28 FORESTS OP WISCONSIN. 



Generally the hardwoods are "short bodied" as compared to> 

 conifers; they furnish per tree about 2 1-2 logs and in the north- 

 em counties scant 1 1-2 logs, of which it takes 7 to 10 to the 

 thousand feet B. M. Of the different kinds, basswood and elm 

 are tallest and longest in body, the former quite commonly cut- 

 ting 3 and even 3 1-2 logs per tree, and the latter often furnish- 

 ing ship timbers 60 to 70 feet in length. Birch is generally the 

 shortest, and large trees often furnish but a single log. As 

 might be expected, much of the older hardwoodi timber is in all 

 stages of degeneration and decay, so that much of it is defective 

 and the cut consequently wasteful. The oak, being naturally 

 thei longest lived and having the most durable wood, is least af- 

 fected, "it cuts sound;" basswood, birch, and ash are about alike 

 and quite defective when old; while of all hardwoods the maple 

 is the worst in this respect. With this tree especially, the fault 

 is not entirely a matter of age but seems largely due to injury 

 in consequence of frost; "frost cracks" with their peculiar ram- 

 part-like thickenings or ridges along their edge being very com- 

 mon. These cracks admit fungi and inse«;ts and thus introduce 

 decay. This evil in maple is most strongly complained of lq 

 the central and northern parts and least in the southeast and 

 southwest, where a great deal of fine maple occurs. 



Concerning the yields in hardwoods, opinions differ widely; 

 the estimates are generally too low and are commonly deficient. 

 The reasons for this are several. Lack of experience both in 

 estimating and milling of hardwoods is a chief cause, the men 

 being used only to pine but not to hardwoods. To this must be 

 added, lack of time, the work usually being too hurried, and 

 also the fact that most of the work is done for certain kinds of 

 timber only, oak, basswood, elm, etc. Such estimates usually 

 include only choice material, the peculiarities of the hardwood 

 market reacting even on the matter of estimates. Generally 

 the yields are estimated at from 80 to 150 M. feet per 40 acres, 

 or 2 to 4 M. feet per acre for fair to good lands, and from 

 25 to 50 M. feet per 40 acres for the poorer lands and the 

 northern lake districts. Some townships in Wood and Marathon 



