192 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



weed growth on the latter, (6) by regard to the quality of the wood: dense growth 

 favors the development of long, straight, clean, cylindrical shafts, (c) by regard to 

 amount of wood production: in an open growth the predominant tmnks attain 

 greater dimensions, but the total amount of wood per acre is considerably dimin- 

 ished, (d) by regard to detrimental influences: in a verj' dense growth weak plants 

 result, which are more liable to be injured by wind, snow, and even insects, while 

 in a wide planting the growth of grass and weeds deteriorates the soil for wood pro- 

 duction. 



8. Plant mainly such trees as are indigenous to the climate in which joxi plant, 

 regard being had "to their adaptation to soil conditions. It is not the chemical con- 

 stitution of the soil, but its physical properties, and especially its depth, looseness, 

 and degree of moisture, wliich are chiefly to be considered. 



9. Always mix or group difi"erent kinds together, except perhaps in the case of the 

 shady conifers and, perhaps, the shadiest broad-leaved trees. 



SPECIALLY VALUABLE TREES. 



An attempt lias been made to reduce the number of arborescent spe- 

 cies from the 412 constituting the flora of the United States, as given 

 in the Census Report by Professor Sargent, to those which are likely 

 to maintain their position as valuable forest trees; that is to say, those 

 Avhich may, according to our present knowledge, demand the attention 

 of the forester. Such notes of interest to the forest planter as were 

 available have been added. 



This list is only preliminary, and may have to be considerably modified and en- 

 larged. I need only refer to the addition of Catalpa speciosa to our list of desirable 

 forest trees, wliich, formerly almost overlooked, was transferred from obscurity to 

 a place among the first order by the late Dr. Warder. Many trees, though at pres- 

 ent and in particular localities forming almost the only supply of timber, have been 

 left out on account of their doubtful value as objects of artificial forestry. I men- 

 tion the mesquit of the Southwestern Territories. The valuable hard- woods of semi- 

 tropical Florida have been entirely omitted, and perhaps some of the conifers of the. 

 Pacific slope might have been rightly included in the hst. The object of the list 

 being simply to acquaint the practical man -wdth a select number of the more im- 

 portant species which seem to be of value for future forestry, any omissions may 

 be remedied hereafter. The grouping has not been made on botanical grounds, but 

 rather from practical points of view. In the names of the trees the nonpareil bold- 

 faced type denotes that the tree is considered of first importance ; the nonpareil title 

 condensed denotes trees in value above those printed m nonpareil roman capitals. 



In the naming, the common name has been placed fii'st, somewhat mider protest, 

 because the confusion in common names is even worse than in botanical. The first 

 name chosen, because most expressive or most commonly used, Avill be employed 

 by this Division hereafter to denote the species, in the hope that thus gradually the 

 road to a greater uniformity of common nomenclature may be opened. The botanical 

 nomenclature is that used by Professor Sargent in the census work of 1880, from 

 which also the columns in regard to distribution, size, quality, and uses of wood are 

 mostly made up, but in some cases conflicting opinions of authorities have led to state- 

 ments differing from those expressed in the census volume. Tlie distribution has 

 been given only in general terms, which for practical purposes may suffice to indi- 

 cate what climatic conditions seem favorable to the development of the species. The 

 sizes given are either those to wliich under ordinary circumstances the species often 

 develop, or else the largest as reported in the census volume or elsewhere, the addi- 

 tion mark (-J-) denoting that larger sizes have been observed. Heavy print or itaUcs 

 call special attention to the most important qualities. 



For the column of remarks the standard authorities, often diverging in their 

 views or opinions, have been consulted and personal observations added. This 

 column must naturally be largely tentative, for lack of sufficient special knowledge 

 on the subject. Requuements of soil have been mostly deduced from the natural 

 conditions in which the species is found. TJiis, however, does not always indicate 

 the preference, but only the capability of the species, as, for instance, in the case of 

 the Bald Cypress. Shade-enduring and light-needing are terms wliich refer chiefly 

 to the capacity of the species for thriving when subjected to the influence of the 

 shade of other trees in their vicinity. Tliis capacity, as stated before, is a relative 

 one and changeable according to site. The indication here given must be under- 

 stood only as expressing the general tendency, which may be modified under par- 

 ticular conditions. 



