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Hollinger Corp.
pH 8.5

SD 381
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Copy 1

WOODLOT FORESTRY.
BY DR. JUDSON F. CLARK, BUREAU OF FORESTRY, WASHINGTON, D. C.

The discovery of the silvicultural characteristics of our American forest
trees, together with the dissemination of this knowledge among the own-
ers of woodlands for yractical purposes, has long been the most important
feature of the work of the National Bureau of Forestry. During the last
five years a special effort has been made to reach and solve the problems
of the farmer. This effort has been induced because of a general lack of
information on the part of the farmers in the management of woodlands
and the increasing importance of the product of the woodlot.

Few appreciate the importance of the farmer’s woodlot in the national
economy. To emphasize this point, I shall quote a few statistics from the
twelfth census (1900). The average farm in the United States contains
147 acres, of which 72 are recorded as “improved” and 74 *unimproved.”
This “unimproved” area of American farms foots up the enormous total
of 426,000,000 acres. The unimproved areas consist of woodlands, treeless
swamp and barren lands. A very conservative estimate of the amount
of unimproved lands in the United States capable of producing timber is
300,000,000 acres. A vast empire of actual and potential woodlots! The
value of the total product of the lumber camps of the United States (in-
cluding logs, bark for tanning, charcoal, rived shingles, ships’ knees, posts,
ties and all other products of the lumber camps) was, in 1889, $174,000,-
000. The value of the product of the woodlots of the United States (in-
cluding “only the wood, lumber, ties, ete, which the farmers cut in con-
nection with their ordinary farming operations,”) and not including
maple syrup or sugar, was $110,000,000. In other words, in 1889, the farm-
ers’ woodlots of the country produced an amount very nearly equal to
two-thirds of the value of the product of the regular lumber industry
as it was delivered at the mills.

. Not only is the present product of the woodlot of very great economic
importance, but it will certainly be increasingly so as the natural sup-
plies of virgin timber disappear. The following statistics from the
twelfth census illustrate the increasing importance of the woodlot as de-
velopment progresses in the different States:

R—B' 1

48 STATE OF MICHIGAN. Woche

, « Ey
TOTAL VALUE OF PRODUCT.

Of Lumber Camps. Of Woodlots.

NCAT TOMS F207 silinieni = Giisliqia ie aera iret eo este g eh ete Cua lls chek aN RUM $1,002,000
AV ETSY G6 SIT cE 3 A A Si Pe ea NT 18,112,000 6,116,000
Mir elameren tn ee Se SN 5, eye ae eatin crf eval gi a) arate 20,462,000 7,530,000
SPEND TATA ey Sie ene MR be een ei ok Jae ar 4,058,000 5,235,000
CACAICOMAA SALAS IRE sant ae eR elt NL a RRA A A 4,384,000 5,625,000
WV Ea i OY Gl CER, GR ENR ay a RE AS eh Que ULAR 4,364,000 7,671,000
CGT 627) VE A es ec cat a RB 493,000 1,276,000

Washington represents the newest type. Its lumber camp product ex-
ceeds that of the woodlots in the ratio of 11 to 1. Michigan has an inter-
mediate position, having a proportion of about 2.8 to 1. New York has
the balance turned the other way, and in the proportion of 1 to 1.8, and
Connecticut, where lumbering as a business has become very: much re-
duced, has the proportion of 1 to 2.6 in favor of the woodlots.

Jt is only fair to add, however, that the product of the woodlot is used
largely, though by no means wholly, in an unmanufactured or slightly
manufactured form (cordwood, railway ties, posts, etc.), while the prod-
uct of the lumber camps is in a much larger degree the raw material for a
vast series of manufactures. It is also worthy of note in this connection
that the farmer is usually his own logger. This work is done at a time
of year when there is little else to do, and in many cases the entire
amount received for the product may be regarded as clear gain to be
credited to the woodlot. The lumberman, on the other hand, must build
his camps, purchase his horses, camp supplies, tools, etc., and especially
employ labor, the cost of all which must be deducted from the sale value
of his product in determining his profit. The census returns show the
value of the stumpage of the cut of $174,000,000 worth of product by
the lumbermen during the census year to have been $58,177,000. It is not
improbable that the farmers’ cut of $110,000,000 represents as large a
real stumpage value.

