438 Proceedings oe the 



However, as fires annually rage over large sections 

 of our grounds, it is hazardous — nay! it is almost 

 folly — to invest money in silvicultural pursuits. At 

 Biltmore we are forced to restrict reforestation to such 

 regions in the proximity of Biltmore House in wh'cli 

 we can control fires absolutely. In a large primeval 

 tract covering 120,000 acres of backwoods, absolute 

 fire protection is out of the question. Here I do not 

 attempt to enforce regeneration, simply allowing Na- 

 ture to do the work as best she can, trying at the same 

 time to protect the second growth from fire wherever 

 it appears. 



Foresters are very frequently, I think, of the opinion 

 that the little trees — second growth — ^are really the 

 best money makers. Foresters working in the Appa- 

 lachians might just as well begin to change their 

 minds. The fact has been pointed out to-day re- 

 peatedly that the price of hardwood stumpage is 

 increasing rapidly. If that is true, the big tree is the 

 best money maker, and really mature trees do not 

 exist — ^moribunds excepted — where and as long as the 

 price of stumpage advances rapidly. 



In 1896 I sold many a fine white oak at fifty cents 

 per thousand feet, board measure. I wish I could 

 replace these trees. I would gladly put them back in 

 the woods at $4 a thousand — ^because they are worth 

 now $5 a thousand. In 1898 I got for similar trees 

 $1.25 a thousand feet, board measure; in 1902 I re- 

 ceived $2.50, and last year I found a man who was 

 willing to give me as much as $8 per thousand ! 



Thus it happens that the big trees — the three, four, 

 five and six-footers — ^are my pride, more so than the 

 seedlings and saplings. I hold the big giants dearly; 

 I refrain from cutting them — merely for the reason 

 that they are my best money makers, the best part of 

 my investments — and also the safest part of my invest- 



