1877. J 



AND EOBTIGULTURIST. 



245 



chestnut is all-important. They flourish best on 

 high, dry situations, or on rolling, well-drained 

 silicious soils, but are impatient of much wet, or 

 low, tenacious localities." 



The White Ash in New England. — In a note 

 to the Massachusetts Ploughman, Prof. Sargent 

 says: "An intelligent correspondent much in- 

 terested in the subject of tree planting, writes us 

 from the central portion of the State as follows : 

 'I am fully convinced that those who plant and 

 care for the ash are sure of their reward. I am 

 informed by experts that the ash is in more de- 

 mand, and commands a higher price, than any 

 other wood that is indigenous; that the fibre of 

 the ash grown in the New England States is 

 tougher and has more substance than ash grown 

 elsewhere, and that the demand is constantly 

 increasing. During the Centennial Exhibition 

 our woods were closely examined by foreigners, 

 and now foreign orders are rapidly coming in, 

 and every vessel leaving Boston for a foreign port 

 is taking out large quantities of ash and walnut.' 

 The attention of New England land owners 

 should certainly bo directed to the profits which 

 the careful and general cultivation of this tree 

 will give, and to the fact, that, at no distant day, 

 the money value of White Ash will be greatly 

 enhanced, the ever increasing demand for it 

 having already rendered this tree compai-atively 

 rare in the Eastern States." 



Forest-planting in France. — The past Spring 

 has been very favorable to the large areas in 

 France lately planted in forests. It is stated that 

 5,000,000 hectares, or 12,350,000 acres— about 

 half the area of Ohio — have become unproduc- 

 tive as agricultural lands. Pine trees, without 

 any cultivation, and a very inexpensive super- 

 vision, can be made to grow upon these barren 

 acres, netting about $2.50 per acre of annual 

 profit. This would add to the productive capa- 

 city of these lands about $30,000,000 per annum. 

 Other trees have been planted with similar 

 economic results, and now landed proprietors 

 are looking to tree-planting as a means of util- 

 izing their unproductive acres. — Department of 

 Agriculture. 



A new Product from the Pine. — Vanillin ex- 

 ists in the sap of the Pine (Pinus sylvestris) and 

 of the Larch. For the purpose of procuring it 

 the trees are felled during the period when vege- 

 tation is most active, and are stripped of their 

 bark. They are then immediately scraped, and 

 the product collected in vessels of tinned iron, is 



immediately heated on the spot to prevent fer- 

 mentation, filtered, concentrated and allowed to 

 cool and settle. A substance is thus obtained 

 which resembles powdered sugar, and which is 

 known as coniferin. This is a stable compound, 

 and is sent in barrels to Paris, where the vanillin 

 is extracted. The process of extracting the van- 

 illin is an expensive one, but the product is pro- 

 cured at a less cost than the natural vanilla of 

 commerce can be purchased at. The difficulties 

 in the way are principally in procuring the sup- 

 ply of sap. — Scientific American. 



Prizes for Arboriculture offered by the 

 Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agricul- 

 ture. — The following prizes which are open to all 

 land-owners in Massachusetts, will be awarded 

 in 1888, the trustees reserving the right to with- 

 hold one or all of them, if, in the opinion of the 

 judges, none of the competing plantations are 

 considered worthy of award : For the best 5000 

 White Ash trees, $250.00; next best 5000 White 

 Ash trees, $100.00. For the best 1000 White Ash 

 trees, $100.00 ; next best 1000 White Ash trees, 

 $75.00. 



Trees intending to contend for these prizes 

 may be either planted in groves or scattered, as 

 the nature of the soil may require; provided, 

 however, that the plantation does not extend be- 

 yond the farm or estate of the competitor : 

 For the best five acres of White Pine, raised from 

 seed planted by the competitor, $250.00 ; next 

 best five acres of White Pine, raised from seed 

 planted by the competitor, $100.00. For the best 

 acre of White Pine, $100.00 ; next best acre of 

 White Pine, $75,000. For the best acre of Scotch 

 Pine (P. sylvestris), raised from seed planted by 

 the competitor, $100.00; next best acre of Scotch 

 Pine (P. sylvestris), raised from seed planted by 

 the competitor, $75.00. For the best acre of 

 European Larch, containing not less than 2000 

 trees, $100.00 ; next best acre of European Larch, 

 containing not less than 2000 trees, $75.00. All 

 entries for these prizes must be made on or be- 

 fore March 1, 1878, to Mr. Francis Skinner, Brook- 

 line, Mass. 

 Mr. Skinner has consented to act as the agent for 

 the trustees in all matters relating to these 

 prizes, and will furnish all information in regard 

 to them. Competitors may order their seeds 

 and trees through Mr. Skinner, who will arrange 

 with the principal tree and seed dealers and nur- 

 serymen in the United States and Europe for the 

 lowest possible rates, but as his services are en- 