The value of the woodlot as a national asset can hardly be overesti-
mated, and it should in future, with improved methods of management,
ever contribute an increasing amount of material for general consuimp-
tion. In several respects it has distinct advantages over the timber tract.
Among these may be mentioned its nearness to the points of consumption,
together with the practicability of an intensity of management that can
hardly be hoped for on the larger areas, and which is only in part offset
by the cheapness of the wild land.

The value of the woodlot as a source of fuel has recently been brought
very prominently to the notice of the public generally by the realization
that it is the only buffer that stands between the people and the higher
prices which the coal combine may ask the moment they have the field to
themselves. The people have also a fresh recollection of the fact that the
woodlot is the only thing that stands between them and actual suffering
by cold in the event of a coal strike. The cities and villages are more
interested in this matter than the farmers themselves, for if a farmer has
only a small supply of wood, he will naturally provide for the comfort
of his own family before he offers any for sale. A consideration of this

FORESTRY COMMISSION, 49

should lead the urban population to heartily support a moderate and
equitable tax rate for the farmers’ woodlots,

This article, however, is intended to refer especially to the woodlot con-
ditions as I have found them in Michigan. It is perhaps hardly neces-
sary to say that these conditions are exceedingly unsatisfactory. A very
few farmers, indeed, have made any real effort to improve this portion of
their farms, and those who have done so have in many cases made very
serious mistakes. Such mistakes were inevitable, fer the farmers haye
not had access to information regarding correct methods of handling
woodlands. ‘The necessity itself for better methods is a comparatively
recent development. The average Michigan farmer of today well remem-
bers when the trees were regarded as the natural enemies of the tiller of
the soil, and their removal was the farmers’ greatest labor. The change
in the times has come without bringing the knowledge necessary to meet
the changed conditions. It is a most unfortunate fact that know ledge of
correct methods of woodland management cannot be learned experiment:
ally by the average farmer, as is the case to a greater or less extent with
almost all other farming operations. Time element alone makes this a
pea cal impossibility—years and even decades being often required for
a demonstration, instead of days or weeks. Aside from this, few, if any,
farmers have had the requisite training to enable them to carry out any
really careful forestry investigation. The result has been that in the
absence of instruction almost every effort for improvement has been merely
guesswork,while the great majority of farmers have not interested them-
selves in the matter,

The average Michigan farm contains about 86 acres. Of this area 58
acres are recorded as improved and 28 acres as unimproved. It is probable
that three acres per farm would on the average be a liberal reduction
from the unimproved land for such waste areas as are unsuited for tree
growth. This leayes an area of 25 acres which is at present occupied by
trees or capable of being so occupied. This gives a woodlot area of over
5,000,000 acres on the 210,000 farms of the State. As already suggested,
it is sadly true that the term “unimproved” is not inaptly applied to these
5,000, 000 acres, for there is nearly or quite one-half of this area, which,
in its present condition, is all but wholly unproductive, and on the remain-
ing portion, as already indicated, there has been but little effort expended
that would entitle any consider: able portion to be classed as “improved.”

The value of the woodlot product of Michigan has already been referred
to as amounting to $7,530,000 in 1899—a sum which compares favorably
with the combined products of the orchard, grapery and small fruit gar-
den, which in the same year totaled $5,860,000 for the State. When we
recall that about one-half of the unimproved area of the farms is at present
all but wholly unproductive, it will be seen that the producing area has
yielded about $5.00 per acre to the woodlot owners in 1899. Michigan
enjoys the distinction of having a larger return acre for acre from her
woodlots than any other State in the Union. Were this assuredly a bona
jide income, it would be a matter for congratulation. That it is largely
a result of the stripping of the land at an unusually rapid rate is evi-
denced by the very unsatisfactory conditions for wood production ob-
taining on the average woodlot, and by the rapidity with which the wood-
lots are disappearing in the four southern tiers of counties.

This view of the importance of the woodlot as a producer of future tim-

R—B 2

50 STATE OF MICHIGAN.

ber supplies and as a very considerable source of income to a very large
class of the population of the country has induced the Bureau of Forestry
to offer to co-operate with farmers owning woodlands in their manage-
ment.* On application, the bureau offers to send a trained forester to
make a careful examination on the ground of the woodlot. It is the duty
of the forester to point out the defects of the woodlot and their cause,
and how they may be most quickly and economically remedied; to mark
sample areas, showing which trees should be removed where removal is
desirable, and where planting is desirable or desired; to advise regarding
the species best suited to the soil and the locality. It is also customary
for the forester to prepare a detailed report on the conditions found, with
notes on their treatment. A copy of this report—which usually indicates
the management for about ten years—is afterwards sent to the farmer for
his future guidance. This service is free to all, but the bureau reserves
the right to accept or decline applications, as may be deemed wise, with
due regard to the objects for which the offer is made, and the limitations
of the funds at their disposal for this work.

