8 FAEM FORESTRY 



sides shelter they may furnish fuel, posts and other wood sup- 

 plies to the farm. Woodlots are often used to furnish pro- 

 tection to stock from the hot sun in summer and the cold winds 

 of winter. 



Protection of the Water Supply and to Prevent Erosion to 

 the Soil. — Trees by their dense crowns protect the soil from 

 the hot sun's rays and from winds and are often the direct 

 cause of the presence of springs. The removal of trees around 

 a spring has often been known to dry up the spring. The roots 

 of trees spreading in all directions serve to prevent the soil 

 from being^ washed away by rain or floods in spring. Erosion 

 can often be stopped by planting trees. Woodlots are often 

 maintained on land adapted to agricultural crops because of the 

 danger from erosion. 



As a Sugar Bush. — In the North East where the hard maple 

 forms a large part of the woods, woodlots are often maintained 

 for the production of maple sugar. The tapping of the trees 

 does not injure the wood for lumber or any other purpose. A 

 considerable revenue results from a well stocked sugar bush. 



As a Reserve Fund. — ^A well stocked woodlot is in the 

 nature of a reserve fund on which the owner can draw at any 

 time. It furnishes a basis for borrowing money when needed 

 or it can readily be turned into cash by cutting the trees and 

 converting them into lumber. 



For Rejuvenating Womout Land. — In some regions, es- 

 pecially in the South, wornout land is allowed to grow up to 

 forest trees. After the trees have grown to pole size the soil 

 will be found to be fertile again and can be tilled after the trees 

 have been cut. A woodlot if properly handled benefits and 

 enriches the soil by the accumulation of leaves and twigs 

 which decay and add fertility. 



As Game Preserves. — Woodlots are the breeding places of 

 many birds that help to keep down destructive insects. The 

 cause of the great increase in insects and the damage they 

 do is said to be the killing of the birds. 



