FORESTRY FOR 4-H CLUBS 19 



Advantages of thinning overcrowded stands of forest trees. How fewer and 

 fewer trees can grow on an acre as the trees increase in size. Available light 

 supply for growth. Purpose of thinning to utilize timber that would otherwise 

 die and go to waste. Also to stimulate the remaining trees to increased growth, 

 which means increased value. How and why prune trees; advantages in doing so. 



Improvement of the woods by proper cutting, taking out (1) the mature trees, 

 (2) broken, crooked, diseased trees, and (3) the slow growing and less valuable 

 species (figs. 13 and 14). Most woodlands have many such trees crowding out 

 the young, promising trees of the better kinds. Making woodlands yield a profit 

 on the investment and increasing farm income and the selling value of the farm. 



Practical things to do. — The facts brought out in this study should be verified 

 by actual observation in trips to forests. Study first-hand the results of cutting 

 practices. Locate a good project that shows the improvement of a forest plot by 

 proper thinning, including the removal of diseased, defective, overcrowded, and 

 dead trees, and undesirable species. 



The group may construct the charts mentioned under Illustrative material. 



Make drawings of trees showing development under adverse conditions and of 

 others under proper conditions. 



Make a survey and write a report on the general practice of home forest im- 

 provement in the district. 



Make a district or county map locating the farm forest areas and designating 

 those under improvement. Draw an outline map of the State locating the farm- 

 forest ares. 



Protecting Woodlands 



Aim. — To learn how to determine causes and extent of injury to trees and 

 methods of prevention. 



Sources of information. — Farmers' Bulletins 1643, 1887, 1896, and 1^89; State 

 publications. The United States Department of Agriculture and the State 

 agricultural colleges will be glad to give assistance by identifying and furnishing 

 information concerning various forest insects. 



Illustrative material. — Pictures of forest fires, burnt-over woodlands, forest 

 rangers and their camps and equipment will make excellent illustrative material. 

 Pictures of trees damaged by grazing, insects or fungi, samples of damaged wood, 

 and samples of insecticides and materials used to prevent insects from damaging 

 trees should also be used. 



Guides to study. — Fire, the arch enemy of the forest: It kills large numbers of 

 the smaller trees and kills or weakens the vitality of the older trees; the humus 

 layers over the ground are destroyed. The homes of animals and other wildlife 

 are often ruined and their food destroyed. The loss of the protective covering 

 exerts a marked effect in causing the soil to dry out and become hard, as a result 

 of which the rain is shed rapidly following dry weather, much as when it falls on 

 a house roof. Trees in farm woodlands and city parks are often seen dying at 

 the tops from this cause. 



Forest rangers employed by the State and Federal Governments for the adminis- 

 tration and protection of the State and national forests. Private timberland 

 owners protecting their lands in cooperative effort with the State and Federal 

 Governments. What type of men are required for forest rangers, whose duties 

 require them to live out of doors and ride or work in all kinds of weather.? Each 

 national forest divided into districts in charge of rangers. Fire-protection plans 



