CHAPTER XV 



HARVESTING THE PRODUCTS OF THE WOODLOT 



The object of maintaining a woodlot is the utilization of 

 the wood products. It is seldom that a woodlot is grown for 

 sentimental or esthetic purposes alone. There is no reason, 

 however, why if properly cared for a woodlot cannot be orna- 

 mental as well as serve a useful purpose. A woodlot is for 

 use primarily. When a tree is ready for the ax it should be 

 cut. Forestry does not mean preserving trees, it means pre- 

 serving the life of the forest growth. As we have already 

 learned, forestry is the growing of successive crops of trees. 

 This implies the harvesting of the crop when it is ripe. In 

 forestry the trees would be cut when ripe the same as in 

 lumbering; but forestry differs from destructive lumbering 

 in that in cutting the timber the future life of the forest is 

 provided for. In destructive lumbering the trees would be 

 cut without any thought for the future, the object being to 

 convert the standing trees into lumber and money in the 

 quickest time and cheapest way. The result is generally a bar- 

 ren waste, due to fire and the destruction of young trees and 

 seedlings. According to forestry methods, on the other hand, 

 the trees would be cut not only to utilize them to the best ad- 

 vantage, but also with the future of the forest in view. The 

 trees would be cut so that a new crop would spring up after 

 the old trees are removed. 



THE AGE AND SIZE AT WHICH TREES SHOULD BE CUT 



The age and size at which a tree becomes ripe for the ax 

 will depend on the purpose for which the tree was grown or 



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