VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 65 



Trees forty years of age run from six to eighteen inches in 

 diameter. An acre of pine frequently grows 50,000 feet of 

 lumber, board measure, in fifty years, one-half that more 

 often, however. Even the smaller rate of growth, and at 

 present prices, would return good interest on the investment, 

 and prices are practically certain to advance. 



Spruce is a good second of our coniferous trees and the 

 progress of the paper pulp industry threatens to soon render 

 it as rare as pine. The ready market we are now finding in 

 many localities for poplar and white birch, trees we have been 

 accustomed to regard as inferior, suggests that they might 

 constitute a valuable part of some plantation. Their rapid 

 growth is a strong point in their favor. 



On some barren knolls the main question may be at first 

 of what sort can a stand be obtained. Our common locust, in 

 spite of the contempt in which it is often held, may be useful 

 in such places. It has a high value as posts. 



In general every plantation should consist of several 

 kinds of trees, which should be chosen with reference to their 

 adaptability to the location, the object in view, and to each 

 other. The best advice I can give is to study the matter 

 carefully before starting a plantation. Assistance can be ob- 

 tained gratis from the Division of Forestry, Department of 

 Agriculture, at Washington. 



Since 1886 the annual reports of the Secretary of Agri- 

 culture, known since 1894 as Year Books, have contained a 

 large amount of valuable material on this subject. 



The following are perhaps worth special reference: Tree 

 Planting in Waste Places on the Farm ; Year Book, 1896, p. 

 323. Relation of Forests to the Farm ; Year Book, 1895, p. 

 333. Forestry for Farmers ; Year Book, 1894, p. 461. Var- 

 ious other bulletins, circulars, etc., on this subject have been 

 issued by the department from time to time, some of great 

 value, but there is so much uncertainty about the readers be- 

 ing able to secure them that it is hardly worth while to refer 

 to them. 



