STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. I 25 



The inconveniences :uul physical evils attending a destitution of 

 woodland, can only be prevented by appropriating a certain proportion ot 

 each farm to the growth of forest trees. There is reason to believe that if 

 one-fifth of each farm on the prairies were planted ^vith trees, the 

 owners would dcri\e far greater advantage from them, than if they were 

 to remain in their present state. 



Tall, straight, clean timber is founil only in dense woods, and to 

 produce such in plantations, the trees must be thickly grown while young. 

 Lands designed for timber-planting, if tillable, shoukl be well ploughed 

 and harrowed, and marked out in rows four feet apart, for the reception 

 of the seeds or voung trees. Seeds of the diflcrent classes of trees 

 require somewhat dillerent treatment. 



Undoubtedly the most important class of deciduous trees in our country 

 is that of the Cupuliferae, or cup bearing trees, which includes the Oaks, 

 the Chestnut, and the Beech. 



The most valuable species of this class are. the white-oak, burr-oak, 

 swatnp white-oak, post-oak, and chestnut. The seeds should be gathered 

 as soon as ripe, mixed with damjj sand before they become dry, packed 

 in boxes, put in a cool place on the north side of a building or fence, and 

 covered with earth ; securing them against access by rats or mice. In 

 spring they should be planted as early as possible, one foot apart in the 

 rows. The seeds of the oaks should be planted where the ti^ees are to 

 remain, as they ai'c injured l)y being transplanted. 



The young plants should receive clean culture until they are too large 

 to be smothered by weeds. If they are to be removed it is best to sow 

 in seed-beds and transplant when one, or at most, two years old. The 

 chestnut is sometimes killed to the ground the fix'st winter in northern 

 Illinois. This should be guarded against by ridging up the rows with a 

 plough, late in autumn, or by covering with litter. It is rarely, if ever 

 injured by cokl after the first winter. 



Among the oaks of Illinois, the white-oak, (^uercus a/l>a), is unques- 

 tionably the most useful, and is also diflused in the greatest abundance 

 over the country. Its multiplied uses are well known; where strength, 

 solidity and durability are required, it is employed in preference to almost 

 any other tree. Its preservation and propagation is therefore a matter of 

 great importance. There are in this State many tracts of broken land, 

 mostly in the vicinity of the streams, which are covered with young trees, 

 principally oak, that only need preservation to become in time valuable 

 timber. 



The burr-oak, (.ii>. i>iacrocarj)a)^ appears to be a stranger to the 

 Atlantic States. It grows in richer soils than the white-oak, and its wood 

 for most purposes is equally valuable. It is more durable when used for 

 posts, but its pores are more open, so that it is not used for casks intended 

 to contain liquors. 



The swamp white-oak, {^. primis, var. discolor)^ is found mostly in 

 low, moist lands. Its wood resembles that of the white-oak, and is by 

 some considered equally valuable, but is much less common. 



The post-oak, (^. obtusilobci)^ is common in central and southern 



