26 DIMINISHED FLOW OF ROCK EIVEK. 



men in this region suppose. To do well there must be vigorous com- 

 petition among them for space and light. This permits nature to 

 select the most vigorous trees, and greatly assists man in selecting the 

 most valuable. Oaks and Hickories stand least shade; Ash, Elm, 

 Basswood, and White Pine endure more, and Maple and Spruce a great 

 deal of shade. 



WHAT KINDS OF TREES TO . GROW. 



Oak, Hickory, Maple, Elm. and Ash are natives to this region, and 

 can be grown almost everywhere. White Oak should be given pref- 

 erence over Red Oak, and Maple over Elm. In general Elm and Ash 

 should be used sparingly. Maple is an excellent tree to till in with 

 where the woods need thickening up. In addition to these commonly 

 present kinds a few others may be introduced. Chief among these are 

 Pine and Spruce. White Pine, and White, Black, and Red Spruce 

 are good trees, and are sure to do well almost everywhere. Cherry 

 and Walnut are also good trees, Cherry making a valuable log at an 

 earh' age. Where posts are much in demand. Catalpa has proved an 

 excellent tree. Black Locust also does well, and is especially frugal, 

 stocking rough, rocky slopes where few other trees will grow. 



SPROUT WOODS. 



For posts and ties the woods may be run as coppice, or sprout 

 woods. In this case the renewal after cutting is by sprouts from the 

 stumps. To get good results the trees should be cut late in winter, 

 and care should be taken to have the stump slant-cut like a roof, so 

 that water may not collect and hasten decay. As the thriftiness and 

 rapidity of growth of the sprouts will vary according to the vigor of 

 the former tree whose life they continue, the old. rotting stumps of 

 overmature trees should not be suffered to reproduce coppice; young- 

 trees from seeds or plants should take their place. 



CUTTING. 



Cutting should be done in winter and when snow is on the ground. 

 At that time the bark is fast on the trees and least injury is done in 

 felling and in dragging out the logs, the seedlings are covered and 

 protected, and there are no insects active to take advantage of the 

 cutting and multiply to the detriment both of the cut timber and the 

 standing trees. Most of the work should be done with the saw, on 

 account of the greater care which can thus be used. After cutting, 

 timber should not be left stacked in the woods, where it dries out 

 poorly and often begins to decay when summer comes, but should be 

 removed to dry, open ground, where there is a free circulation of air 



Finally, the woodlot must not be overcut. It must always be remem- 

 bered that the amount of wood which is made each year is the interest 



