FOREST TREES. 217 



six or eight inches beneath the surface. In either case, the 

 plant had several roots to depend upon, in place of its single, 

 original tap root. In some cases, after it has grown in tlie place 

 where it is to remain for two or three years, it is cut down to 

 the ground ; it will then throw up vigorous shoots, and send 

 down perpendicular roots. All but the most promising of the 

 shoots may be carefully removed. This has been tried with 

 marked success by the Rev. Morrill Allen, of Pembroke, wlio 

 has paid much attention to the cultivation of the oak. 



The oaks are better fitted than almost any other trees, to 

 stand along the borders of cultivated fields ; because, where the 

 soil is deep enough to allow it, they send their roots to a consid- 

 erable depth, and thus disturb but slightly the growth of grasa 

 and other herbaceous plants and low shrubs. 



These extracts from Mr. Emerson's valuable " Report on the 

 Trees and Shrubs of Massachusetts," now out of print, contain 

 many important and valuable suggestions, worthy of the careful 

 consideration of many farmers in this Commonwealth, who pos- 

 sess waste and unimproved lands, be they rocky, gravelly, 

 sandy, or swampy, — no matter how sterile and unproductive, 

 according to Mr. Emerson's views, which are, now, more than 

 theoretical, for they have been confirmed by actual experiments 

 in various parts of the State, with different trees, and on a 

 variety of soils, thus making them, to some extent, a part of 

 the history of improved agriculture. Such lands may be made 

 valuable and productive plantations of the native, or foreign 

 species of forest trees. — Ed. 



PLYMOUTH. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



In the supervisor's report of last year, we were informed, that 

 although this society had for several years held out encourage- 

 ment for experiments in the propagation of forest trees, suitable 

 for ship-timber, yet no claim had ever been entered. Not many 

 years since a middle-aged man would hardly venture to plant an 

 orchard for himself, with any expectation of eating of its fruit — 

 so slow was the progress of human events, and so certain the 

 event which soon calls the husbandman away from his labors, 



28 



