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from each other about 32 feet, at which distance they could be allowed to remain for the 

 next 100 years, if necessary. 



4th. The length of time required for Black Walnut trees to arrive at maturity is 

 not easily ascertained. The" '"'Timber Trades' Journal " states that the Canadian Walnut 

 was first introduced into England in the year 1656, and that many very old and mag- 

 nificent trees may now be found in many parts of that country, whose ages are not 

 known. One, however, which stands in the grounds at Fulham Castle, is known to be 

 over 150 years old, and is yet a healthy tree. It is five feet in diameter and over 50 

 feet high. As the question, with which we are most immediately interested just now is 

 one of profit, I prefer quoting the evidence of those who are well qualified to speak, 

 rather than give my own opinion. Horace Greeley, when speaking of the value of Black 

 Walnut timber says : " That growing indifferent timber when this best and most valued 

 timber would grow as i-apidly, is a stupid and costly blunder." Prof. L. H. de Friere, of 

 Kentucky, says: "If farmers could only consider that a single tree of good Walnut 

 timber is worth more than their best acre of land, they would take more pains to encour- 

 age the growth of a timber which is becoming so scarce in our country, and for which 

 there is such good demand." Judge J. E. Whitney, of Iowa, says: "If I were to plant 

 a section of timber for an investment for my children, I would have it all Black Walnut." 

 Mr. James Dougall, of Windsoi", speaking of the size which the Black Walnut may 

 attain, in a given number of years, says : "In 1853, I planted a row of Black Walnut 



trees I now find only four of them left, the largest of which measures four 



feet in circumference at the butt, three feet six inches at six feet high, and three feet at 



fifteen feet from the ground ; and upwards of forty feet high Had the nuts 



been planted where the trees were to stand, and had they not been injured by buildings 

 so near them, they would probably have been much larger." I take the following from a- 

 late American paper : " Twenty-three years ago, Horace Everett planted 23 acres of waste 

 land with Black Walnuts. The trees are now 20 inches through and have been sold at 

 $27,000." The Hon. H. G. Joly, writing of the growth of the Black Walnut, in the 

 Province of Quebec, says : " I do not hesitate to say that the Black Walnut, under 

 ordinary circumstances, at the age of 75 years will have attained twenty-one inches in 

 diameter." Thomas Meehan, in a late number of the " Gardeners' Monthly," says : 

 " When travelling through Indiana, some weeks ago, the writer saw some Black Walnut 

 logs that had been bought for .$100.00 each. Even under the ordinary course of nature, 

 such logs could be produced, in forty years, in an Indiana climate ; but, with little careful 

 culture, in infancy, such as one would give corn, we believe as good logs could be had in 

 half the time." A Black Walnut tree stands but a few miles from this town (Trenton), 

 witliin a few feet of the water, on the lake shore, in a very exposed position, which 

 measured about 21 inches in diameter, two years ago. The owner of which states that 

 he saw his father plant the nut, from which the tree grew, about seventy years ago. The 

 growth of this tree agrees very nearly with the estimate of growth made by the Hon. H. 

 G. Joly, for the Province of Quebec. 



5th. I am almost afraid to give even the most moderate estimate of the value of an 

 acre of well-grown Black Walnut trees, at maturity, or even when the trees shall have 

 sufficiently matured to justify their removal, which might be from 60 to 100 years from 

 date of planting ; but, from the foregoing, it would seem a very moderate estimate, to 

 place the value of each well-grown tree, at about that age, at $100.00, which would give 

 the enormous sum of $400,000 as the value of the trees on a 100 acre lot. 



This paper is already too long, although I have endeavoured to confine myself as 

 closely as possible to the question proposed, that is, to view it as an ordinary business 

 transaction ; but, if the subject was continued to its legitimate conclusion, showing the 

 climatic effects resulting from large areas of such plantations and also the physical effects, 

 which might result to the inhabitants in the neighboui'hood of such forests, it would over- 

 task my ability to portray, and your patience to listen. 



Mr. James Peck. — In our township we have just one black walnut tree, and it has 

 been growing ever since I was a little boy. They have endeavoured repeatedly to raise 



