20 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



Annual National HardWood Lumber 



Association, 



The tenth annual convention of the Na- 

 tional Hardwood Lumber Association opened 

 under the most favorable auspices on Thurs- 

 day, May 23. at Atlantic City, N. J. The 

 weather was bright and clear, though crisp 

 for the season; nearly 300 delegates were 

 present, representing nearly all the hai'dwood 

 manufacturing and consuming sections of the 

 United States; and the steel pier proved an 

 ideal place for holding such a gathering. 



On Thui'sday at 11 a. m. a reception for 

 members and guests was held in the con- 

 vention hall at the Pier, and at noon the first 

 session was opened with an address of wel- 

 come by Mayor Stoy of Atlantic City. Fol- 

 lowing it the officers presented reports for 

 the past year, which were comprehensive and 

 showed the association to be flourishing in 

 every department. The secretary reported 

 that the membership is now nearly 600, and 

 that the finances are in good shape. 



W. II. KUSSB, RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT. 



During the day reports of standing commit- 

 tees were heard, and several exceedingly in- 

 teresting addresses were given. Earl Palmer 

 spoke on "Association Obligations" ; B. C. 

 Currie, Jr., on "A School of Inspection"; 

 Eobt. W. Higbie on "The Wholesaler; Why 

 He is Necessary," and John A. Fox on 

 "Rivers and Harbors." 



The Inspection Rules Committee in their 

 report recommended the suspensio!i of the 

 now famous "Buffalo agreement" and a modi- 

 fied set of inspection rules. Action on this 

 report was deferred until Friday's session. 

 Considerable friendly "electioneering" went 

 on among members, the most favored can- 

 didates for the oflSce of president being 

 Maurice M. Wall of BufEalo and W. H. Russe 

 of Memphis, now holding that office. 



In the evening a smoker and entertainment 

 for members was held at the Rudolph Grotto, 

 while the many ladies who accompanied dele- 

 gates were agreeably entertained on the Steel 

 Pier. The work of the Committee on Arrange- 

 ments was admirably systematized and the 

 minutest details for the welfare and amuse- 

 ment of guests carried out. 



SECOND DAY'S SESSION. 



The convention reconvened on Friday morning, 

 and nearly the entire session was occupied by 

 Interesting and earnest discussion of inspection 

 matters. By resolution the "Buffalo agreement" 



providing that no cliange in inspection rules be 

 made until December, 1908, was suspended. The 

 Inspection Rules Committee presented numerous 

 amendments to the rules as they now stand, and 

 recommended their adoption, to take effect Dec. 

 1 next. At the afternoon meeting the report of 

 the committee was adopted after three hours' 

 discussion, and the presentation of many argu- 

 ments for and against it. Its adoption was se- 

 cured by a ratio of ninety-three to forty-five 

 votes. 



By resolution provision was made for taking 

 up the subject of the establishment of an inspec- 

 tion school, as suggested in a valuable paper 

 presented by B. C. Currie, Jr., the preceding day. 



John M. Woods presented a resolution con- 

 demning the daily press for its false allegations 

 that the National Hardwood Lumber and other 

 associations were fostering a lumber trust ; he 

 stated concisely the prime objects of his associa- 

 tion, and that its aim was the establishment of 



O. O. 



AGLER, RE-ELECTED FIRST VICE 

 PRESIDENT. 



uniform hardwood inspection ; that it formu- 

 lated no price agreements and did not attempt to 

 curtail the lumber supply. 



A resolution was adopted endorsing the survey 

 of the proposed Appalachian forest reserves and 

 urging congressional appropriations for their 

 establishment ; also for support in the timber 

 census work. 



A vote of thanks was tendered the Inspection 

 Rules Committee for the strenuous work accom- 

 plished, and for the painstaking services it has 

 rendered the association. Another expression of 

 appreciation was extended to the Entortiiinment 

 Committee, which so generously and capably pro- 

 vided for the entertainment of delegates and vis- 

 itors. 



M. M. Wall spoke in behalf of the Yale school 

 for practical lumbering, setting forth its line of 

 work and accomplishments, and asked for con- 

 tributions. John J. Rumbarger urged members 

 to attend the coming big Hoo-Hoo convention, 

 and promised them a royal good time. 



