As a result of this treatment, the original mixed forest in which pine and hemlock were present in considerable proportion has become hardwood almost entirely, with inferior species predominating.

While the clear cutting method is recognized by the forester as being the best way to handle certain types of woodland, e. g., pure chestnut for ties and poles, maple swamps for cordwood, etc., it should not be used too many times in succession for the following reasons:

First. It tends to exhaust the soil by reason of the large number of sprouts sent up by each stump.

Each sprout, and they vary in number from several to scores, makes its demand on the soil for mineral and nitrogenous foods and thus the combined demand is far in excess of that made by the one parent stump.

Besides, as the leaves and twigs contain the bulk of the mineral salts found in a whole tree, it can be seen how, aside from numbers, the bushy young sprouts tend to exhaust the soil.

Second. It is generally recognized that to maintain the greatest possible production, forest soil must be protected from the drying effect of the sun.

On many of the slopes in the Highlands the soil is but a few inches deep or may consist of small pockets of earth which have collected between the outcropping rocks.

When soil of this nature is exposed to the direct rays of the sun, all leaf mold is consumed, the thin soil becomes baked, and a thick growth of weeds springs up which takes foods from the soil that should go to the tree and tends to choke out any young seedlings that would otherwise get started.

Third. In addition, clear cutting by greatly increasing the amount of brush adds to the risk of fires and to their severity, and since inferior species, such as black and chestnut oak, are more resistant and will stand a fire that will kill better trees, like chestnut, tulip and ash, the mixture tends to deteriorate.

The foregoing reasons will make it clear why the woodland in this region is scrubby and the growth is so poor. The next question is, how can this condition be improved so as to make every acre unsuitable for agriculture or pasture yield the most revenue.

METHODS OF REGENERATION

Three different methods can be outlined, depending on the condition of the stand and the means of the owners.

First. Planting. On badly damaged sites the best plan would be to clear cut and plant with conifers which make far less demand on the soil for food and moisture than do hardwoods and consequently can thrive on sites where hardwoods would be scrubby.

In this method advantage could be taken of the future sprouts for side shading as no more seedlings would have to be planted than would make a full crop at maturity.

This would involve an expenditure of from $8 to $12 per acre, depending on species chosen, work necessary to prepare site, number of plants used, etc. Second. Underplanting in Spots. This could be done where it is desired to introduce a mixture of soft woods in openings made by thinnings, and as before, sprouts and seedlings already started could be used to side shade the young trees planted. The cost would run from $2 to $6 per acre. Third. Improvement Thinning. The third method would be the one applicable to woodland whose owner wished to improve the mixture without tying up any money in his land.

The plan in this case would be to thin the stand as soon as the size of the sprouts makes it possible to use them as fuel.

In this thinning inferior species are cut out, groups containing a large number of sprouts thinned down to the two or three best, and crooked and defective trees removed. Thus light and ground room are provided for the trees to form the final crop, and much straighter and better timber will be produced and the growth will be much more rapid.

In addition, when the trees mature the seed that ialls will be of the selected species and gradually a new stand of seedling origin can be built up. This method requires no investment of capital but merely the exercising of a little care in the thinning.

FIRES

It goes without saying that the foregoing methods, or any method of tending woodland, in order to be successful, demands that fires must be kept out.

Woodland owners should realize that whether or not the sprouts are killed, the damage done by a forest fire is very great, as the fire seriously checks the growth, burns up the leaf mold and half rotted twigs which should serve as plant food, and renders the soil less capable of holding moisture and mineral salts in solution.

In forests of sprout origin the effect of fires is worse than in seedling stands, as a slight ground fire may cause punky stump to smoulder for days killing all of the sprouts which sprang from it and thus greatly reducing the final yield.

When owners of woodland and the public in general come to realize what an enormous loss a forest fire means, more care will be exercised and the yield from our woodland will be greatly increased.

Hon. JAMES S. WHIPPLE, Forest, Fish and Game Commissioner:

SIR. The work of this Division of the Forestry Department has doubled during the year. We are now operating five large nurseries, reforesting State land, advising private landowners; and have, during the year, supplied large quantities of planting stock to private owners, and carried on experimental work.

Tree Distribution

This year was the second in which this Commission sold trees to private landowners for reforesting purposes, and the amount sold indicates the demand and the possibilities of reforesting. In 1908, seven applicants purchased 25,100 trees, while in 1909, 179 persons bought 1,005,325 trees and