HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 147 



trian pines for wind breaks, as they were the most rapid growers. 

 I quote from one in Illinois who has had a good experience in 

 their culture: 



"The Austrian pine made a growth in height of 25 feet in 16 

 years, and 30 inches in diameter. The Scotch, same age, was 28 < 

 feet high, 12| inches in diameter. The White pine, 14 years old 

 (2 years younger), was 30 feet 6 inches high, 11| inches in diame- 

 ter." The measurement was made inside the bark. 



In grove planting I would plant largely of the White pine, both 

 for its rapid growth and for its valuable timber. To grow up a 

 grove as quickly as is possible, it should be planted more thickly 

 so that its neighboring shade may cause the young trees to shoot 

 up faster. To do this it would be the best to plant in rows say of 

 4 feet each way of the deciduous trees, with a row of the pines 

 every third or fourth row, and cultivate for 3 or 4 seasons so as to 

 keep down the weeds and to keep the young tress growing, keeping 

 the young deciduous trees cut away only so fast as would be neces- 

 sary to keep them from over-topping the evergreens, and to keep 

 their shade against them so as to keep a steady upward growth. 



In growing up a forest or grove we must not lose sight of the 

 object to be attained. We want tall fine straight bodied trees. We 

 cannot afford to be so long in getting them as to let them limb 

 out all along up their bodies sending the sap and the growth into 

 side limbs that must, as the grove gets larger and begins to shade 

 itself, die off. 



We must shade it while young, and the way 1 have indicated 

 seems to me to be the best and the cheapest. 



Tree seeds and cuttings are most abundant and cheap, and is, 

 I think, the best to use here. Young evergreen trees would be too 

 expensive. 



As above stated, but few can tell of the solid comfort that man 

 and beast enjoy, except the fortunate owner of an evergreen home, 

 such as I really wish every one could have in Minnesota. When 

 Old Boreas comes down here from his hyperborean home away up 

 there among the icebergs, with his icy chain in his hands to lock 

 up our lakes, rivers and streams, and when the "beautiful snow" 

 descends upon the cold earth like a white bird out of Paradise 

 mantliug and covering the whole face of nature in a garb of pure 

 white. 'Tis now that the beauties of the evergreen copse aDd lawn 

 shine forth. The white tufts of snow perched upon the ten thou- 

 sand green branches all about our dwelling transcends by far those 

 calla lilies that we saw in California growing by the sea in January. 



And when the winds of winter get on a rant, howling through 

 the tops of the bare maples, basswoods and elms of the forests, 

 your home is all nicely and cozily sheltered from their rude attacks. 

 Your stock stand quietly in the sunshine of midwinter chewing 

 their cuds, and could they speak, we fancy they would thank their 

 owners for their efforts and good sense in thus providing such a 

 haven of rest for them in winter. The protection, the beautiful 

 appearance and the fragrant balsamic odors which come from the 

 pines in summer should all be strong arguments in favor of their 

 cultivation. 



