FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 23 1 



As a result of this treatment, the original mixed forest in which pine 

 and hemlock were present in considerable proportion has become hardwood 

 almost entirely, with inferior species predominating. 



While the clear cutting method is recognized by the forester as being 

 the best way to handle certain types of woodland, e. g., pure chestnut for 

 ties and poles, maple swamps for cord wood, etc., it should not be used too 

 many times in succession for the following reasons: 



First. It tends to exhaust the soil by reason of the large number 

 of sprouts sent up by each stump. 



Each sprout, and they vary in number from several to scores, makes 

 its demand on the soil for mineral and nitrogenous foods and thus the 

 combined demand is far in excess of that made by the one parent stump. 



Besides, as the leaves and twigs contain the bulk of the mineral salts 

 found in a whole tree, it can be seen how, aside from numbers, the bushy 

 voung sprouts tend to exhaust the soil. 



Second. It is generally recognized that to maintain the greatest pos- 

 sible production, forest soil must be protected from the drying effect of 

 the sun. 



On many of the slopes in the Highlands the soil is but a few inches 

 deep or mav consist of small pockets of earth which have collected between 

 the outcropping rocks. 



When soil of this nature is exposed to the direct rays of the sun, all 

 leaf mold is consumed, the thin soil becomes baked, and a thick growth of 

 weeds springs up which takes foods from the soil that should go to the tree 

 and tends to choke out any young seedlings that would otherwise get 

 started. 



Third. In addition, clear cutting by greatly increasing the amount of 

 brush adds to the risk of fires and to their severity, and since inferior species, 

 such as black and chestnut oak, are more resistant and will stand a fire that 

 will kill better trees, like chestnut, tulip and ash, the mixture tends to 

 deteriorate. 



The foregoing reasons will make it clear why the woodland in this 

 region is scrubby and the growth is so poor. The next question is, how 

 can this condition be improved so as to make every acre unsuitable for 

 agriculture or pasture yield the most revenue. 



