28 
FORESTS OF WISCONSIN. 
Generally the hardwoods are “short bodied” as compared to* 
conifers; they furnish per tree about 2 1-2 logs and in the north¬ 
ern counties scant 1 1-2 logs, of which it takes 7 to 10 to the 
thousand feet B. M. Of the different kinds, basswood and elm- 
are tallest and longest in body, the former quite com m only cut¬ 
ting 3 and even 3 1-2 logs per tree, and the latter often furnish¬ 
ing ship timbers 60 to 70 feet in length. Birch is generally the 
shortest, and large trees often furnish but a single log. As 
might be expected, much of the older hardwood) timber is in all 
stages of degeneration and decay, so that much of it is defective 
and the cut consequently wasteful. The oak, being naturally 
thei longest lived and having the most durable wood, is least af¬ 
fected, “it cuts sound;” basswood, birch, and ash are about alike 
and quite defective when old; while of all hardwoods the maple 
is the worst in this respect With this tree especially, the fault 
is not entirely a matter of age but seems largely due to injury 
in consequence of frost; “frost cracks” with their peculiar ram¬ 
part-like thickenings or ridges along their edge being very com¬ 
mon. These cracks admit fungi and insects and thus introduce 
decay. This evil in maple is most strongly complained of in 
the central and northern parts and least in the southeast and 
southwest, where a great deal of fine maple occurs. 
Concerning the yields in hardwoods, opinions differ widely; 
the estimates are generally too low and are commonly deficient. 
The reasons for this are several. Lack of experience both in 
estimating and milling of hardwoods is a chief cause, the men 
being used only to pine but not to hardwoods. To this must be 
added, lack of time, the work usually being too hurried, and 
also the fact that most of the work is done for certain kinds of 
timber only, oak, basswood, elm, etc. Such estimates usually 
include only choice material, the peculiarities of the hardwood 
market reacting even on the matter of estimates. Generally 
the yields are estimated at from 80 to 150 M. feet per 40 acres, 
or 2 to 4 M. feet per acre for fair to good lands, and from 
25 to 50 M. feet per 40 acres for the poorer lands and the 
northern lake districts. Some townships in Wood and Marathon- 
