142 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



7-8 EDWARD V>II., A. 1908 



anotLier until those which have to be removed first are large enough to supply a fair 

 amount of fuel. At the same time and keeping this in view, he should choose as far 

 ,as possible those trees which will give him the best fuel and the best wood for other 

 purposes. 



The simplest method of planting would be to use white pine, Scotch pine, and 

 ITorway spruce, either in blocks by themselves or mixed together. These three trees 

 all grow rapidly, shade the ground quickly, will not destroy one another for a long 

 time and are all useful for timber. Although making considerable fuel in a short 

 time, they are relatively poor for this purpose, hence some other kinds should be grown 

 with them. 



In oiar experience the canoe birch, European white birch, American elm, and 

 European larch make a large amount of wood during the first twenty years, and are 

 among the most useful for fuel at this stage. They shoot up very rapidly and getting 

 a fair supply of light make a good trunk development. Being thin-foliaged, these 

 trees do not destroy other kinds that have not grown so rapidly. The European white 

 Birch begins to fail and dies at Ottawa at from sixteen to twenty years of age, hence 

 will be rem.oved naturally if not needed for fuel. Individual specimens of Black 

 locust which have done well have probably made as m.uch wood as birch or elm, but 

 they are so subject to borers and siicker so badly that from our experience we should 

 not recommend them for the farmer's plantation. 



Basswood is a rapid gTower, but was not planted in such a way that we can jiidge 

 of its usefulness in the farm wood lot. 



The trees just mentioned as giving a large amount of fuel early in the history of 

 the forest plantation may be mixed with the white pine, Norway spruce, and Scotch 

 pine, the latter with their denser foliage shading the ground well and killing the side 

 branches of the trees planted for fuel. 



To the species already described it is now necessary to add others which will 

 supply good fuel later on and v.-ill furnish wood for other purposes. 



For fuel we should suggest the hard maple and red oak. The former does not 

 grow as rapidly as any of the trees already mentioned and for the first twenty years 

 will have to endure considerable shade, which it is capable of doing. The red oak 

 has grown rapidly at Ottawa and has held its own with all the species mentionedr. 

 Wliile the wood is not considered very valuable for working, it stands fairly high in 

 fuel value. 



To the foregoing trees m.ust now be added other species, the wood of which is both 

 high in fuel value and otherwise generally useful for many purposes. The white ash 

 is a rapid grov/ing tree and is very valuable for fuel and for many other purpoaafs 

 and is esi>ecially useful to the farmer, as parts of many tools, implements, &c., are 

 made from it. Twenty years after planting it will be large enough to use in various 

 waySj and' as it grows older is increasingly valuable. 



A few trees of white or bur oak should be in the farmer's plantation, these trees 

 endure shade fairly well and if the planting is planned so that they will get a chance 

 to develop after a few years they will eventually be among the most valuable trees in 

 the plantation. ' , 



Black .walnut is a good tree where there is thick planting as it shoots up rapidly 

 and as it is a light-needing tree, the side branches which do not get it will die, thus 

 ensuring a clean trunk. Only a few trees are necessary in the plantation as it will be 

 a long time before they will be very useful. 



By judiciously mixing the trees which have been mentioned the farmer may have 

 a supply of fuel and wood for lumiber and otheV purposes with little labour in the 

 production of \t. 



In planting trees we should, from our experience, plant those which are to remain 

 a long tinie. such as the pines, hard maple, oak, and walnut, at least ten feet apart 

 with others between them. 



In the Prairie Provinces the box elder or Manitoba maple is used largely in tree 

 plantations. Our experience has been that being a very rapid grov/er during the 



