FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 69 



nature a good deal by taking out the less desirable and encouraging or 

 planting in the faster growing and more profitable sorts. 



If we undertake the artificial method we have means whereby we may 

 determine what to grow and how many trees should stand on an acre. 

 This artificial method is about the only one that can be followed on the 

 grassy plains. In comparatively few places at most, in Michigan, are 

 we forced to grow less desirable trees, as is the case in many places in 

 the west. 



The method to be adopted and the specis to be grown depends chiefly 

 upon the locality. In some places there is a fine growth of pine inter- 

 mixed with birch and other less valuable sorts. Where this is the case 

 it is simply necessary to go through and lop off the less desirable, crowd- 

 ing species, leaving only sufficient room for the young crowns. With 

 stump land the problem is not quite so easy of solution. Under 

 certain conditions, planting young pines among the stumps and roots 

 ought to succeed. Where fire has swept through and killed one or two 

 crops of after growth, it will be necessary to keep out this enemy and 

 plant the most profitable trees that are adapted to the region in ques- 

 tion. If the fire is kept out entirely the conditions would, in many 

 cases, be next to ideal for the gro^^'th of young pines; but since it sel- 

 dom is, about the only way is to dispose of the combustible material be- 

 fore planting. If the merchantable timber has been removed and there 

 * are only desirable species starting they should be helped by distribution 

 or addition as the case may require. 



There have been very few investigations in Michigan of sufficient 

 importance to furnish facts upon which we can base conclusions. For 

 sandy regions the best I have found is an acre at Grayling that was 

 planted by Dr. Beal in 1888. 



On this acre four by forty rods, were planted sixty different species, 

 in fourteen rows four feet apart with one hundred and fifty to the row, 

 making twenty-one hundred trees in all. The species includes both 

 native and introduced kinds of deciduous trees and evergreens. The 

 stand is now very uneven because they were mixed in the rows and many 

 perished the first season. The trees have continued to die out until we 

 are now able to form an opinion as to what is best adapted for growth 

 in that region. The Scotch pine gave good promise for a few years, but 

 now the largest and best tree is fast failing. The poplars have seen 

 their best days. Many of the broad-leaved deciduous trees are gone, 

 the most persistent of this sort is the locust. It is not growing so rapidly 

 as in more favored situations, but it is spreading out into the grassy 

 prairie and making a home for itself. 



Some of the White cedars are looking well but not growing very fast. 

 Some of the Norway spruce have done well. The Bed cedar has done 

 better than was expected. According to an estimate made on the 

 ground September 2, 1902, the species that seemed most promising was 

 Norway pine, followed in order by White pine, Norway spruce, Red 

 cedar. Jack pine, White spruce. It took European planters one hun- 

 dred years to find out that White pine was the most profitable tree for 

 them" to plant. There seems to be no question but that it is the best 

 one for this country in regions where it will flourish. 



On the Agricultural College farm is a piece of ground a part of which 

 was formerly used as a gravel pit. It was rather rough and unproduct- 



