead branches, 

 though not as well as red (Norway) pine. In Wisconsin, the 

 tree is normally over 50 feet high at the age of 50 years, attains 

 a height of over 120 feet and a diameter of over 30 inches, and 

 continues ite growth in thickness with a most remarkable stead- 

 iness to a great age, 200 years and more. White pine as a ma- 

 ture timber has more faults than red (Norway) pine, bears 

 more large dead stubs, disfiguring its trunk, is prone to fork, 

 three and even four large forks often springing from the same 

 stem, and is much more unsound, old timber being frequently 

 defective by decay. Both white and Norway pine find a ready 

 market in every locality, and are sold as stumpage, logs, and 

 lumber. Fully 90 per cent, of the present cut of over 2 billion 

 feet (about 3.5 billion in 1893) is logged on a large scale with 

 heavy equipment and is sawn in large mills. All cutting is ex- 

 tremely close; in most camps everything is taken "that will 

 make a 2x4," so that even sapling thickets are no longer spared. 



