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FARM TI
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THIS FARMER PRACTICES SELECTIVE CUTTING

His Woodlands Are Kept Growing at the Maximum Rate and Producing
the Best-Paying Kinds of Timber

The owner of this farm woodland cuts a few trees ata time. Always
he has a good stand of thrifty trees growing on the land. These pro-
duce quality crops of timber which give him a continuous income
from his investment. The trees receive abundant light and moisture
and grow far more rapidly than they would if selective cutting were
not practiced. The products harvested include sawlogs, poles, piling,
pulpwood and fuel wood.

SELECTIVE CUTTING PAYS
(2)

HOW TO CUT SOUTHERN FARM TIMBER PROFITABLY 3

HOW TO CUT

SOUTHERN FARM TIMBER
FOR STEADY PROFIT

By Witsur R. Maroon, Extension Forester, Forest Service
New Markets for Southern Timber Call for Better Cutting Methods

‘Nie should southern farmers continue cutting their timber in
ways that materially reduce the income-producing capacity of
their farms?

New pulp and paper mills are being constructed in the South
with each passing year. New markets for wood are thus being created.
Continued existence of these mills depends upon a steady and con-
stant supply of pulpwood for many years. Therefore, wise land-
owners will plan to grow and harvest continuous crops of wood and
timber. When heavy cuttings are made, such as timber buyers have
commonly specified in the past, continuous and profitable production
is impossible.

Farmers have too long made the mistake of excessive cutting of
timber stands. Such practice is probably traceable to the days of
destructive and wasteful lumbering. Heavy cutting will greatly
reduce the annual farm income over a period of years. On the other
hand, through the application of selective cutting and other simple
forestry practices, which farmers will readily understand, the economic
benefits from timber-growing lands may be greatly increased and
extended.

Woodlands in the South may be kept permanently profitable.
Timber stands may be maintained and continuous crops marketed
when the following objectives are the basis of woods management:

1. Cut timber lightly and frequently—selective cutting.

2. Protect timber from fire and other injuries.

3. Improve the growing timber stand by wise cutting of the weaker
or less promising trees for pulpwood, stave blocks, posts to be treated
with wood preservative, or fuel wood.

4. Grow some quality timber products on the farm, such as poles,

piling, or sawlogs. These usually bring high prices that add up rapid-

ly when figured in the total farm income.

5. If pulpwood prices justify it, add pulpwood to the list of regular
farm crops and treat it as a regular and dependable source of annua!
cash income.

KEEP YOUR WOODLANDS IN CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION!

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Farm Timber Is Like Money in a Bank. Use Only the Interest, or
New Growth, and It Will Continue Paying Dividends

Trees are the capital in the farmer’s woodland bank. If the timber
is cut only to the extent that the growth has increased since the
previous cutting, the woods’ capital remains unimpaired and con-
tinues as a paying investment.

Thinnings, as shown in the above picture, can be made repeatedly
as the trees grow. Cuttings of this kind are favored by the pulp and
paper companies because they can be repeated every few years. Thus,
the total production of wood or raw material for the mills may be
greatly increased. The woodland will at the same time be producing
high-quality timber for the owner, such as poles, piling, and sawlogs.
Such quality timber brings good prices and will enable the owner to
profit from timber farming.

Compare the above picture with the one on the left. Here the
capital in the woods bank has been completely liquidated. There will
be little or no new growth, or interest, for many years. Good business
and common sense ¢all for a better method of handling farm woodlands.

DON‘T PERMIT
YOUR
FARM WOODLANDS
TO BE SKINNED!

Farm Timber Is Like Money in a Bank. Use Only the Interest, or
New Growth, and It Will Continue Paying Dividends

Trees are the capital in the farmer’s woodland bank. If the timber
is cut only to the extent that the growth has increased since the
previous cutting, the woods’ capital remains unimpaired and con-
tinues as a paying investment.

Thinnings, as shown in the above picture, can be made repeatedly
as the trees grow. Cuttings of this kind are favored by the pulp and
paper companies because they can be repeated every few years. Thus,
the total production of wood or raw material for the mills may be
greatly increased. The woodland will at the same time be producing
high-quality timber for the owner, such as poles, piling, and sawlogs.
Such quality timber brings good prices and will enable the owner to
profit from timber farming.

Compare the above picture with the one on the left. Here the
capital in the woods bank has been completely liquidated. There will
be little or no new growth, or interest, for many years. Good business
and common sense call for a better method of handling farm woodlands.

6 LEAFLET 153, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

IGROWTH 3 TIMES FASTER AFTER THINNING

BEFORE
THINNING

AFTER
THINNING

Trees in overcrowded stands grow slowly. Thinning them out pays
in the same manner as does thinning out cotton or corn. The cross-
section photograph shows a crowded pine tree that grew only 54 inches
in diameter in 29 years. But after the stand was thinned its growth
stepped up to an increase of 6; inches in diameter in only 15 years.
However, the wood volume produced was three times greater than before.

This pine stand has been repeatedly cut lightly for timber for sale
or home use. A full stand of young trees is now growing, indicating
good management. The high-grade saw-timber trees may be cut
very profitably. Timber is a perpetually renewable crop.

HOW TO CUT SOUTHERN FARM TIMBER PROFITABLY 7

YOUTH AND AGE

HEAR THE STORY OF GREATER
PROFITS IN FARM TIMBER

Forestry Club in the Woods

Growing youth is eager to learn. The rural citizens of tomorrow,
through their forestry clubs take a keen interest in instructions on how
timber fits into the farm program as a stabilizing factor and a good
paying investment. Later they will translate their knowledge of
timber farming into a more satisfying rural life.

Farmers at a Thinning Demonstration

These farmers have learned how to thin an overcrowded pine stand.
They have learned the advantages of growing a diversified crop of
timber, of including pulpwood, poles, piling, and sawlogs in the prod-
ucts to be secured from their woodlands, and of cutting repeated
harvests of trees in the process of successive thinning, all of which help
greatly in making a paying enterprise of timber farming.

CUT YOUR TIMBER CROP WISELY
GROW PULPWOOD, POLES, PILING, SAWLOGS

Fire has been kept out of these woodlands, and the owner has
repeatedly cut and sold woods products which he thinned from this
stand. Now he has a good crop of mature trees of high quality and
value. He has received dividends at regular intervals and now has
an appreciable capital investment intact—he has managed his timber-
land profitably.

eo
SIX HELPS IN SELECTIVE CUTTING

1. Select and mark each tree to be cut.

2. Cut low stumps.

3. Cut the tree into the most usable or best paying
product.

4. Avoid injuring the other trees.

5. Be careful with fire—it is the woods’ worst enemy.

6. Always leave plenty of trees as growing stock. They
are the capital in your woods bank.

For further information consult your county agricultural agent or write to your ex-
tension forester at the State college of agriculture, your State forester
at the State capital, or the Forest Service, United States
Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

Issued March 1938.
Slightly revised August 1938.

81976°—38 : U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1938

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