22 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[Janitari/y 



*'ancl lime wai^ons, vessels for carrying lime, pit- 

 props, and hop poles of the smaller thinnings." 

 This writer continues: "For all these purposes, 

 and many minor ones, Larch would come con- 

 siderably cheaper than any timber now in use ; 

 and would, in the average of them, last at least 

 thrice as long. The saving to the public 

 would thus be immense ; and the lands upon 

 which an abundant supply might be raised in 

 every county, are at present, lying idle." 



I was not aware that, "The Larch was evi- 

 dently chosen at a time when it was thought 

 very important that Scotch forestry should be the 

 model for American forestry." It does seem 

 slightly critical on Mr. Fay, and Prof. Sargent, 

 who deserve much praise, as you admit. I sim- 

 ply desire to see no detriment cast in the waj' of 

 such encouragement to forestr}^ by lessening 

 the value of the Larch. 



The common Ash, Fraxinus excelsior, is one 

 of the most valuable trees, which grows on va- 

 rious soils, and of rapid growth. In elasticity, 

 it is far superior to the oak, and it is not so liable 

 to be broken by a cross strain. Nothing is su- 

 perior for agricultural implements, and for all 

 sorts of poles, ladders, long handles, and other 

 purposes wliich require strength and elasticity 

 combined with comparative lightness. Maple, in 

 the lathe, is easily turned, eligible for saddle-trees, 

 wooden dishes, founder's patterns, and many 

 other articles, both of furniture and machinery. 

 It is not apt to warp, either with variations of 

 heat or moisture. Om* Native and European 

 Lime or Linden, also beautiful for shade as are 

 the Maples, though a soft and weak timber is 

 valuable for many purposes. Thus we might 

 enumerate other trees for forestry, worthy 

 a place ; but my object was simply to do 

 justice to the Larch, without detracting from 

 others that may seem "more profitable than 

 the Larch." 



[We do not understand Mr. StaufFer to give 

 his views of the value of the Larch from any 

 American knowledge of American grown tim- 

 ber, but that he is still holding up to us the 

 results of Scotch or European forestry as a 

 model for American experience. — Ed. G. M.] 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



State Foresters.— Mr. Horace J. Smith, 

 writes as follows in regard to a State Forester, 

 to the Manayunk Sentinel, and we understand 



that it is likely a bill in accordance therewith 

 will be introduced into the Pennsylvania Legis- 

 lature, during the present session : 



" I supplement my previous articles on ' For- 

 estry,' ' The Yalue of the Catalpa,' and ' Forest 

 Corporations,' by suggesting the appointment 

 by the State of a Forester. The Act creating 

 the office should require that he be a man of 

 approved attainments and practically well ac- 

 quainted with Arboriculture, who shall also be 

 familiar with methods of statistical inquiry. He 

 shall collect data as to the annual consumption, 

 importation, and exportation of Timber and 

 other Forest products, the amount of Timber 

 used for fencing, and the value of the labor 

 expended thereon, the probable future supply 

 and demand for Lumber ; the means best 

 adapted to the preservation and renewal of 

 Forests ; the influence, if any, of Forests 

 upon the climate, and the flow of streams 

 in the Commonwealth. He shall specify partic- 

 ularly or generally, where Forests should be 

 planted for the promotion of the interest of 

 the Commonwealth, indicating the kinds most 

 suitable and profitable ; the best methods of 

 collecting and saving seeds ; and the propagation 

 of trees. 



He shall give attention also to the subject of 

 insects destructive to Forests, the inti'oduction 

 of new trees, and Forest industries valuable to 

 the community, the laws bearing upon Forest 

 products, the unification of the customs of mea- 

 surement of lumber. Forest instruments. Forest, 

 appraisement, protection of Forests from depre- 

 dation, the collection of specimen blocks of the 

 various woods of the State, and preparations 

 illustrating the damage to trees caused by in- 

 sects, rodents, &c., for the Museum of the State 

 Board of Agriculture. His services in the State 

 as Consulting Expert, or for lectures upon For- 

 estry, shall be at the disposal of any citizen or 

 corporation of the Commonwealth for a period 



not exceeding days, on the pa3'ment of $ 



per day and traveling expenses, under rules pre- 

 pared by the State Board of Agriculture. He 

 shall report to the State Board of Agriculture 

 annually or oftener if called upon, the work he 

 has done, and on the subjects mentioned above, 

 with such suggestions for the framing of Laws 

 as may seem to him important. 



"The passage, or even the introduction of such 

 a law, will call attention to this subject, and ul- 

 timately tend to bring about the accomplishment 

 of a work, universally considered by those who 



