Financially, it may be argued, that the contracting away of stumpage at present market prices for fifteen years is unsound, as a rise in value is likely to occur. Such rise, to be sure, is not likely to occur in cordwood which is actually the more important item, whether considered in its gross or net amount. For spruce and other softwoods the contract price runs only for seven years, then to be readjusted according to prevailing market rates. A private owner, managing his own property for what he can make out of it, could very well take the risks and advantages of a varying market, such as a public institution, from which a continuity of performance as a demonstration is expected, could not take. This practical consideration alone made it desirable to settle the market question, for the bulk of the crop at least, at once for the entire period of the management of the College Forest, even at a possible financial disadvantage. Moreover, to secure a market where none existed at all could only be accomplished by offering sufficient inducements for manufacturers to establish their costly plants.

First Logging Operations.

The final contract was concluded in July, with the location of the factories at Tupper Lake. The laying out of the railroad was at once begun by the manufacturer, and the construction of somewhat over four miles was completed by December 15th. A spur of somewhat over one and one-quarter miles was built by the College, and has been finished, all but the laying of rails, which was prevented by the delay in the construction of the main line and by the unusual snowfall in December. It is, however, expected to have the road in operation in early spring for hauling logs to the stave factory, now being built, and transporting cordwood to the alcohol distillery, and other materials to market.

Logging operations were begun early in July, at first confined to a sample cutting to gain an insight into methods and results. This sample cutting, which had been planned for an earlier date, but was delayed, owing to an unfavorable season and for other reasons, is of sufficient interest to deserve further discussion later in this report. By the 15th of September, logging was in full operation, with a crew varying from thirty to sixty men. At present a crew of 80 men, in addition to the cordwood cutters are at work.

Owing to the long, open fall season and the consequent continuance of work in mills, labor for the woods was scarce in the beginning of the felling season, and the unusual heavy snowfall in December upon

unfrozen ground, such as has not been known for the last nine years at least, has impeded the work greatly.

The cordwood is being cut by a contractor, but the felling of trees, cutting and skidding of logs is done on our own account. This course was pursued because the care which it is necessary to apply in felling trees, so as to save the young volunteer growth of spruce could not have been secured from a contractor, no matter what rules and regulations might be prescribed and supervision exercised. Such care involves expense and the contractor, whose interest is only financial, is naturally averse to exercising it conscientiously. On the other hand, pride in the achievement and interest in the result stimulates a good foreman to exercise constant vigilance and judgment, and his crew to understand the objects of the care and to help secure them. The College management has been successful in securing the services of such a foreman and crew. While such logging with care is more expensive than the rough and tumble slashing without care for future condition of the ground, the cost of it promises to remain within the limits which responsible contractors had set, including their profits. Another argument for preferring, for the present at least, the day work under a good foreman is that forestry work of various kinds beside logging is to be done, and requires skilled labor, and hence it is desirable to have a permanent crew throughout the year and from year to year, especially where, as in the Adirondacks, no local labor can be relied upon. The contract system, while much more convenient from the administrative point of view, is not satisfactory where care and interest in the work is needed.

The financial limitations pointed out before have necessitated concentration of the logging operation, which will require the cutting over of five hundred to six hundred acres. The trees to be cut are marked by the forest manager and his assistants. Various degrees of severity in the cut were attempted, special consideration being given to the existence of young spruce growth. The first area attacked (compartments K 4, 5 and 6) had been swept by fire some years before, by which not only all the youngest spruces had been killed, but many of the younger hardwood trees had been injured to such an extent that they could not be expected to grow into good trees. Here only a small number of trees are left, and resort to artificial reforestation is necessary. In other parts a larger proportion of hardwood trees have been left with the spruce, so as to reduce the need of artificial help. It is expected that about fifty per cent. of the area cut over this year will have to be planted. Such planting will be done mainly with White Pine and Norway Spruce, using both plants and seeds, and adding elm and ash together with a few other species. Other

methods of cutting, like the strip method, are also contemplated as soon as the question of economic transportation from a larger territory, which will permit distribution of felling areas, is solved.

One of the expected results of the severe opening this year, namely damage from windfall to the left-over trees, was experienced at once; a number of the few old trees-not many were left-and of the taller polewood were thrown in two severe gales. One of these gales was a most unusual tornado (December 2), which broke and threw timber in the dense forest as well as in the cut areas, so that this year's experience is not an entirely satisfactory demonstration as to the number and sizes of trees that may be expected to be thrown when so exposed. Another loss, which must be expected and will this year, with the wet December snow, be more severe than ordinarily, is that from snow pressure, which has broken many trees both in the dense forest and in the open.

The cordwood cutter works up most of the debris, yet there is still a large amount left, which it is desirable to get rid of. It is still hoped to reduce this waste by marketing the brush down to one inch diameter, when the rest may be left to rot. Otherwise burning may become necessary, to avoid danger from fire and permit planting with ease. A trial made in burning brush in the fall season proved altogether too expensive. This burning should be done when the snow is on the ground in early winter or spring. The heavy snows in this direction, too, were a hindrance.

Forest Fires.

The first summer, 1899, was full of trouble with forest fires-it was the driest summer known in twelve years-the summer of 1900 had no such terrors, having been the wettest for six years.

During the preceding winter, fire lines were opened along the west and east boundaries of the Wawbeek district to a width of two rods. Such fire lines, however, to be effective, must be properly cleared and sowed to grass, and then kept in proper condition. All this entails expense, and finally these openings offer only a basis for defence against a fire under headway. While their usefulness may not be denied, the probability is that the same expenditure for watchmen during the dangerous season will secure greater immunity or protection, especially in a district in which such watchmen can be occupied on other work when not engaged in watching. These fire lines will be put in proper shape for demonstration mainly.

With the logging operations, especially in concentrated location, the danger from fires necessarily grows, and only care in keeping out fire and people, careless with fire-constant watchfulness—promises

success.

A SAMPLE FELLING-YIELD OF ADIRONDACK

HARDWOODS.

For

An investigation of practical interest to every hardwood logger in the Adirondacks was made in connection with a sample felling. this purpose twenty-six acres were selected, representing average conditions of hardwood forest, from which the pine and spruce had been culled previously, situated on a gentle slope with southern aspect. The area had served the purpose of a thesis for graduation of one of the students of the College and to that end the timber had been both carefully estimated and measured, and the trees to be cut had been marked under instructions to remove all trees over twelve inches diameter unless clearly needed for seed trees.

The tract was afterward cut without reference to this restriction and to the marking, as it was found that most of the trees left were damaged by previous fires and rotting; so that a larger number of these was taken and the final result was an almost entire removal of the hardwoods, only the spruce polewood and younger trees and some sound hardwood trees being saved as far as practicable. The composition of the stand will appear from the subjoined table.

It will be seen that the whole forest is poorly stocked, especially in younger trees. The polewood is but poorly represented and seedlings or trees of the thicket stage are almost entirely absent; especially the younger hardwoods are not abundant and in most cases defective, damaged by surface fires and decay having started at the