Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 284, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 November 1919 — Modem Forestry Turns Against Word “Woodlot” in Professional Lingo [ARTICLE]

Modem Forestry Turns Against Word “Woodlot” in Professional Lingo

Forestry is a new science, comparatively speaking, and so it is not surprising that its leading exponents ha ve just reached the point of perfecting the language in, which Its work is expressed Every profession has its peculiar vocabulary; in some cases the “lingo" is the most impressive feature of the profession. One of the first steps taken tn elevating and dignifying the language of forestry is the banishment of the good old word “woodlot,” says the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. It was more in use in New England than anywhere else and possessed a dlgtinetjrn.ffgßlPg. There that was well understood by the natives. One?forestry expert says that “woodlot” does not mean anything in sections Of the country where a tract of forest may embrace thousands of acres. “We have nothing in the West,” says Professor Cheney of the University..f Minnesota, “that corresponds to this eastern expression." It is quite possible, however, that the real secret of the offensiveness of the word to professional ears is better explained by State Forester Holmes of North Carolina, who boldly declares that “to me ‘woodlot forestry’ sounds perfectly ridiculous.” So it has been decreed that “woodlot” cannot be tolerated ip learned society. Removing it from the common speech of New England is another matter.