FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 223 



Pine, and Balsam timber on the whole tract, sold together, if the improve- 

 ments and concessions advised were made. But it must be remembered 

 that prices are fluctuating, and that these estimates are good only for 

 present conditions. 



Rctles for Ltmiberin^. 



The application of the following rules will ensure the safety of the 

 forest. Its function in preserving the water-supply and as a pubHc recre- 

 ation ground will not be impaired by conservative lumbering, while its 

 capacity as a producer of timber will be steadily increased. 



In order to be certain that no timber below the advised limit lor the 

 different species is removed, and also in order to designate the trees 

 so that there will be no possibility of the lumberman misunderstanding 

 which trees he should cut and which he should not cut, it will be necessary 

 to mark all trees intended for removal. 



The diameter limits advised have been fixed after a thorough study of 

 the effect of the cuttings upon the forest and the profits to be realized from 

 the lumbering. Upon the care with which the markings are made and 

 rules carried out the success of practical forestry upon Township 40 chiefiy 

 depends. 



As has been stated (page 49), smaller trees which show unmistak- 

 able signs of decay and death, but are still merchantable, or of which the 

 tops have been broken off by falling trees or wind storms, so that it is 

 clearlv apparent that they will not live, should also be marked for removal. 



Spruce, Pine, or Balsam trees, whose branches are so interlocked with 

 valuable hardwoods or Hemlocks that they cannot be removed without 

 cutting the latter, should not be marked. They can be taken when the 

 other species are marketed. 



]\Iethod of Marking Timber for REiiovAL. 



The method of marking trees adopted by the Division of Forestry 

 is to blaze the butt of each tree intended for removal below the cutting 

 point on the stump, with a hatchet, and to stamp the spot with the hatchet- 

 head, on which the initials " U. S." are raised. This symbol may, of course, 

 be changed for State work. The marks on the stump will make it possible 

 to determine afterwards whether any trees intended for removal were left, 

 and also whether any were taken which were not intended for removal. 

 The markers should brand all trees that are to be cut. It has been found 

 that in marking timber the most satisfactory results can be obtained with 



