FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 42 I 



To determine the amount of merchantable timber which the forest will produce in 

 a given period, it is necessary to know the rate of growth of the different kinds of 

 trees and the size and number of immature trees now standing. The latter is taken 

 from the valuation surveys, the former from what are called "stem analyses." These 

 consist in the determination of the age of felled trees by counting the rings. The age 

 and diameter are taken at the end of each log ; the length of the merchantable stem, 

 the percentage of heart and sap wood are found, and other measurements are made 

 which aid in determining the rate of growth of the tree in height and in diameter, and 

 other points in its life history. A number of these analyses are made of each kind of 

 timber trees present in the forest. The results are worked up, averaged, and thrown 

 together into tables, of which the most important in fixing the future yield are those 

 which show the number of years required by trees of different sizes and kinds to grow 

 one or more inches in diameter. Knowing the present stand per acre of trees below 

 a merchantable diameter, the forester now has a record of the rate of growth of other 

 trees of the same size and kind and grown under the same conditions, from which to 

 determine how long it will be before these immature trees reach marketable size ; and 

 from his volume tables he can calculate what their contents will be. From the knowl- 

 edge at his command, he can show the comparative advantages of cutting to different 

 diameter limits, can determine the annual or periodic yield which the forest is actually 

 producing, and can show just what the results will be in the production of future crops 

 of timber, if the young trees which will form them be preserved. 



Upon the New York State Forest Preserve, the other important considerations 

 involved in framing the working plan are the protection of the forest from fire, and the 

 treatment of those areas which are of importance in influencing the run-off of streams. 

 The former necessitates thorough investigation, with a view -to preventing fire in the 

 future and to the best management of those areas which have already been burned 

 over. The latter, which has been undertaken in collaboration with the Hydrographer 

 of the United States Geological Survey, is of no less importance. It includes the 

 classification of the forest lands as regards their value as catchment areas, which will 

 fix those which must be classed as protective forest and will require a particularly 

 careful and conservative method of treatment. 



Systematic forest management should show good results upon the New York State 

 Preserve. Practical forestry has been proved in the Adirondacks and has been 

 found to pay. It will pay also upon the Preserve, both in money and in those indirect 

 returns which will, result from the maintenance of so large and important a body of 

 forest land and the production of a steady supply of timber. 



Until the repeal of the clause of the 1894 amendment to the State constitution, 

 which prohibits all cutting in the New York Forest Preserve, the application of 



