58 STATE OP MICHIGAN. 



forest growth, we have, in its protection to the cultivated area, in its 

 addition to the beauty of the rur'al landscape, its protection to the mral 

 homes, the fruit orchards and gardens, a value suiiicient to warrant the 

 necessary care in planting and tending the farm woodlot. 



A forestry plan that provides only for large forest areas in unsettled 

 I>ortions of the country is far from complete. Such a plan may provide 

 timher for commercial use, and when forests are located to cover the 

 sources of streams they may to some extent conserve the water supply, 

 but the farm woodlot must be maintained to provide wood for home use, 

 to protect from the sweeping winds, to conserve moisture for the adjacent 

 cultivated areas. 



The farm woodlot maintained on each cultivated farm would accojn 

 plish all these ends, and with no diminution in production — quite prob- 

 ably an increase. Bough hillsides and low places may be more profitable 

 for timber growing than to attempt cultivation. It may be that people 

 become too strenuous in draining all the lowland, and that some por- 

 tions would better be left undrained, or at least drained only to the ex- 

 tent that timber may be gi-own on them. 



If it is admitted that the general maintenance of the farm woodiot is 

 desirable, and I maintain that it is; the question arises, how shall it be 

 accomplished? 



If at all, it must be by some systematic method of inducing all owners 

 of land to co-operate, by growing each their share of timber. 



Drastic legislation, seeking to compel each landholder to grow timber, 

 would, if it could be passed, probably be considered as interfering with 

 private rights, and fail of its object. On the other hand, if the Forestry 

 Commission should be charged with the duty of educating all the land- 

 holders to the necessity or advantage of this growing of timber, it is very 

 doubtful if it would be able to accomplish the end by this means alone. 



A combination of education and moderate control would '^eeni to be 

 the only method that can be enforced in this country. The necessity, in 

 my opinion, exists, and the means in detail to accomplish this end can be 

 v.'orked out just as soon as the Legislature and the people of the Biate 

 can be convinced of its need. 



A PLEA FOR THE FARMER'S WOODLOT. 



BY IIOX. CHARLES D. LAWTOX,, LAWTON^ JflCIIIGAX. 



"Old wood to burn! 



Ay, bring the hillside beech 

 From where the owlets screech. 



And ravens croak; 

 The crackling pine and cedar sweet 



That freely render ready heat. 

 The knotted oak, 



A fagot too, perhap. 

 Whose bright flame, dancing winkling. 

 Shall light us at our drinking; 



While the oozing sap 

 Shall make sweet music to our thinking." 



— Messinger. 



