FORESTS 



FORESTS 



317 



tive management by farmers exists in Europe ; it 

 has the same advantages as any trust organization, 

 and makes possible the conduct of forest-cropping 

 in a business-like way under business conditions, 

 and under direction of a competent manager. This 

 would be impracticable for the individual owner. 



Distinction between field and forest crops. — While 

 the farmer is the cultivator of the soil and has this 

 general calling in common with the forester, and 

 hence may properly learn to manage his forest 

 crop, he must realize that the farm crop and the 

 forest crop have, after all, not very much in com- 

 mon, and he must appreciate the difference between 

 the two, if he is to make a success of his woodlot 

 management. 



We have seen that, from the business point of 

 view, the long time of development and the absence 

 of a definite maturity indicating harvest time 

 make an essential difference between field crops 

 and forest crops. When to cut the timber crop is 

 a matter of judgment and calculation, based on 

 measurement. There are in every vocation of life 

 those who conduct their business indifferently by 

 the "hit or miss" method, without measuring or 

 figuring; but, even if farming could be conducted 

 by such a method, for a mistake in one year can be 

 corrected the next, it is most detrimental in forest- 

 cropping. Mistakes often show themselves here only 

 after many years, and can be corrected only once 

 in a lifetime. Much more deliberation is advisable, 

 and measuring and figuring are indispensable, if 

 business success is desired in forest management. 



Not less striking is the difference in the natural 

 history of the two crops and, in consequence, of 

 their treatment. This difference lies essentially in 

 three directions: (1) the forest crop makes different 

 demands for its development from the field crops ; 

 (2) is not necessarily reproduced by cutting and 

 replanting, as is usual with farm crops, although 

 this may be done ; and (3) its development cannot 

 be influenced to any extent as in farm crops, by 

 the methods of fertilizing and cultivating the soil 

 with which the farmer is familiar. By the mere 

 mode of harvesting the old crop, the new crop can 

 be produced, and almost alone by the use of the 

 axe can its development be accelerated. 



The most important condition which in these 

 operations needs consideration is the light which 

 is at the disposal of the different components of 

 the crop. The timber crop, as a rule, is not of one 

 kind, but of different species in mixture which grow 

 at different rates and make different demands for 

 light; or, at least, it is of different-sized trees, and 

 the question arises which of them to favor with 

 additional light by removal of their neighbors. We 

 see, then, that while the forest crop, like the wheat 

 crop, consists of masses of the crop plant, unlike 

 the wheat crop the single individual in the forest 

 crop requires attention. 



It is the manipulation of light conditions, also, 

 that provides a desirable seed-bed, secures plentiful 

 seed production, gives a satisfactory start, and 

 influences the progress of the young crop. 



The forest crop makes very little demand on the 

 elements of plant-food in the soil, getting its carbon 



Fig. 434. 

 Mountain ash {Sorbus Ameri- 

 cana) . 



Fig. 435. 



White ash {.Fraxinus 



Americana). 



from the air and drawing on the soil chiefly for 

 water. [This question is discussed in detail in the 

 succeeding article.] 



Again, the farm crop is dependent on the 

 weather, success or 

 failure being a matter 

 of the seasons of each 

 year, and the opera- 

 tions of sowing, culti- 

 vating and harvest- 

 ing requiring prompt 

 attention. The forest 

 crop, although also 

 dependent on the sea- 

 son, is never an entire failure, and, consisting of 

 the accumulations of annual increments, averages 

 up the good and the bad seasons in its final harvest. 



There is also a greater lati- 

 tude as to the time when op- 

 erations in the forest crop 

 may be performed. A few 

 years' difference in making 

 the desirable improvement 

 cuttings does not entail 

 heavy loss, and only when 

 attention is required by the 

 young crop may a few weeks 

 or months of delay be detri- 

 mental. The harvesting may 

 usually be done when con- 

 venient. 



Finally, in the woodlot managed under coppice 

 or under coppice with standards (that is, a coppice- 

 growth with a short rotation, with occasional trees 

 ' [standards] which are 

 given a longer rotation), 

 which are the most suit- 

 able systems for a far- 

 mer's use, only a little 

 knowledge and skill are 

 required to make a success. 

 As has been pointed out, 

 a simple, judicious work- 

 ing plan, laid out once 

 for all, is desirable with a 

 crop which takes such a 

 long time to mature, while in the farm crops changes 

 from year to year may be desirable. 



Forest distribution in the United States. 



We may anticipate a very different attitude of 

 farmers to their woodlots and a very different treat- 

 ment in the different sections V 

 of the country by virtue of '^ 

 the difference in forest con- 

 ditions, as well as in market 

 conditions. From these 

 points of view we can divide 

 the country variously into 

 regions. 



Botanically speakinsr, it 

 has been customary to divide 

 the country from east to 

 west into threegreatregions: Beech( j-SSi /'J^^mm, 



(1) Atlantic forest region, or F. Americana). 



Fig. 436. 



Hop hornbeam or ironwood 



{Ostrya Tirginica). 



