308 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



succession, when here is a branch of business which all who investigate 

 are satisfied is to yield certain remunerative profits, not liable, as ordi- 

 nary products are, to serious depression in prices at times, with no 

 possible danger — as there is in many departments — of over production. 

 Some who have been in the nursery business within the past century may 

 have a realizing sense of the state of things above alluded to, and would 

 fain have some of their acres now growing up to timber — planted in Euro- 

 pean Larch, rather than grafted Apple trees. 



The numerous small beginnings which have been made in planting 

 timber on the prairies are satisfactory (if we except Black Locust and 

 Lombardy Poplar), and are inducing a gradually increasing attention to 

 the subject. 



The abundant supply, so cheaply furnished in our markets, serves to 

 satisfy the mass of prairie farmers of our State as an excuse for neglecting 

 to take a part in performing this duty we owe to posterity. Being farther 

 removed from our common source of supply, the States of Iowa, Kansas 

 and Nebraska are setting us a worthy example ; their settlers upon the 

 prairie generally engage at once in timber-planting, as extensively as 

 possible. The only instance of planting in Illinois on a large scale, known 

 to me, is the three hundred acre piece of cheap land at Waukegan, the 

 planting of which was commenced last fall by Robert Douglas and sons. 

 This seems like the dawning of a new era for those who have ever felt the 

 importance of immediate general planting. Let us hope that the little 

 we have of waste iprairie land will soon be set to timber — the most profit- 

 able use to which it can be put. 



By a judicious selection of varieties of trees adapted to the soils to 

 be planted, capitalists can realize satisfactory dividends, while operating 

 in the interest of the people. 



Let our prairie farmers plant European Larch to meet the prospective 

 demand for railroad ties, and in a few years it will prove to be a move- 

 ment which will return to them liberally of the gains hoarded by railroad 

 monopolists. 



Besides European Larch, the White Pine, Scotch Pine, White Ash, 

 Black Walnut, Butternut and the Oaks, are valuable for growing on dry 

 soils. Swampy lands can be profitably planted to White Willow, Arbor 

 Vitae, the Spruces, Black Ash and Silver Maple. 



In planting for timber always set close, not over four by four feet at 

 farthest, and a less distance in many instances is to be recommended. 



White Willow, set two by four feet, would pay all cost ; for at the 

 first thinning the one-half cut out can be used for hoops and slats in 

 baling hay. It has proved suitable for use in hooping large boxes of trees 

 from nursery. 



It is currently reported in our newspapers that eastern capitalists are 

 buying up Illinois coal lands. Should this prove true, who can predict 

 how long it will be before the price of coal will be doubled, as it has been 

 within a dozen years in Great Britain ? 



Let us who are deeply impressed with the necessity of immediate ex- 

 tensive plantings, emulate, so far as in our power, the noble example set 