It is hoped that by this means it will eventually be possible to have in
every county, and perhaps in every township, at least one woodlot which
will be handled in a correct way, and which will thus serve as an object
lesson to the farmers in its vicinity of the practicability of woodlot for-
estry. A report on a woodlot examined by the writer in St. Joseph county
during the spring of 1904 is given herewith, that those interested may
have a clearer idea of the scope of the woodlot work carried on by the
government, and that all who read may get a forester’s opinion of a very
common type of woodlot in Southern Michigan.

*Applications should be sent to Thomas H. Sherrard, Chief of Division of Forest Management,
Bureau of Forestry, Washington, D. C

FORESTRY COMMISSION. 51

REPORT ON AN EXAMINATION OF THE WOODLOT OF MR. P. P. MAJOR,
THREE RIVERS, ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

BY JUDSON F. CLARK.
Wish of Owner.

Mr. Major wishes to know what may be done to improve the condition of his
woodlot. No immediate returns other than a small amount of firewood each year
are especially required, and he is willing to go to some expense if necessary to
put the less satisfactory portions in better producing condition.

General.

There is an excellent opportunity to greatly improve the present condition of
the stand on this woodlot by the removal of the old, decrepit, and defective trees
which are scattered almost everywhere over the area. The decay of these old trees
offsets the growth of younger trees, and they are exceedingly injurious to those
over which they stand. The value of the cordwood in them would leave a very
satisfactory profit after paying the cost of the improvement cutting.

The vigor of the stand will be greatly improved, and reproduction aided by
the exclusion of the sheep which are grazed on the neighboring pasture, and
which have for many, years been allowed the run of the woodlot. Reproduction
is needed to fill the gaps in the stand and to provide a satisfactory ground cover.

Planting must be done to fill up some of the larger gaps in the stand and to
provide a windbreak along the western border.

Details regarding these measures and other matters will be found below.

Location and Area.

This woodlot is located in Fabius township, St. Joseph county, Michigan, about
five miles northwest of Three Rivers station, on the Lake Shore & Michigan South-
ern, and Michigan Central Railways.

The area is about 80 acres.

Topography.

The topography is quite rolling, the tract being a portion of a very irregular
terminal moraine. The slopes vary from gentle to quite steep. The danger of
serious erosion is such as to make the area unsuited for agricultural purposes.

Soil.

The soil varies in different parts from a sandy loam toa loam. It is everywhere
deep, and on most parts contains more or less gravel. It is estimated that the
normal annual production on the average acre does not exceed 60 cubic feet of hard-
wood, such as oak, per acre (two-thirds of a cord of four-foot wood, or two cords
of 16-inch stovewood). There are small areas in different parts, especially on
the lower and more gentle slopes, where the normal annual production would
probably reach 90 cubic feet per acre. The present average production is, how-
ever, not more than two-thirds of what it should be. This is due to three causes:
(1) The presence of many defective trees whose decay largely offsets new growth;
(2) the facts that in many parts the number of trees is insufficient to fully occupy

52 STATE OF MICHIGAN.

the ground, and (3) the fact that in many parts the soil is greatly exposed to
the drying winds and is unable to retain moisture sufficient for satisfactory tree-
growth.

The Stand.
Its History.

This area is a portion of a large “oak opening.’ The original stand, consist-
ing of oak and hickory, was quite open, a result of very frequent fires in the early
days before the country was settled. The stumps of these old trees show many
fire-scars, indicating severe fires at various times. As the country became settled
these fires ceased and gradually the open places became filled with young trees.

When the old timber was cut by the lumbermen it would appear that a very
large proportion of these younger trees was also destroyed. A remnant sur-
vived, however, and they together with the sprout growth which followed the
lumbering and the culls of the original stand which were not removed at the time,
constitute the present stand.

Its present condition.

The present stand consists of three distinct age-classes, viz: (1) The scatter-
ing remnant of the original stand, consisting of old, crooked, unsound trees left
ac worthless by the lumbermen, (2) a sprinkling of 50 to 60-year-old trees which
appeared with the cessation of the former fires and were not destroyed during
the subsequent lumbering, and (3) the sprout-growth which came from the stumps
of the younger trees cut or destroyed during lumbering. The ages of this last
class vary from five years up according to the time of the lumbering which has
been carried on at various times during the last 35 or 40 years.