Some minor business was transacted, after 

 which the election of officers was held, resulting 

 in the following choice : 



President, W. H. Russe, Memphis, Tenn. 

 First 'N'ice President, O. O. Agler, Chicago. 

 Second Vice President, C. E. Lloyd, Jr., Phila- 

 delphia. 



Third Vice President, Sam E. Barr, New York. 



Treasurer, Claude Maley, Evansville, Ind. 



New Directors, Theo. Fathauer, Chicago ; Geo. 

 W. Stoneman, De Vails Bluff, Ark. ; F. A. Dig- 

 gins, Cadillac, Mich. ; G. J. Landeck, Milwaukee, 

 Wis. ; J. II. I". Smith, Parkersburg, W. Va. 



The next annual meeting will be held at Mil- 

 waukee, Wis. 



Tree Planting in Illinois. 



During :t recent field season an extensive 

 study of Illinois forest plantations was carried 

 on by the forest service. This work covered 

 nearly two-thirds of the state, or in all ap- 

 proximately 50,000 square miles. The region 

 considered was principally north of a line 

 drawn through the central part of the state. 

 South of this the prairie gives way to natural 

 forest land, and though much of it is cleared, 

 there has been little tree planting. The re- 

 sults of the study are equally applicable to the 

 soutliern part of the state, however, as well 

 as to pai'ts of Indiana, Missouri and Iowa. 



All variations of soil occur in Illinois from 

 deep black prairie loam to pure sand and 

 these clianges are frequent and often abrupt. 

 On the whole botii climate and soil conditions 

 are favorable to tree growth, as is well illus- 

 trated by the fact that there are over a hun- 

 dred native tree species in the state and a 

 number of foreign species which have been 

 introduced are thriving. European larch is 

 adapted to the well-drained prairie soils and 

 in such situations grows well. It will produce 

 posts and poles in a short time if closely 

 spaced; it is intolerant of many other species, 

 liowever, and will not endure mixing with trees 

 which grow as fast or faster than it does. A 

 plantation set with larch, catalpa and white 

 ash showed at the end of twenty-two years, 

 but fourteen per cent of survi"^ng larch, al- 

 though seventy-one per cent of the aslr trees 

 survived and fifty-two of catalpa. Silver ma- 

 ple has been more extensively planted in 

 Illinois tiian any other species, although its 

 rapid growth is about the only point in its 

 favor. It is a quick-growing shelter-belt tree 

 and good for fuel. Ash usually does well on up- 

 land prairie soil, thougli moister situations are 

 preferable. It is also principally used as a 

 shelter-belt tree, close planted, the necessary 

 thinnings furnishnig good poles for farm use. 

 The Osage orange grows well everywhere ex- 

 cept in the extreme northern part, and will 

 succeed where neither catalpa nor larch thrive. 

 Burr oak will readily adapt itself to the prairie 

 soils throughout the state, but its rate of 

 growtli is slow, and there is no particular in- 

 ducement to plant it on agricultural land un- 

 less for wind-breaks or ornament. 



Black locust was planted extensively in the 

 early days, and for a time it thrived; the bor- 

 ers appeared, however, and most of the plan- 

 tations were cut. The durability of posts 

 made of this wood is well understood in Illi- 

 nois, where they sell for a high price. It is 

 not uncommon to find posts sound after twenty 

 years' use, while they have been known to last 

 for fortj". Black locust should be planted on 

 sandy soil, such as occurs along the Mississippi 

 and Illinois rivers. Its growth is rapid, and 

 if the situation be right and proper treatment 

 given, post size will be reached before the 

 damage from borers is serious. The tree is as 

 hardy as Osage orange, and will not winter- 

 kill; when forest planting on poor land is con- 

 templated this species should be considered. 

 Cottonwood thrives throughout the state, and 

 makes a good shelter-belt. It is planted large- 

 ly in towns because of its rapid growth, but 

 its habits are not such as should recommend 

 it for a street tree. Sugar maple is one of 

 the finest shade and ornamental species; it 

 grows slowly but reaches great size, presents 

 a fine appearance, and lives to an old age. 

 It is probably the most popular tree in Illinois 

 where these points have to be considered. The 

 white elm is also desirable as protection and 

 for ornament; it flourishes, as do also hem- 

 lock, arbor vitae and bald cypress, slippery 

 elm, sycamore and white birch. 



