o 



28 REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 



guessing at the future condition of the lumber market; big trees have — to 

 say the least — the same chance with small trees to be money makers. 

 And it is natural that the owner is inclined to either remove or to leave all 

 of his trees. 



2. Let us suppose that the owner has left in the course of lumbering 

 all trees under eighteen inches in diameter representing a stumpage of 

 1,500 feet per acre. The reduction of the cut by 1,500 feet per acre has 

 increased the logging expense per 1,000 feet of stumpage removed, — an 

 increase which can be considered only as a new investment added to the 

 value of 1,500 feet per acre left. 



For a number of years to come, the small trees are nonremovable, 

 since it cannot pay in the near future to remove a handful of inferior lumber 

 from an acre of ground. In the meantime, the property must be watched 

 and taxes must be paid. 



The owner leaving small trees embarks in a new venture which cannot 

 be countermanded nor altered, for years to come, without serious loss; 

 and which is subject to more serious dangers than the old venture. 



Small trees form, prior to the removal of the big trees mixed with 

 them, a tangible, merchantable asset. After the removal of the big trees, 

 however, they can be considered only as an intangible asset, an asset of 

 merely prospective value, an asset impossible to realize, on. 



3. After lumbering, small trees left are much more endangered by fire, 

 windfall, insects, fungi than before lumbering. Where fires cannot be con- 

 trolled at a reasonable expense, conservative lumbering is, under almost 

 any circumstances, absolutely absurd. 



4. The soil on which small trees are left, — in order to grow into better 

 dimensions and in order to act as seed trees for a third growth, — cannot be 

 used for pasture without interference with the object at stake. 



5. Conditions may arise, before a second growth of small trees becomes 

 merchantable, rendering the soil occupied by them valuable for farming 

 purposes. In that case the small trees must be removed without any 

 benefits accruing to the owner from such removal. 



6. The taxes on land completely stripped are lower than the taxes on 

 land conservatively lumbered. When a long number of years is required 

 to convert a second growth left into a merchantable stand, the taxes annu- 



