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the species of trees are factors to be considered in this 
connection. The average woodlots of Tompkins County grow 
on medium strong soll and they consist largely of mixed 
second growth hardwoods. For this type of woodlot, the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (Circular 138) estimate an 
increase of 110 cu. ft. per acre per year. The Delaware 
Experiment Station (Bulletin 82) estimates an increase of 
76.8 cu. ft. per acre per year. The Connecticut Report of 
"Survey of Litchfield County" estimates an increase of 
48.6 cu. ft. per acre per year. The average of these 
three figures is 78.4 cu. ft. and this factor will be used 
here to estimate the probable increase in growth of the 
average woodlot of Tompkins County. 
By referring back to Table II, it will be seen that 
the average size of the farm woodlot in the county is 
13.73 acres. If we assume that the average yearly increase 
per acre is 78.4 cu. ft., then the amount of wood available 
for use on each farm reported, will be 1076.43 cu. ft. or 
8.4 cords (128 cu. ft.) per year. 
The average farmer in Tompkins County burns for fire- 
wood alone from 6 to 10 cords (128 cu. ft.) per year, hence 
it follows that the farmers are burning up each year about 
as much wood as their woodlots are producing. The wood 
used for fence posts, timbers, and that drawn to the 
villages and towns to be sold, must then represent the 
rate of destruction - the annual decrease. 
