284 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



sibilities of this business can only be limited by the supply. According 

 to the United States census of 1870, the number of rakes, spades, shovels, 

 hoes and hay-forks made in that year was 8,347,478, and as the exporta- 

 tion of such implements is rapidly increasing, although still in its infancy, 

 it is evident that the value of ash will be greatly enhanced at no distant 

 day. It is also used in making ship-blocks, in turning, and in making 

 the oars of boats. For this purpose they are eagerly sought after by 

 foreign governments, as well as our own, and also by the great private 

 steamship companies, and the mercantile marine of this country. The 

 manufacture of oars is legitimately a seaboard industry, yet in pursuit of 

 material it was moved from Massachusetts, first to Maine, and thence to 

 Ohio and other Western States. Ash is coming into extensive use for 

 expensive furniture, and for the interior finish of houses. 



The wood of the sugar maple is largely used for making shoe lasts ; 

 2,500,000 pairs of lasts are consumed annually in Massachusetts alone, 

 which trade is greatly increasing. 



Speaking of the European larch, he says it has always been a favorite 

 for ornamental planting here, and has shown itself well adapted to our 

 climate. In the eastern part of the State, specimens in open situations 

 are abundant sixty feet high and five feet girth, three feet from the 

 ground. 



Mr. Sargent has estimated the profits on a plantation of ten acres of 

 European larch to last fifty years, and after deducting value of land, labor, 

 plants, interest on money on every investment, taxes fifty years, interest 

 on taxes, etc., after making large deductions for casualties, has estimated 

 the net profit at $50,282.75, or more than $5,000 per acre. 



Mr. ScoFiELD had also prepared some statistics of his groves, which 

 were, however, not read, but were, by vote of the Society, referred to the 

 Secretary for publication. 



This paper, as perfected by Mr. S., and forwarded to the Secretary, 

 is as follows : 



EXPERIMENTAL FOREST OF D. C. SCOFIELD, AT ELGIN. 



This forest was commenced in 1858, with imported and American 

 seedlings and seed. It stands on a rich, dry, undulating prairie ; the 

 soil, black loam, growing stiff and approximating clay at a depth of from 

 four to six feet, where it is underlaid with coarse gravel. 



It consisted of about twelve thousand trees when planted. I shall 

 note alike the successes and failures, and the manifest causes. 



More than half of the plants used were imported; the residue were 

 plants from our native forests, and seeds planted on my own ground. A 

 few trees were planted for ornament and shade in 1856 and 1857. Eight 

 thousand were used in the first plantation, in 1858 to 1862, and four 

 thousand in the second, in 1866. There were more of the larch used 

 than of any other variety, in both plantings. The plants, usually about 



