868 The Journal of Forestry. 



might be tried, and of which we have already some e"xperience in planting 

 for ornament. The Scotch fir needs more trial. The larch is now 

 extensively planted in the west, but it remains to be seen if its good 

 qualities abroad will be perpetuated here. The European grown wood 

 is ^ery durable. I have no data relative to its quahties when grown in 

 this State, but Professor Matthews, of the Iowa Agricultural College, 

 who has grown it there for seventeen years, is led to doubt the durability 

 of the wood when grown on the rich western soils. Some authorities say 

 that a certain coldness of climate and poverty of soil are necessary to the 

 production of the timber in perfection. The European elm is considerably 

 used for timber abroad ; here it is only planted for ornament : it appears to 

 thrive well. I know some trees in this State apparently a century old, and 

 in and near Boston there are some of large size. 



The English oak, so famous for its strength and durability, is in reality 

 t-wo s^tecies (QHemts ])e dime u la fa and Q. scssilifiora), both having leaves 

 and wood much like our white oak ; but I am inclined to think that the 

 wood is less liable to warp than ours. They are the most valued of 

 English hard woods. Both are extensively cultivated, and attain a height 

 of fifty feet in thirty years, and both may attain a height of a hundred 

 feet in rich soils. They live to a great age ; several trees in Great Britain 

 are known to be from 500 to 1,000 years old, and it is also noted for its 

 beauty. The wood is very durable. A chest was shown at the Centennial 

 Exhibition of oak from the timbers of the Salisbury Cathedral, over 600 

 years old, and still sound as ever. The oaken doors of Westminster Abbey 

 are believed to be over 1,200 years old, and Lindley says that one of the oak 

 coronation chairs in that noted church has been in its present position 

 over 570 years. In the castle of Winchester is "Arthur's Round Table" 

 of ouk. Three hundred years ago it was spoken of as being then over 1,000 

 years old. This timber is usually cut in spring, when it peels easily ; late 

 in May or early in June is considered the best season. One reason, 

 however, is that the bark is saved for tanning, and at this time it is easily 

 removed. The recommendation to bark the tree some time lefore felling 

 is English, and has been practised there, and has been recommended by 

 high authority ; but American shipbuilders think this practice a positive 

 injury to the timber when performed on American oak. 



Please keep in mind the difference between the planting of a few trees 

 for ornament or shade, and the planting of many for useful wood and 

 timber. The first will always be practised ; it is already a great success 

 with us, and has been so long practised that, except here and there an 

 isolated patriarch left standing, the planted trees of our older towns and 

 cities are larger than the natural forests. Planting forests for use is, 

 however, an almost untried experiment in this State, so far as I know. 

 There has been of late years an increase in the area of woodlands in some 

 counties, but this has been of spontaneous growth rather than of planted 

 trees, and where cattle and sheep are kept out, such new growth is pretty 

 rapid and, I am told, profitable. 



With forestry proper we have no statistics in this country, and almost 

 no experience. In the Western States, particularly those sparsely wooded 

 by nature, there has been much tree-planting, and there is already a consi- 

 derable experience of a certain sort. In Massachusetts there has been 

 something done, and Professor Sargent, of the Harvard University, is doing 

 a noble work in collecting information, collating facts, devoting much study 

 to the subject, disseminating the useful information, and awakening the 

 public to the importance of the work. The soil, climate, exposure, and 

 native wood is so much like ours, that the experience of that State is of 



