IQO MICaiGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



them. This means lots of hard work for experiment station, college, and 

 institute men for years to come along this one line but we believe that 

 the importance of the work amply justifies the effort and we hope that 

 at no very distant time the improvement of plants by the general grower 

 may be given equal attention with improved methods of tillage and the 

 maintenance of fertilitv. 



WHAT SHALL THE MICHIGAN FARMER GROW FOR FENCE 

 POSTS AND TELEGRAPH POLES? 



BY W. J, BEAL. 



As timber disappears in Michigan, one of the first things the owner of 

 land is likely to think about is, what are the most promising trees to grow 

 for fence posts. Steel is coming into use, but the chances are that the 

 farmer will always be glad to secure durable posts of wood, if they can 

 be had at reasonable prices. 



The kinds of trees native to Michigan that produce durable wood for 

 posts named approximately in the order of their durability are: — 



Red cedar, Bur oak, 



Mulberry, Blue ash. 



Chestnut, Black walnut, 



: White cedar, Tamarack, 



Swamp white oak, Hemlock, 



White oak, Black cherry. 

 Chestnut oak, 



The kinds not native, that in any region of the state promise to grow 

 well are the common locust and Catalpa speciosa, known as the hardy 

 catalpa, and possibly the Osage orange. 



The durability of wood, depends on a number of important points, 

 ■either one of which may be present or wanting in a certain post. 



Foi- the best service, any post should be sound and thoroughly seasoned 

 Ix'fore it is set in the ground. The lower cut next to the stump, if sound 

 will last longer than any other in the tree. Of course every one knows 

 that the heart wood will outlast sap wood, as it contains less nutritious 

 substance or nitrogenous and starchy matters. A heart stick from the 

 lower part of a white oak will often last three times as long as one from 

 near tlie lower limbs of a tall tree. For some one or more reasons we 

 should naturally cull out or reject as not best to be grown for posts, most 

 of the species above named. Hemlock, blue ash, white cedar, red cedar 

 would fall in this list, as they grow very slowly. 



We are looking for trees that can be grown with a good degree of cer- 

 tainty on a variety of soils, and that will grow rapidly and of good shape, 

 and if the wood be not heavy all the better for many purposes. Of all 

 the trees that I have seen grown in cultivation in this state, for fence 

 posts. I now look Avith most favor on (he chestnut and the common locust, 

 and possibly hardy catalpa. T'nder favorable conditions these all grow 

 rapiilly, and the timber of each is very durable when exi)Osed to moisture 



