198 Report of the Forest Commission. 



land owners who persist in cutting down to a small diameter on 

 the stump should not rely on this natural seeding of the spruce to 

 correct their faulty system. In the dissemination of spruce seeds 

 and starting of natural plantations, nature has proved whimsical ; 

 and while the young spruces generally succeed the poplars and 

 bird cherries on the burned lands, they often fail to restock the 

 lands of their own habitat which have been rendered bare by 

 injudicious cutting. 



The thrifty landowner who would manage his spruce lands 

 rightly should not only confine his cutting to sound methods, but 

 should employ a skillful forester whose judicious, fostering care 

 of the seedlings, together with some provision for the dissemina- 

 tion of seed, will insure that future stability of income which is 

 the main object and aim of intelligent, scientific forestry. 



The foregoing paragraphs have dealt solely with the question 

 of the black spruce, because the other merchantable 

 species in the Adirondack forests growing in company with it 

 are seldom accessible. The white pine, except in few localities, 

 was removed years ago. The hemlock is valuable mainly on 

 account of its bark, and in many townships is not cut at all. The 

 hardwoods, though merchantable near the borders of the forest, 

 owing to their accessibility, are not marketable for the most part, 

 as the logs can not be floated down the streams. 



Still, the roads and railways which are penetrating the forest 

 in increased numbers are fast rendering the hardwoods accessible. 

 The time is near when most of the broad-leaved trees in the Adi- 

 rondacks, as well as the conifers, will become merchantable spe- 

 cies. The same provisions which should regulate the cutting of 

 the spruce will apply to them also. The value and pro- 

 ductivity of these timber lands will be correspondingly increased 

 and with the proper management of our woodlands American 

 forestry will occupy its rightful place as a beneficent factor in our 

 political economy. 



In concluding I desire to acknowledge the cordial and liberal 

 support which your honorable board has given me in pursuing 

 the investigations necessary to a study of this subject. 



WILLIAM F. FOX, 



Superintenden t. 



