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The Federated Women‘s Institutes of Canada. their last biennial convention. decided that eir major project for the nest few years ,ould be the conservation of soil and food. , e FWIC President, Mrs, Hugh Summers of ’anthill, Ontario, speaking at the F‘WIO 0fâ€" cers' Conference at Guelph last spring, ressed the point that rural women could do methi-ng very practical about this problem. hen there is erosion or soil drilling on your n farm". Mrs. Summers said. “you know ere are plots that should be planted to trees find you use pressure to see that this is done. ' the some interest should. extend. to conserva- O'n nationally.” We remember: too. that the _W10 had something to say along this line in e brief they presented to the Ontario Con- rvation Commission. With these things in ind, we quote here an extract from the book- t, "The Farm Woodlot." by l. C. Merritt, , .SciF” published by the Ontario Department f Lands and Forests. We believe it would ake a good subject for discussion at cm Insti- te meeting or in any form homeâ€"Editor. HERE are many important reasons why woodlots should be preserved on Ontario farms as it is acknowledged that they a benefit not only to the individual farmer, to the community and the province at , 8. Some of these reasons are of such im- tance that there will be disastrous results eforestation is carried too far. In the con- red opinion of leading authorities who e spent years of study on conservation and allied problems, at least ten to twenty per t of any agricultural section of land should supporting forest growth or woodland. n the figures of assessment of Ontario icipalities it is found that many townships 'e in excess of ninety per cent cleared land quite a number have ninety-five per cent red. The proportion of woodland in many icultural sections, therefore, may be con- red to be insufficient to maintain the best ditions for agricultural endeavour, accord- to the standards required to prevent the es sustained from drought, floods and . pests. “It has been observed that a community In a good proportion of wooded hills and est growth is not subject to damage by M 74 ds of high velocity and extreme floods, as experienced by the open farm sections 1ch do not have the protection that woodâ€" ds provide to offset these climatic condi- 5. mi efit to a community in actual dollars and 4! ts, but it will be seen that the preservaâ€" w and establishment of additional tree .. wth will bring about better growing condi- for all agricultural crops. 'A direct monetary return, however, is re- - 'uved from the sale of products of the wood- . under systematic management, and these A: efits are given below together with the ‘It is impOSSible to appraise the amount of ' nservation Projectâ€"The Farm Woodlot other points to be considered when placing a value on the woodlot. “1. FUELWOOD AND LUMBER. The woodloi provides necessities. The farmer re~ quires fuel to heat his house, lumber for build‘ ings, implement parts and small tools, and fence posts. These, if purchased, require cash that could be used to advantage in obtaining other farm requisites. Many maintain that a woucllot is worth from $5000 to $100.00 per year as fuel. "2. CASH RETURNS. There is a market for logs and fuelwood in all localities, and the production of maple syrup has provided an income to many owners since colonization days. “3. VALUE OF FARM. The farm with a woodlot brings a higher price than one with the entire acreage cleared. "4, INSURANCE. The farmer with a large woodlot, twenty to one hundred acres, may consider it in the same category as an insur- ance policy, as more wood is grown than is required on the farm. This surplus may be drawn on when there is a failure of other crops, to tide over a depression, to build new buildings, or purchase additional property. "5. CROP FOR SUB-MARGINAL LANDS. Trees will grow well on light sand, shallow and swamp soils These soils are often of little value for cropping and pasture, and conseâ€" quently are a drag on the owner and comâ€" munity if not utilized in growing timber. “6. TREES PREVENT the erosion of soils by both Wind and water. There are in Ontario many sand dunes and eroded hillsides that would not exist today if these areas had been allowed to retain their forest cover. “7. WINDBREAKS. Woodland protects cul- lContinued on outside back cover) Colpoy’s Boy insliiule in North Bruce has taken good care of the oak Iree grown from on acorn sent from England at the lime of the coronation of King George VI. 15