Farm Woodlots

Farm Woodlots By William Peterson. Director U. A. C. Experiment Station and Extension Service When the farms of Utah were first settled, there was generally quite an abund- ance of wood, fence posts, and other needed material close at hand. For the past 50 years, this material has been fut con- stantly, and very little phnting done to take its place. That farmer who had the foresight, ten to fifteen years ago, to plant a woodlot of hardwood trees on his farm is especially fortunate. The regret- table thing is that there are only few woodlots comparable to the number of farms. If woodlots are planted now, look- ing ahead ten or twenty years, it means that the farm will be more inclusive and more self-supporting. In addition to planting a woodlot. trees in great numbers could be planted along canals, laterals, and fence lines. Much of this has been done. When the barren valleys of the state were first settled, it was so desirous to have trees that were attractive and trees that would give shade that little thought was given to the type of wood the tree might pro- duce, the only thought being to have something that would be satisfactory as a relief from the heat of the summer sun. This experience should teadh that the trees that are to be planted in the state, if they arc going to give returns, should be of the better woods. One farmer, unusually aggressive and with a splendid vision, planted a row of trees around a 60-acrc plat. More than 400 trees were used in this planting. These trees are now approximately 30 years old. The planting was entirely of Lom- bardy poplars. Thirty years approaches the average life pf a Lombardy. Some of these trees are dying and have to be removed each year. During years past, they have been spoken of as an asset and have made a beauty spot out of the farm which they have surrounded. From a financial viewpoint, however, these trees are now at the age where they can be considered as a liability of $10 each, and all will have to be removed within the next 10 or 15 years. This is a liability of $3000 or $4000 against the farm. The timber has no return value and it is dif- ficult to get a tree taken down for the wood. Had these same trees been hard- woods, they could have rendered a better service, and, at the same age, would have been considered an asset of probably $20 a tree. So, while this farm has had the attractions and beauty developed from such planting, a great opportunity has been lost in not planting trees of better quality. There is a big margin in the final value. This is cited only as an appeal to the farmers to plant trees of wood which will render a real service as fencing and build- ing imaterial in connection with the farm. There are many trees that will grow with little water. Such trees could be used in great numbers on every farm in the state. Honey locust trees were planted on the experimental farm on the Levan Ridge, in Juab county, some 13 or 14 years ago. These trees had a few buckets of water carried to them when they were planted. Since that time they have never been watered. They have grown to be fine trees and add much attractiveness, in the way of beauty and shade, to the place. Several counties in the state are handi- capped for want of shady groves where picnics and parties may be held in the heat of the summer. Good woodlots will serve the purpose and render a real service to the community and, at the same time, develop a Spirit of neighborliness and so- ciability which cannot be measured in dollars. Every farmer should think seriously of how he might plant more trees on his farm that will be of definite future use. The Utah Agricultural College plans to take advantage, during the coming year, of the Clarke-McNary Act, and be the agent through which the trees might be distrib- uted at cost to the farmers in the state. The U. S. Forest Service, the Utah Agri- cultural College, and other agencies will gladly help any farmer to select the type of trees which will best serve his future needs.