ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIF.TY. 247 



The vix^i amount of timber products annually consumed is really 

 beyond our comprehension, though we may make and write in figures 

 approximate estimates. Enormous as the quantity is at present, there 

 is good reason to believe it must rapidly increase. Much of the territory 

 of the Eastern States which but recently had a supply for home use and 

 even for export, is dependent upon other localities, until our region of 

 country from which timber is being cut to supply our market, is rapidly 

 being contracted in its limits. 



Every year adds to convictions of the importance and imperative 

 necessity of engaging our jjeople in this work, and wc- should really be 

 thankful for severe winters with terrific gales of chilling winds; these 

 keen, arguments may fall with telling effect upon our j^eople, aiding 

 us in arousing them iri the name of hiunanity to now begin to plant 

 timber. 



Present low prices of farm products, with prices of lumber not ma- 

 terially lessened, may heljj to turn attention to growing forests, where 

 returns for our labors are seemingly certain to be remunerative. 



Several of the citizens of Bureau county engaged for a long time in 

 stock'feeding by which thcv have accumulated ;unple fortunes, have be- 

 gun planting forests of f^uropean Larcli mi theii prairie homes, though 

 they own a surplus of timber 



They are among our most cautious men and are confident ot its 

 proving to be a good investment 



It will probably maintain its present position as the leading variety 

 for general planting. It was my mtention to have brought a specimen 

 tree ovei forty feet in height, but want of sleighing prevented takmg it 

 twelve miles to railroad conveniently. 



The more I see of its symmetrical rapid growth, the more does it 

 commend itself to admiration. 



We are all aware that where small sap-wood of it, when green, has 

 been planted in the ground, it has (as any schoolboy should have been 

 able to predict ihat this or any other variety of tree would,) very soon 

 rotted. 



The Black Locust is well known as a durable timber ; yet under 

 similar circumstances it rots veiy soon, as I have repeatedly proved. 



It is well to advise early plantmg, before trees begin their growth 

 in spring. 



From my own experience, would advise fall jilanting, where a large 

 amount of it is to be done and plants two feet or more in height are 

 used. It would be best to turn a furrow to the trees to prevent their 

 heaving out or other injury by frost. This can be leveled down in cul- 

 tivating, with no extra labor. 



White Pine, Scotch Pine, and Norway Spruce have been planted to 

 the extent of six acres, and are highly prized for either timber or shelter 

 belts. 



American Arbor-Vitae succeeds finely on wet soils and Ked Cedar 

 on dry ones. 



