HARDWOOD SUPPLIES . 
27 
generally prove considerably below the truth, but it seems de¬ 
sirable to have at least some estimate, however crude, of this 
material, especially as it is already beginning to have a market 
value as pulp wood. Including everything from 4 inches up 
there are probably about 800,000 cords. The balsam fir has no 
future, the ground it occupies is largely farm land, its growth 
is too slow, its size too small to commend it to future operations. 
HARDWOOD SUPPLIES. 
Ho sharp limits of distribution or composition of the great 
hardwood forest are, possible, aside from the general outlines of 
the part which bears hemlock and birch as differentiated from 
the oak forest. Basswood, maple, elm, and ash, the principal 
hardwoods aside from oak and birch, all entered into the com¬ 
position of the hardwood forest in nearly all parts of this area, 
though in widely varying proportions. Thus in one locality 
elm forms 30 per cent, and more of the woods, while in another, 
but few miles distant and with soil, drainage, etc., alike, the elm 
is nearly replaced by basswood or birch. Hor is it easy to draw 
lines with reference to size and quality of development. Good 
timber on good soils passes by easy stages into inferior timber 
on poorer soils, and it is but fair to say that some good timber 
grows in every county. In general it is an unquestionable and 
well recognized fact that the hardwood timber becomes smaller 
and scrubbier toward the north; and, when the extremes, as for 
instance the hardwoods of Dunn or of Shawano counties are 
compared with those of Iron and Douglas counties, this truth 
is quite apparent, but the transition is gradual and any apparent 
lines of demarcation are generally explained by differences in 
soil rather thar effects of climate. In the southern portion of 
the area under consideration, the hardwoods attain considerable 
dimensions. Oak, basswood, and elm 90 to 100 feet high and 
over 30 inches thick are nothing unusual. In general, how¬ 
ever, the mature timber is under 30 inches in diameter and under 
75 feet in height, and on large tracts shorter than 60 feet and 
under 20 inches. 
