Mr. Fletcher. 
448 DISCUSSION : FORESTS, RESERVOIRS, AND STREAM FLOW 
on the slopes of the northern mountains and in some very rare small 
holdings farther south. Lumbering has been going on incessantly 
for two or three generations, resulting in “drives” of logs down 
the river amounting annually to 60000000 ft. or more. Every 
farm, since the settlement, has had its “wood lot” as the source of 
fuel. Since the railroad era, 75 years ago, the demands on the forests 
for locomotive fuel have been very great, until, within 25 years, the 
coal-bin has displaced the railroad wood-pile. Latterly, tq the great 
cuttings of the lumber companies have been added also the large 
cuttings made by owners of paper mills for the manufacture of wood 
pulp. Both of the latter were principally concerned in getting out the 
pine, poplar, basswood, and spruce, leaving a large amount of the 
hardwood undisturbed excepting for the inevitable breaking down of 
trees and the accumulation of great quantities of slash. Last of all 
have come the agents of a great concern (one or more?), the so-called 
“Match Company,” who, offering to the farmer, for the growth on 
his woodland, a cash price (which is often far less than its real value, 
but is a goodly sum to the rural owner), buys it all and makes a clean 
sweep. The farmer, to be sure, has his land left, but most of it will be 
worthless, until, in perhaps 80 or 100 years, it may produce another 
forest. Within the last 5 years it has become a familiar sight to see 
prominent hillsides up and down the Connecticut Valley almost en- 
tirely denuded of their timber growth. 
With regard to the erosion in such cases, it may be said that all 
depends on the nature of the soil and the slope. Heavy rains un- 
doubtedly make the rocky slopes more bare, because the thin soil dries 
out quickly without the protection of the foliage. The heavy soils 
are more tenacious, and allow the rapid development of new growth. 
The sandy terraces are frequently badly washed by rain and: scored 
by wind, because they dry so quickly without the protecting cover. 
According to. the testimony of the oldest inhabitants, there is 
probably more woodland throughout this section of country than there 
was fifty years ago. In all directions, old pastures are growing up to 
white pine, whenever “seed-trees” are favorably situated, and it is 
surprising how rapidly these trees grow—when they have made a good 
start—from the sixth year after seeding. Young pines will increase 
in height from 13 to 2 ft. annually, and, after the twentieth year, 
have been known to add 4 ft. to their height in a single year. After 
that period, also, the annual increase of bulk is about 10 per cent. 
By systematic work and some outlay, an individual, if he has patience 
and years enough before him, may do considerable reforestation by 
raising and setting seedlings; but it is the writer’s experience that 
Nature, if left to herself under favorable conditions, will easily out- 
strip him three or four acres to one, especially with a little assistance 
in transplanting, where the natural seedlings are bunched too much. 
Noting briefly now the author’s numbered conclusions: 
