32 DEPARTMENT BULLETIN 863, IT. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE. 

 Lesson XII. WOODLANDS AND FARM MANAGEMENT. 



Problem. — How may the home forest be best managed to make it 

 more valuable, to increase the farm income, and to make the farm 

 more desirable. 



Sources of information. — Farmers' Bulletins 635, 711, 715, 745, 

 1071. and 1117; Department Bulletin 481. 



Topics for study. — Review importance and value of woodlands to 

 the farm. The uses of timber on the farm, and importance of hav- 

 ing home-grown timber close at hand. 



Increasing the farm income by marketing the choice grades of 

 logs and other rough wood products not needed for home use. 



TToodlahds making farms more desirable and saleable than simi- 

 lar farms without timber. The actual value of the timber and the 

 additional indirect or aesthetic value because of attractiveness, a 

 place for the owner to recreate in. or a cover for small game. People 

 have an inherent fondness for the woods. How the occurrence of 

 woods makes the community a better one in which to live. 



Increasing or reducing the area in woods to the point of right pro- 

 portion of cropland, pastureland, and woodland. The soundness of 

 the farm policy of having permanent woodland on the farm. Proper 

 nrea in permanent woodland. Kind of soil, topography, and amount 

 of forest land in the locality, and their effect in determininig the 

 area of permanent woodland. 



Waste or idle land, poor soils, steep slopes, wastes and gullies, 

 rocky and wet lands (fig. 19) made profitable by growing timber.- 



Handling woodlands so as to keep them at the highest point of pro- 

 duction. Overcutting and its ill effect upon the productive power 

 of the forest. Owners to be satisfied with a permanent revenue from 

 the woodland. Difference between a mine and a forest in respect to 

 their producing power. 



Woodlands as a source of permanent revenue on the farm. Dif- 

 ferences between a timber tract containing thrifty young trees and 

 one with only scattered old trees and much sod and shrubs. The 

 forest capital— the stock of growing trees — must not be too heavily 

 cut. Because of the desire for ready money, there is constant danger 

 of this happening. The apparent returns may be increased for a 

 few years, while the productive capacity of the forest is being re- 

 duced below the minimum limit. This point, below which the total 

 amount of growing timber should not be allowed to fall, is about one- 

 half the contents of a fully stocked stand at maturity. If the latter. 

 for example, is 40 cords per acre, then the woods should never con- 

 tain less than about 20 cords per acre as the growing stock or basis 

 necessary to secure the maximum production. This does not apply 

 to mixed hardwoods cut clean and renewed by sprouting. 



