THE ASH AND THE LARCH. 



Since the writer, in an address before the oldest agricultural society in 

 Illinois, in 1850, first urged upon tlie farmers the importance of tree-planting 

 on the prairies, the subject has been persistently pressed upon public notice by 

 the horticultural societies of Illinois. The idea of forest-planting is becoming 

 popular ; and as its inception was gradual, there is reason to hope that its in- 

 fluence will be lasting. Sudden and violent outbursts of zeal seldom produce 

 permanent effects, — witness the White Willow fever of a few years since. One 

 enterprise of the kind, well worth notice, has been undertaken, during the past 

 year, by llobert Douglass, of Waukegan, who has begun to plant a tract of 

 three hundred acres with forest trees, upon a system which, if successfully car- 

 ried out, will do much to determine and illustrate the best mode of proceeding. 



In the present report remarks will be made upon three or four of the most 

 useful forest trees suited to the climate of Northern Illinois. The planting of 

 the White and Burr Oak, the Black W^alnut and the Butternut, is, doubtless, 

 well understood by all who have paid any attention to the subject. The 

 White Ash is one of the most important timber trees in the northern parts of 

 the United States; but, unfortunately, is not so easily raised from seed as those 

 above mentioned. If the seed be sown soon after gathering from the tree, 

 without drying, it will come up well in spring ; but if dried, a great part will 

 often fail to vegetate the first year, even if kept through winter in damp sand — 

 care must be taken not to cover too deeply. Probably forest trees, as well as 

 others, often fail from this cause. When self-sown they commonly have no 

 other covering than leaves or a little earth, when concealed by mice or squirrels. 

 If sown in autumn, Ash seed should be covered with litter during winter to 

 prevent washing out by rains. 



It seems very probable that the seed of the Green Ash is often gathered and 

 sown as that of the White. The Green Ash is common along streams in the 

 West, — it produces seed more frequently than the White Ash, and upon small 

 trees, and is therefore more easily collected. The seed vegetates with greater 

 certainty than that of the White Ash, even if sown dry; and the young trees 

 grow more rapidly for the first year or two. When in leaf, it may easily be 

 distinguished from the White Ash ; the timber is similar in quality, but it has 

 the disadvantage of never becoming a large tree. 



Note. — We are indebted to O. B. Galusha, the able and industrious Secretary of the 

 Illinois State Horticultural Society, for four of the best papers in this book, viz.: Those by 

 Arthur Bryant, Prof. Riley, Dr. Le Baron, and Prof. Burrill.— Sec. 