The species occurring are almost exclusively oaks and mockernut hickory, with
aspen on several areas. Dogwood and sassafras are very common in the under-
growth. White oak predominates, and red and black oak occur. Hickory forms
about one-tenth of the stand.

The density of the stand varies greatly. In a few comparatively small areas
it is all that could be desired; on much the greater part it is open, and in many
places, especially on recently cut-over areas, it is very open. This is largely a
result of the sheep-grazing which has been permitted in recent years, a Satis-
factory reproduction of timber trees being impossible under these conditions.

It has already been stated that the rate of growth of the trees is in many parts
quite unsatisfactory. This is caused almost wholly by the destruction of the
undergrowth by the sheep. The absence of the normal undergrowth permits the
wind to blow the leaves from the more exposed parts, which are the very parts
where they are most needed. Leaves are a natural and efficient mulch for a forest
soil; their absence permits the soil to dry out by direct evaporation. The absence
of an undergrowth permits the sunlight to reach the soil, causing the humus to
be unduly oxidized, and stimulating the growth of the grass on the forest floor.
The loss of humus causes a lessened moisture-holding capacity in the soil, and
the growth of grass means a further drain on the depleted moisture supply. Since
moisture is by far the most important element in a forest soil—is indeed almost the
one factor that raises or lowers the producing capacity of most forest soils—it will
be understood how much this absence of an undergrowth means to the thrift of
the stand.

Treatment.

For the purpose of prescribing treatment, the three essentially different condi-
tions of stand will be discussed separately.

1. Oak stand of all ages.

This will serve to designate the stand which occupies fully 60 of the 80 acres
and the entire southern portion of the quarter-section. Although the sprout-growth
varies greatly in age and density of the stand, its silvicultural condition is other-
wise the same throughout the area.

Grazing should of course be discontinued at once in this as in the other stands.

Improvement cuttings—AIll the old defective trees should be removed. This
cutting should be made from year~to year as fuel is needed, but the sooner it is
completed the better for the woodlct. In connection with the removal of the old
trees, all dogwood and sassafras should be cut. Much of this is suitable for

a

FORESTRY COMMISSION. 53

fuel, and the ground should be cleared of such inferior material to make way for
better stock.

Thinnings.—After the improvement cuttings have been completed, say in 10
years, there will be many of the younger groups or portions of the stand that
would be greatly helped by a thinning. In these thinnings, all dead and dying
trees should be cut, and such of the remainder as are of inferior form or
species and are injuring the crowns of better trees either by shading or by
contact during wind storms. The openings in the crown cover caused by the
removal of such trees should as a rule not be greater than may be reasonably
expected to close again by growth in five to seven years. By closing is meant
the coming together of the tips of the branches of the trees.

Planting.—There are many open places in the stand, and with the removal of the
over-mature trees there will be many more where the natural reproduction has
been and will be less satisfactory than is desirable. As Mr. Major wishes to
produce fence posts, and has an excellent market for pulpwood, it is recom-
mended that in the higher and dryer portions these open places be planted to
black locust, and that the lower and moister situations be set out to cottonwood.
The black locust should be set out as one-year-old plants and spaced 5x5 or at most
6x6 feet where it is entirely open and should be placed between the scattering
bunches of oak coppice where such occur. The cottonwood can best be planted
by the use of cuttings. Eight or ten-inch pieces of the one and two-year wood
of the branches, pointed at the lower end and inserted in the soil will be entirely
satisfactory. They should be placed in a sloping position, with one or two buds
above the surface, at the distances above indicated for the black locust. These
cuttings should be prepared during the dormant season, and kept in moist sand
until needed.

A number of poplar occur throughout the stand, and there are two small areas
where they form practically pure stands. The scattering poplar, which are now
of very satisfactory size for pulp, may be utilized for that purpose within the
next five or at most 10 years, greatly to the advantage of the other growth over
which they stand. They are now of very satisfactory size for pulp and will in
a few years be past their prime. The poplar groups are about 18 years old, six
inches in diameter, and average fully 55 feet high. They are very thrifty, and
may be retained to advantage 10 or 15 years before cutting.

2. The 1877 Burn.

All young trees on a small area towards the north end were destroyed and
most of the larger trees scarred badly by fire in 1877. The best of the larger trees
have since been cut, and the remainder should be cut at an early day. The area
could then be planted to locust or white pine. Tall-growing weeds being absent,
two-year-old untransplanted pine stock will be satisfactory if about 15 inches
square of the sod be removed in each place before planting the pines. This sod
should be placed around the pines in an inverted position after setting, for mulch
purposes. The pines should be spaced five feet apart, each way.

