FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 45 



We detei'mineJ to take advantage of the opportunity afforded us to begin the 

 experiments which will be necessary to discover the best means of re-foresting. 

 So, although many species are available, we decided that white pine and spruce 

 were the most readily obtainable, and upon application to Dr. B. E. Fernow, 

 director of the New York State College of Forestry, he kindly sent us 500 white 

 pine and 500 spruce seedlings. These were three years old, and were raised upon 

 the experimental grounds of the college, which are situated at Axton, in Franklin 

 County. 



The seedlings, which were from 6 inches to 12 inches long, came by express, 

 nicely packed in bundles, with damp moss and green balsam boughs around them, 

 and appeared to be in good condition. 



The history of the seedlings is given by Mr. Edward Hagger, forest manager 

 for the New York State College of Forestry, as follows : 



They are Norway spruce {Picea cxcelsd) and white pine (Pimis strobus) raised 

 from seed planted in the nursery of Heins Sohne Holstenbeck, Holstein, Germany, 

 in the spring of i8g8 ; one year in the seed bed and two years transplanted. 

 Shipped to Axton in the spring of igoi, and were one month in transit. Arrived in 

 good condition and were considered e.xtra good selected stock. They were raised 

 in a sandy soil, almost of the character of a loamy sand. 



In selecting a place to plant we had two points in mind : First. To secure a 

 place which would fairly represent the average soil conditions of the mountains, and 

 places which had been burnt, so that if our plantation grew and showed a favorable 

 development, the result would have a bearing on the selection of other places. 



Second. A prominent location was also desirable in order that this plantation 

 might serve as an object lesson, and create a greater interest in the preservation of 

 the forests in that region. 



The site selected for the plantation was upon the northerly end of the top of 

 Simpson's plateau, a spur of the Wittenburg mountain, between Woodland valley 

 and Cross Mountain streams, having an elevation of 2,250 feet above ocean level, 

 and 1,100 feet above the adjacent valley. It can be seen from the turnpike iri 

 the Esopus valley. It lies partly upon the flatter slope of the top and partl_\- on 

 the precipitous northerly sloj^e. The slope of the whole hill is very steep, with 

 numerous vertical ledges and narrow intervening shelves whicli retain the small 

 amount of remaining soil. 



It was covered originally with a thick growth of large hemlocks \\ hich were cut 

 about fifl\- years ago, since which time tire has run over it repeatedly. The pri'sent 

 imperfect covering consists of a tangle of pin cherry, hard maple, soft m.qjle. reti 



