CHAPTER XX 
WOODLAND PROJECTS 
ON many farms, large or small, in humid regions and in dry 
prairie regions, woodland areas are often set apart for the growth 
of wood products for sale or for home use. In the prairie regions 
such an area is often started as a shelter belt of trees to form a 
windbreak from north, west, and southwest winds. In humid 
climates where native woods existed in advance of human settlers, 
trees grow more naturally. 
The choice of a plot for the woodland area in hilly regions may 
be a hillside rather too steep for cultivation or permanent pasture; 
the growth of timber on it will prevent washing even better than 
sod. Often a natural woodland area that could be cleared is 
reserved as a permanent woods. Rocky fields, gravelly soils or 
other poor lands are sometimes found to be fairly well suited, and 
better adapted, to the growth of timber than to any other form 
of agriculture. 
In attempting to decide the value of a woodland project it may 
be worth while to enumerate products which the woods may supply : 
Nuts and fruits, sugar and syrup, quinine, salicin, oils (sassafras, 
eucalyptus, beechnut and olive), matches, toothpicks, clothes pins, 
pencils, penholders, handles, baskets, spokes, veneer, shoe pegs, 
wooden dishes, wood alcohol, acetates, wood tar, potash, turpentine, 
resin, creosote, pitch, cork, tannic acid, charcoal, gum, lamp black, 
excelsior, lumber, posts, poles, ties, fuel, pulp, and many others 
that might be named. 
The home fuel supply, poles, posts, rails, and lumber are par- 
ticularly valuable for the farm. 
Trees for Planting.—Where old woods existed, new trees to 
fill their places may be needed. When new lots or fields are to be 
planted young trees must be secured. Forest nurseries are to 
be found in many states. Very young seedlings of the species 
desired may be bought by the thousands at low prices. Seedlings 
may be started early in the garden by collecting or buying seeds 
and planting them in rows, allowing room for cultivation. Most 
nut trees, the tulip tree, and others with tap roots should be trans- 
planted to the woodland while very young. Those with fibrous. 
shallow roots may be allowed to remain in the nursery until larger. 
29 
219