REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 419 



practical lumberman to make this study, that the services of Mr. Eugene Bruce have 

 been obtained to assist in drawing up the working plan for the New York State Forest 

 Preserve. 



After the possibilities for profitable lumbering have been investigated thoroughly, 

 the next step in the working plan is to fix those modifications of ordinary logging 

 which may be necessary in order to avoid damage to the forest and to better the 

 condition of those trees which are the basis for future crops of timber. From the 

 necessity for these modifications has sprung a good deal of wholesale abuse of lumber- 

 men and lumbermen's methods. The fact that until recently there have been no 

 examples of practical forestry in this country has generally been disregarded. That 

 the American lumberman has failed to be moved by emphatic statements that his 

 system is wrong, is not remarkable. In waiting to see definite results of systematic 

 forest management before changing his own methods, he has shown only his charac- 

 teristic common sense. 



One of the modifications which may be advisable under forestry is the raising or 

 lowering of the diameter limit under which logging ordinarily goes on. It may become 

 necessary to lower it in order not to impair too seriously the density of the forest and 

 the probability of its reproduction. It may also be best to vary it upon different areas 

 because the silvicultural condition of a forest changes constantly, and in the struggle 

 for existence between the trees, some kinds require assistance in one locality and other 

 kinds in another. Particularly in dealing with the Adirondack spruce, which seldom 

 forms a pure wood, but generally occurs in mixture with faster-growing trees, the 

 diameter limit, or in other words, the number of trees to be left to serve as seed trees 

 and also as the nucleus for a second crop, must be raised or lowered in accordance with 

 the chances of the spruce to hold its own in the mixture. 



Where over-mature trees of doubtful soundness are shading promising young 

 growth, their removal is for the good of the forest. Under ordinary lumbering, they 

 would be left standing unless they contained sufficient merchantable timber to realize a 

 fair profit. Under forestry, cases arise where they should be cut out, even if their 

 sale no more than covers the cost of logging them. 



In the forest under systematic management, young growth and trees of less than 

 a merchantable diameter have a value, because they represent the basis of future cuts. 

 They must, therefore, be protected as far as is practicable, where logging is going on. 

 In the Adirondacks, the use of other species than spruce for building skidways and 

 for filling in roads, is in line with this policy. Bulletin 26 of the Division of Forestry, 

 "Practical Forestry in the Adirondacks," by Henry S. Graves, shows that it is possible 

 in several ways to limit the damage at an expense which is trifling in comparison with 

 the excellent results obtained. 