3. Old oak stand.
This stand at the north end of the woodlot has been much less severely cut

than the remainder of the area. The stand consists of red, black, and white oaks,
with some mockernut hickory. Diameters up to 30 inches, and heights up to 70
feet occur. The quality is poor, the better trees having been removed some years
ago. What reproduction formerly existed was largely killed by the fire in 1877
which ran over most of the area, but was not sufficiently severe in this part to
sear the older trees. Grazing has prevented any reproduction in recent years.
The ground is closely grassed over.

Treatment.—This stand is mature, and should be removed during the next ten
years. The first consideration is to get a reproduction of good trees to form the
basis of the future stand. Grazing must be discontinued, and weed trees whose
seed is not desired should be removed at onee.

In view of the heavy ‘sod and the open condition of the stand it is recommended
that the sod be broken befcre the fall of the nuts and acorns, by rough cultiva-
tion with a disk harrow. This should be followed after the fall of the seeds by
dragging over with a light harrow. This will plant at a trifling expense many
thousands of acorns and nuts per acre, and will insure a fine reproduction.

In order to admit light for the development of the new crop, a heavy thinning
should be made the following winter, in which all of the most inferior trees

54 STATE OF MICHIGAN.

should be taken. This thinning should remové about one-third of the stand. As
soon as the young growth is thoroughly established in satisfactory density the
old stand may be entirely harvested. The very few trees of good form which are
in the present stand may be retained to continue their growth with the new
stand, but this is not especially recommended since they are few in number and
would be liable to die at the tops as a result of their standing so open as to
favor the development of “‘water-sprouts.”

Protection.

Felling—Care should in all cases be exercised to avoid as much as possible
injury to valuable young growth by the felling of the old trees. Stumps should be
cut as low as practicable, and with the saw. There should be no “brushing out”
of the young growth.

Disposal of debris—As much as practicable of the branches and tops should be
utilized for firewood. The remaining debris should either be piled and burned
in the open places during a time when the fire will not endanger the woods by
running; or be scattered and made to lie as close to the ground as practicable
in order to hasten decay, and thereby lessen the danger from fire and interference
with young growth.

Grazing.—The importance of the exclusion of all live stock has already been
fully discussed.

Fire.—The keeping of the woodlot free from dangerous debris is the only meas-
ure, other than care in the handling of fire within or near the woodlot, that is
considered necessary for the protection of the woodlot from fire. The fact that
but one fire of any importance has occurred on the area since the settlement of
the country indicates that danger from this source is not great.

Windbreak.—It is recommended that a row of Norway spruce be planted along
the western side of this woodlot wherever the stand is sufficiently open to admit
of their growth. Such a row of spruce will be of great value in the future in
shutting out the wind from the stand. The trees may be planted six or eight feet
apart and if good stock be used a single row will be sufficient.

No treatment of woodlots is more commonly practiced than the removal
of the valuable trees and the leaving of the inferior in full possession of
the soil, and this notwithstanding the fact that it must appear evident
to every thoughtful person that such practice must inevitably lead ulti-
mately to the total exclusion of the more valuable trees, and consequently
to a marked lowering of the value of the vearly product of the woodlot.

Tn the report quoted, the subject of thinnings is also touched upon. It
might be of interest here to enlarge upon this topic which is so important
in the management of young stands.

All stands grown under proper conditions of density in their early years
require to be thinned later by the removal of a number of the trees pres-
ent, that the remaining trees may be given sufficient room in which to
develop. A density of at least 1,500 trees per acre is desirable during the
early years in stands of any species, and a much larger number may be
present with advantage. It is, of course, impossible that any such num-
ber can remain on the ground till maturity, and, if untouched by man, a
natural thinning will take place, by means of which the original number is
gradually reduced through the death of the trees which are overtopped by
those making a more rapid growth. |

A thinning by the hand of man may have several great advantages over
an unaided thinning by nature. The chief of these are:

First. Control of the species in the stand.

Tt often happens that trees of less valuable species overtop and shade to
death trees of the more valuable species in the natural forest. The re-

FORESTRY COMMISSION. 55

moval of such inferior trees before they have seriously injured their better
neighbors is, of course, always desirable.

Second, Control of the quality of the timber produced.

