14 MICHIGAN FORESTRY. 



nate fact that knowledge of correct methods of woodland management cannot 

 be learned experimentally by the average farmer, as is the case to a greater or 

 less extent with almost all other farming operations. Time element alone 

 makes this a practical impossibility — years and even decades being often re- 

 quired for a demonstration, instead of days or weeks. Aside from this, few 

 if any, farmers have had the requisite training to enable them to carry out 

 an}' really careful forestry investigation. The result has been that in the 

 absence of instruction almost every effort for improvement has been merely 

 guesswork, while the great majority of farmers have not interested themselves 

 in the matter. 



The average Michigan farm contains about eighty-six acres. Of this area 

 fifty-eight acres are recorded as improved and twenty-eight acres as unim- 

 proA'ed. It is probable that three acres per farm would on the average be a 

 liberal reduction from the unimproved land for such waste areas as are un- 

 suited for tree growth. This leaves an area of twenty-five acres which is at 

 present occupied by trees or capable of being so occupied. This gives a 

 woodlot area of over 5,000,000 acres on the 210,000 farms of the state. As al- 

 ready suggested, it is sadly true that the term "unimproved" is not inaptly 

 applied to these 5,000,000 acres, for there is nearly or quite one-half of this 

 area, which, in its present condition, is all but wholly unproductive, and on 

 the remaining portion, as already indicated, there has been but little effort 

 expended that would entitle any considerable portion to be classed as" im- 

 proved. " 



The value of the woodlot product of Michigan has already been referred 

 to as amounting to 17,530,000 in 1899 — a. sum which compares favorably 

 with the combined products of the orchard, grapery and small fruit garden, 

 which in the same year totaled 15,860,000 for the state. When we recall that 

 about one-half of the unimproved area of the farms is at present all but wholly 

 unproductive, it will be seen that the producing area has yielded about $3 .00 

 per acre to the woodlot owners in 1899. Michigan enjoys the distinction of 

 having a larger return acre for acre from her woodlots than any other state 

 in the union. Were this assuredly a bona fide income, it would be a matter 

 for congratulation. That it is largely the result of the stripping of the land 

 at an unusually rapid rate is evidenced by the very unsatisfactory conditions 

 for wood production obtaining on the average woodlot, and by the rapidity 

 with which the woodlots are disappearing in the four southern tiers of coun- 

 ties. 



This view of the importance of the woodlot as the producer of future timber 

 supplies and as a verj' considerable source of income to a very large class of the 

 population of the country has induced the Bureau of Forestry to offer to co- 

 operate with the farmers owning woodlands in their management.* On appli- 

 cation, the bureau offers to send a trained forester to make a careful examina- 

 tion on the ground of the woodlot. It is the duty of the forester to point out 

 the defects of the woodlot and their cause, and how they may be most quickly 

 and economically remedied ; to mark sample areas, showing which trees should 

 be removed where removal is desirable, and where planting is desirable or 

 desired; to advise regarding the species best suited to the soil and the 

 locality. It is also customary for the forester to prepare a detailed report on 

 the conditions found, with notes on their treatment. A copy of this report— 

 which usually indicates the management for about ten years— is afterwards 

 sent to the farmer for his future guidance. This service is free to all, but the 



*Applications should be .sent to Tliomas H. Slierrard, Chief ot Division of Forest Manageraent, 

 Bureau of Forestry, Wasliington, D. C. 



