G8 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 



of state interests, and its absence must necessarily mar tlie symmetry of the 

 whole, leaving upon the mind of the observer from abroad the im])ression that 

 if we can be said to have either a^^ricultural or horticultural interests, they 

 must be of comparatively slight importance. Those who may visit and 

 examine the state college and farm, will doubtless acquire correct ideas of the 

 matter; but they are likely to be as the few among the many. 

 Mr. George Taylor next addressed the Society upon the subject, 



FORESTRY. 



HOW TO rRESERYE AND KEEP UP A SUPPLY OF PINE AND HARDWOOD TIMBER 



IN MICHIGAN. 



On the 3d of December last, at the meeting of this Society held at Paw Paw, 

 I had the privilege of then bringing before that meeting my first communication 

 on the subject of forestry in relation to Michigan and some of the neighboring 

 states. I there pointed out in the first place the importance of that subject as 

 being one of the great natural sources of our wealth and industry, and some of 

 the great losses we were so frequently sustaining by our forest fires, caused in a 

 great measure by the want of due precaution, and the necessity of something 

 being immediately done to preserve and cultivate what we had left in accord- 

 ance with the laws of forestry. I there divided our timber forest trees into 

 two classes, the pines and the deciduous hardwood trees. 



THE WHITE PINE. 



This is the tree that chiefiy furnishes the immense supply of our pine lum- 

 ber, and its mode of culture will, in a great measure apply to all of that class 

 of the pine family. As is well known, most of the pine are found growing in 

 a sandy soil which seems to be more congenial to them than a deep loam or a 

 strong clay, which is so necessary to many of the hardwood timber trees. I 

 mention this fact as it is found most expedient to cultivate the two classes 

 separately, and also as the pines require to be grown more closely together and 

 of a simultaneous age and size in order to produce the best clean timber. This 

 is a point well known and strictly observed in the pine forestry of Europe and 

 there is no doubt but that the same law is applicable in this country. 



Tlie first question then is, by what means are our pine forests to be kept up 

 and renovated ? Can a succession be kept up on the same ground, or would it 

 be the best means to an end to make an entire new plantation ? In answer to 

 this I would say from what I know of the habits of tlie pines, that the growing 

 a succession on the same ground by cutting out the mature and leaving the 

 younger would not be found quite so jiracticable with them as with hardwood 

 trees, because as I have mentioned, it is best that they should be of the same 

 age and size, and that a successive plantation would be neither expedient nor 

 profitable. Therefore, I consider it would be much better to have a new plan- 

 tation made all at once with young seedling trees especially raised for the pur- 

 pose. This is what other countries have found necessary and we should profit 

 by their experience. 



A GRAND ENTERPRISE. 



I consider that the time has now come when it will pay to buy some of our 

 cheap lands adapted for the growth of both pine and hardwood timber and set 

 out regular plantations in accordance with the principles of forestry as is prac- 



