G'oiiperative difficulties men tioned, however, could be overcome and the far mers' woodlands profitably devoted to log-timber production, if they were located together and man aged cooperatively under one plan. Such coOpera tire management by farmers exists in Europe ; it has the same advantages as any trust organization, and makes possible the conduct of forest-cropping in a business-like way under business conditions, and under direction of a competent manager. This would be impracticable for the individual owner.
Distinction between field and forest crops.—While the farmer is the cultivator of the soil and has this general calling in common with the forester, and hence may properly learn to manage his forest crop, he must realize that the farm crop and the forest crop have, after all, not very much in com mon, and he must appreciate the difference between the two, if he is to make a success of his woodlot management.
We have seen that, from the business point of view, the long time of development and the absence of a definite maturity indicating harvest time make an essential difference between field crops and forest crops. When to cut the timber crop is a matter of judgment and calculation, based on measurement. There are in every vocation of life those who conduct their business indifferently by the "hit or miss" method, without measuring or figuring; but, even if farming could be conducted by such a method, for a mistake in one year can be corrected the next, it is most detrimental in forest cropping. Mistakes often show themselves here only after many years, and can be corrected only once in a lifetime. Much more deliberation is advisable, and measuring and figuring are indispensable, if business success is desired in forest management.
Not less striking is the difference in the natural history of the two crops and, in consequence, of their treatment. This difference lies essentially in three directions: (1) the forest crop makes different demands for its development from the field crops ; (2) is not necessarily reproduced by cutting and replanting, as is usual with farm crops, although this may be done ; and (3) its development cannot be influenced to any extent as in farm crops, by the methods of fertilizing and cultivating the soil with which the farmer is familiar. By the mere mode of harvesting the old crop, the new crop can be produced, and almost alone by the use of the axe can its development be accelerated.
The most important condition which in these operations needs consideration is the light which is at the disposal of the different components of the crop. The timber crop, as a rule, is not of one kind, hut of different species in mixture which grow at different rates and make different demands for light; or, at least, it is of different-sized trees, and the question arises which of them to favor with additional light by removal of their neighbors. We see, then, that while the forest crop, like the wheat crop, consists of masses of the crop plant, unlike the wheat crop the single individual in the forest crop requires attention.
It is the manipulation of light conditions, also, that provides a desirable seed-bed, secures plentiful seed production, gives a satisfactory start, and influences the progress of the young crop.
The forest crop makes very little demand on the elements of plant-food in the soil, getting its carbon from the air and drawing on the soil chiefly for water. [This question is discussed in detail in the succeeding article.] Again, the farm crop is dependent on the weather, success or failure being a matter of the seasons of each year, and the opera tions of sowing, culti vating and harvest ing requiring prompt attention. The forest crop, although also dependent on the sea son, is never an entire failure, and, consisting of the accumulations of annual increments, averages up the good and the bad seasons in its final harvest.
There is also a greater lati tude as to the time when op erations in the forest crop may be performed. A few years' difference in making the desirable improvement cuttings does not entail heavy loss, and only when attention is required by the young crop may a few weeks or months of delay be detri mental. The harvesting may usually be done when con venient.
Finally, in the woodlot managed under coppice or under coppice with standards (that is, a coppice growth with a short rotation, with occasional trees [standards] which are given a longer rotation), which are the most suit able systems for a far mer's use, only a little knowledge and skill are required to make a success. As has been pointed out, a simple, judicious work ing plan, laid out once for all, is desirable with a crop which takes such a long time to mature, while in the farm crops changes from year to year may be desirable.