BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 321 



NO. 54.— BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



EXPERIMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS ON THE JACK-PINE PLAINS. 



At the close of the second growing season of the plats at the experiment 

 stations on the sandy plains, pressing inquiries are made as to " what are the 

 prospects so far as you have gone? " 



Perhaps unwisely, I venture to offer this bulletin on the subject, though 

 it is too soon to attempt to give very decided results. 



Most of the work so far done has been undertaken with the view of 

 obtaining some clues for making more extended and thorough experiments. 

 The tests so made are mostly crude, indefinite, and lack exactness. I have 

 no specific data founded on exact weights and measurements. 



My former report to the Director of the Experiment Station, not yet 

 printed, contains some statements which would be interesting in this con- 

 nection. 



Owing to the distance from the College, and the time and expense required, 

 I have only visited the stations all around four times in 1888, and three 

 times in 1889. . Could the plats be seen oftener, and could more careful 

 oversight of the labor be secured, I might have made more rapid progress in 

 some directions. 



In many respects, none of us know just what are the most promising 

 experiments. We are doing some preliminary work, and must, for the sake 

 of economy, take a little time to learn the best course to pursue. 



At the close of the first summer, I should have judged that the common 

 locust was the most promising tree to attempt to grow on the sands of 

 Northern Michigan, but after six months of winter, when nearly every tree 

 was dead, root and branch, I must change my opinion. Other illustrations 

 could be given. 



No two seasons are exactly alike, and over these we have no control. Cut- 

 worms in one place, as at Grayling last spring, may devour nearly all the 

 growing crops, but not be very troublesome in most other parts of the State. 

 Hence the wisdom of trying similar experiments in several different parts of 

 the State. An accident may occur in conducting one experiment, but if 

 others are performed as intended, results may be reached. 



With this explanation, I will venture to give some opinions as to the 

 probable meaning of the tests so far made, though time may show that 

 mistakes have been made. I make no promise to adhere to opinions here 

 expressed with a view to being consistent. 



The opinions given are based on the experiments I have made during the 

 past two years, on some things observed with reference to experiments 

 made at Grayling by my colleague, Dr. Kedzie, on answers to inquiries put 

 to many persons in various parts of the State, and on observations made in 

 many places. 



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