ARBORICULTURE 



73 



There is a practical way for your so- 

 ciety to bring about actual results, which 

 is to procure seeds and plants for distri- 

 bution, and to use the influence of the 

 press and of individuals to induce the 

 law-making powers to render such ma- 

 terial assistance as- will make this work 

 possible. 



One farmer cannot change New Eng- 

 land forest conditions. It must be ac- 

 complished by a combined and systematic 

 effort upon the part of all citizens, sup- 

 ported by the authority of the state. 



Whatever may be expended wisely in 

 this direction will return to the common- 

 wealth in added wealth for taxation, raw 

 materials for manufacturers and continu- 

 ous employment for labor. 



During the early part of the last cen- 

 tury the United States Government di- 

 rected its representatives in all foreign 

 lands to collect, purchase and forward to 

 this country such seeds and plants as 

 would seem- to give promise of success 

 in America, and of which nature had 

 failed to plant on this continent. 



And thus in addition tO' the profuse 

 supply of trees, cereals, forage plants and 

 veg"etables which the new world pos- 

 sessed, we added many thousands of 

 plants from every portion of the globe. 



The Gingko from Japan, Eucalyptus 

 from Australia, and a large list of the 

 most valued trees, were transplanted to 

 new soil, a changed climate, and entirely 

 novel conditions. 



True, the statesmanship which directed 

 this purchase and dissemination of new 

 and rare seeds has in recent years degen- 

 erated and the politician must make his 

 calling and election sure by supplying his 

 constituency with turnip seed, which can 

 be bought for a penny at any country 

 grocery store, but in this you have a 



NOTE. 



Within a mile of the Worcester Horti- 

 •cultural Hall, where the meeting was 

 held, are many fine black walnut trees, 

 one, of sufficient importance to l>e noticed 

 in "Transactions of Worcester County 

 Horticultural Society, 1892," page 67, 

 was at that time eight feet eight inches 

 girth two feet from ground, seven feet 

 ten inches girth at five feet from ground, 

 and 75 feet high. It is still standing. 



precedent, which Massachusetts well may 

 follow. 



Fifty thousand dollars expended in col- 

 lecting and distributing nuts, seeds and 

 small forest trees would go far toward 

 the reforestation of thousands of acres 

 which are now almost a valueless waste, 

 laying the substantial foundation for a 

 greatly increased income in taxation as 

 these lands become quadrupled in value. 



One great nursery in the West ofifers 

 white pine trees 10 to 12 inches high at 

 eight dollars per thousand. 



Other nurseries will supply Catalpa 

 speciosa at about the same price. 



Walnuts may be bought, if spoken for 

 earlv in the season, at a dollar per" bar- 

 rel. ' 



All these trees are known to succeed in 

 your state. 



It simply meanis that the common- 

 wealth should be as thrifty as its many 

 worthy citizens who, for an investment, 

 send their capital to the West on long- 

 time investmients, insurance, loans, rail- 

 way, stocks and bonds. They do not 

 expect their returns in a day or a year. 

 In the same manner the state should make 

 some investments which in a quarter of a 

 century will return not with 3 per cent, 4 

 per cent or 5 per cent, but 100 per cent 

 upon the capital employed. 



Where 4,200 square miles of your state, 

 52 per cent of its area, is in woodland, 

 it is of grave importance what the char- 

 acter of this woodland growth may be. 

 and whether it is worth — for taxation — ■ 

 tw^o dollars per acre or one hundred. It 

 lies with you, gentlemen, to determine 

 which it shall be, for the law-making 

 powers are looking to you for advice and 

 your recommendation will decide the fu- 

 ture character and value of Massachu- 

 setts forests. 



and gives abundant evidence of the suc- 

 cess of black walnut in Massachusetts. 



I measured one at Mr. Hadwen's place, 

 20 years from seed, 15 inches diameter 

 four feet from ground. 



There are also many catalpa trees in 

 Elm Park and elsewhere. 20 years' 

 growth ranging 17 to 23 inches diameter. 

 One at the home of A. J. Marble, 36 

 nircli street, 20 years' growth, is 23 

 inches diameter three feet from ground. 



