COMMON DEFICIENCIES OF WOODLOTS. 23 



Bare spaces in the woodlot not only produce no wood; they usually 

 do harm by allowing too much sun and wind to reach the ground and 

 dry out the land. The same evil follows when the woodlot is too open 

 along the edge, so that one can see through it or drive right into the 

 woods at an3 r point. Such an open, park-like condition allows the wind 

 to pass freely through the lot, blowing away the leaf -cover and drying 

 up the ground. Seedlings can not start, the formation of mulch is 

 prevented, and every chance fire is fanned and spread. Such condi- 

 tions are unfavorable to healthy growth even of old trees, but the 

 effect is most serious on reproduction. It is a common sight to see in 

 one of these open woodlots an abundance of acorns and maple seed on 

 the ground, and yet not a single young plant coming up to take the 

 place of the trees which are about ready to cut. In large forests the 

 border does not matter so much, but a 10 or 20-acre lot is so easily 

 affected by wind and sun that protection is essential if the trees are to 

 grow well and young plants are to fill in the gaps. In summer the 

 border should make a perfect bank or wall of green, impenetrable to 

 the eye. 



EFFECTS OF GRAZING. 



Such a condition is unattainable if the woodlot is used as a pasture. 

 It would be better if pasture and woods could be separated perma- 

 nently and complete ly. Where this is not practicable, a movable 

 barb wire fence ought to keep the stock in the parts where the } T oung 

 growth coming up to take the place of the old trees has got high 

 enough to be out of their reach. Woodland provides sparse pasture. 

 When pastured, it becomes also very inferior woodland. It is a 

 shortsighted policy to let livestock eat up the future forest by brows- 

 ing the tops off little seedlings on the large number of acres neces- 

 sary to furnish them this subsistence, if they can be provided for 

 elsewhere on the farm. 



Clumps of trees, however, are often a good thing in a pasture, 

 particularly on a stony slope or knob. In such places a few good 

 Hickories, Walnuts, or Sugar Maples may be made to yield nuts or sap 

 as well as growing wood, and at the same time to furnish a grateful 

 shade for the cattle in the heat of the summer. When such clumps 

 are started they should be protected by fencing off until the limbs are 

 out of reach. (PL VI.) 



EFFECTS OF FIKE. 



The woods must be strictly protected against fire. Ignorance and 

 carelessness combine in this country to bring about a preventable 

 annual loss to timber-land owners from this cause, the aggregate of 

 which is very great. It is a public duty to lessen this wasteful destruc- 

 tion by the inculcation of proper principles and the creation of a right 



