FORESTRY COMMISSION. 117 



So there are foresters whose duty it is to patrol the woods on regular 

 beats and at schedule time, to see that no damage is being done by tres- 

 ])assers and also to control those Avho work at thinning or cutting timber, 

 as well as those who are planting and cultivating. 



Then there are the lumbermen, those who fell the trees and cut them 

 into the best shape for protitable transportation and sale. This is con- 

 sidered quite a trade, as much depends on how the market is suited, in 

 order to compete with other countries, especially Sweden and NorwHy. 



Nearly all the large timber produced in Baden, at least that which can 

 conveniently be rafted, is sold in Holland. This timber is all squared 

 by hewing and it is shipped, the chips being carefully collected and sold 

 for fuel. 



The making up of the rafts and taking them down the Rhine to the sea 

 is the work of another set of men who have learned this occupation from 

 their fathers for generations back, and who are experts in rivercraft. 

 They have comfortable houses on each raft and usually carry their fami- 

 lies with them, returning home by steamer up the Rhine. 



If there was one thing that the writer noticed more than any other 

 it was the zeal which each person connected with this work showed for 

 the interest and success of the work in hand. The chief forester would 

 walk about the plantations showing to visitors or inspectors the various 

 stages of growth, and it was a pleasure to see him pat his pet tree just as 

 a farmer would caress a pet horse or cow. 



So it was with all, whatever was given them to care for they did it 

 cheerfully and with a spirit that showed that they took a living interest 

 In what thev did. 



ED. H. STEIN. 



GROWING MINING TIMBER^AN OBJECT LESSON. 



FRANIv W. BALL, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 



For timber supports in plaster mines and other mines no timber 

 seems to serve the purpose so well as oak logs, 16 to 20 inches in diameter. 

 Elm and maple logs have been used to some extent, but oak, of either 

 variety, seems to be preferred. These logs, of the required length, 9 to 10 

 feet, usually cost from |2.50 to |3 each, and until the use of oak in 

 furniture and quarter-sawed oak in house building became popular the 

 plaster mines were the best market for oak logs. The Grand Rapids 

 Plaster Company, whose mines are located near the west bank of the 

 Orand River, southwest of the city, in the early days of the enterprise 

 stripped their upland "oak openings" of oak timber for logs and fire- 

 wood, leaving the undergrowth to start a new forest. After about 25 

 y ears the second growth oak had reached its most profitable stage to cut 

 for firewood, and as it was found that the increase in the price of cord- 

 wood for the furnaces had been considerable it was decided to cut the 

 second growth, many of the trees having reached a diameter of 9, 10 and 

 12 inches, for firewood, and an excellent crop was harvested. The third 

 crop is now making a fine growth, but it is not to be used for firewood, 