It often happens that many of the dominant trees of the stand are more
or less defective in form or in soundness. The stand will, of course, be
improved by their removal before they have seriously injured better trees
in their immediate neighborhood, which, on their removal, may be able to
utilize the space to better advantage.

Third. The maturity of the crop may be hastened,

If we assume hat a pine tree of thirty inches in diameter is mature, it is
safe to say that the maturity of the pine stand may be hastened by at
least twenty years by judicious thinning. This is accomplished by the
opening up of the canopy or crown cover from time to time to enable the
trees which are to constitute the final stand to enlarge their crowns and
thereby make possible a more rapid increase in diameter.

Fourth. Valuable wood may be saved.

Just how valuable this wood may be depends entirely on the location
of the woodlot and the character of the stand. Where the stand thins
itself without the aid of man, all trees which are killed by this process
are lost by the ravages of insects and decay. On most farms this material
might be utilized to advantage for fuel, posts, vine crops, rails and other
purposes,

The time at which a first thinning should be carried out in a dense young
stand will be very largely determined by the local market conditions. As
a rule, no thinning should be undertaken until the material to be removed
will have acquired sufficient size to be cf value for fuel or for some other
purpose. On most woodlots in Southern Michigan this time will usually
come when the stand is between fifteen and twenty-five years old. It is
true that in leaving the stand so long untouched many good trees may be
seriously injured by being overtopped by inferior neighbors, which have
chanced to have gotten the upper hand in the struggle for light, but as a
rule there will still remain many more good trees unharmed - than are re-
quired for the future stand. In the case ‘of some very rapid growing trees,
especially where the quality of the wood makes the product merchantable
at an early day, as in the case of Catalpa and Black Locust, the first
thinning may be carried out to advantage as early as the sixth or seventh
year.

The amount of material to be removed in a thinning of this kind will
depend on the site, the species, and the purpose for which the timber is
grown. In general, it may be said that trees occupying situations very
favorable for tree growth may be thinned more severely than when the
location is less favorable. The more rapid growing species, and those
capable of enduring greater shade, may also be more heavily thinned than
such as grow more slowly or are incapable of enduring great shade. As
a rule, no opening shuld be made in the crown cover which cannot reason-
ably be expected to close again in the course of five to seven years.

It should be added in this connection that the margins of woodlot should
net be as heavily thinned in any case as the interior, unless they are
thoroughly protected by a windbreak mantle. This is particularly true
of western borders.

The overcutting of*the mature timber in woodlots is not of infrequent
occurrence. A number of woodlots were noted where the owners, think-

56 STATE OF MICHIGAN.

ing to improve the stand, had very carefully cut out the inferior and de-
fective trees, but to such an extent that the remaining stand was left in
a very unfavorable condition for development.

The opening of the stand too freely checks the growth of the trees by
making the conditions less favorable for the retention of moisture, and
has, with many trees, the additional danger of checking their height
growth by permitting the development of the base of the crown, and in
some trees (e. g. Oaks) by the development of water sprouts on their
trunks. In many cases such thinnings as those result in the ultimate
death of the top of the tree. This, of course, occurs during some excep-
tionally dry time, and the weather conditions are usually blamed for it.
The loss of soil moisture as a result of overcutting is due to the increased
air motion at the soil surface and the admission of sufficient light to
stimulate the growth of grass and other moisture-robbing weeds on the
forest floor. The excessive light (and heat) increases the oxidation of
the organic matter in the soil, thereby lowering its moisture-holding ca-
pacity, and raises the temperature, thereby increasing the direct evapo-
ration of moisture. .

Jf the trees of the stand are sufficiently matured to produce seed abun-
dantly, such an overcutting will result in a natural reproduction of for-
est trees. Should the stand be nearly mature, this would be a desirable
condition, but in all immature stands the harm done by the overcutting
is but very slowly repaired by nature.

That overcutting in a woodlot open to the run of live stock should be
more serious where grazing is practiced than otherwise can be readily
appreciated. In the former case the absence of an undergrowth will
leave the soil wholly unprotected, and there will be no young trees to
develop to fill the gaps in the stand.

A detailed discussion of the injuries due to grazing, fire, insects, and
other causes of injury common to Michigan woodlands would unduly
lengthen an article already too long, and must be deferred for the present,
Suffice to say, it is the intention of the bureau to publish at an early day
a somewhat extended account of a study of woodlot conditions in South-
ern Michigan, which will be available for general distribution.

LNA

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