18 
FORESTS OF WISCONSIN. 
with those of other men, and also by comparison with results of 
calculations based on probable cut per 40, or per town and the 
area supposed to be still covered with timber. Moreover, the 
probability of the correctness of the various estimates was sub¬ 
jected to scrutiny in various ways and tested by personal inspec¬ 
tion of the field. 
Upon such basis, utilizing partial and imperfect estimates, 
checked and counterchecked, the attempt was made to approach 
as near the truth as was possible by such methods. After the 
writer had made up his own estimates he once more submitted 
the same to his informants and their divergence of opinion, 
wherever essential, will be found noted in the part of this report 
which refers to conditions in each county. 
The white pine appears to seed heavily and quite regularly; 
the trees in all parts of North Wisconsin were laden with cones 
in the fall of 1897. The seedlings thrive best on sandy soils, 
but grow on loamy soils almost as well; the young growth forms 
dense thickets, grows very fast in height (1 to 2 ft. per year) 
as well as in thickness (often one-half inch and more) and the 
sapling timber cleans itself quite well of its dead branches, 
though not as well as red (Norway) pine. In Wisconsin, the 
tree is normally over 50 feet high at the age of 50 years, attains 
a height of over 120 feet and a diameter of over 30 inches, and 
continues its growth in thickness with a most remarkable stead¬ 
iness to a great age, 200 years and more. White pine as a ma¬ 
ture timber has more faults than red (Norway) pine, bears 
more large dead stubs, disfiguring its trunk, is prone to fork, 
three and even four large forks often springing from the same 
stem, and is much more unsound, old timber being frequently 
defective by decay. Both white and Norway pine find a ready 
market in every locality, and are sold as stumpage, logs, and 
lumber. Fully 90 per cent, of the present cut of over 2 billion 
feet (about 3.5 billion in 1893) is logged on a large scale with 
heavy equipment and is sawn in large mills. All cutting is ex¬ 
tremely close; in most camps everything is taken “that will 
make a 2x4,” so that even sapling thickets are no longer spared. 
