46 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



pruned, so that, in time, you will have just trees enough to 

 occupy the ground ; and ihey will grow forty, or fifty, or a 

 hundred feet high. Another tree, which is a suitable one 

 for such planting, is the white birch, — a tree that, for certain 

 localities, it seems to me, is not. sufficiently appreciated. I 

 remember a white-birch growth of some twenty acres, from 

 which I have sold the wood twice within twenty years, 

 which paid well. 



Question. What will that bring a cord in Newton ? 



Mr. Hyde. It will bring in Newton five dollars a cord, 

 cut and carted. 



Question. How many cords to an acre were there in 

 twenty years ? 



Mr. Hyde. From twelve to fifteen. In some instances I 

 have known it to run as high as eighteen. 



Question. One of my friends here wants to know if you 

 mean the gray birch, or white birch. 



Mr. Hyde. I mean the white birch, that grows from 

 twenty-five to thirty feet high in about fifteen or sixteen 

 years. 



Mr. . One of my old neighbors says there are not 



more than eighteen of these trees in Southborough. 



Mr. Hyde. Well, there ought to be more, if there is any 

 poor laud here. I want to have you distinguish as to the 

 right kind of birch. There is what is called " canoe " or 

 "river birch: " that does not grow very well in this part of 

 Massachusetts. In fact, I doubt if it grows anj^where in 

 Massachusetts. Does it ? 



Mt. Robinson. Not extensively, sir. It grows in Con- 

 necticut. What we call "white birch" is called "gray 

 birch " in various parts of the State. 



Question. How large will it grow ? 



Mr. Hyde. I have seen it five or seven inches in diame- 

 ter, and from twenty-five to thirty feet high. But I have 

 heard it said it is poor wood. I will tell you how it will 

 turn out poor. Cut it down, cord it, and leave it out-doors. 

 Then, if it is not poor enough, I will lose my guess. But 

 that is not the right way to proceed. You should cut your 

 wood, split it, and then house it. I used only white birch for 

 fuel for several years, and it was very satisfactory. I have 

 seen these trees grow until they have produced fifteen or 



