20^' 



r.EPOKT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTUEE. 



fall short of the number of ircos required to fill the contract ; and probably not 5 

 acres in all our i)lanting on which there are not from 2,500 to 2,600 trees. Our cou- 

 txiicfc c;ills for 2,000 trees to the acre. 



TIjb forest is iu a very healthy and thrifty condition, and is in every way very 

 pri^iuisinjf for the future. 



As forestry in this country is yet in its infancy, and nearly every one who has given 

 it but a passing thought has a tlieory of his own, and as several parties have come 

 to examine the plantation, and in nearly every instance have contented themselves 

 by ]-iding around the forest roads, even without getting out of the carriage aud walk- 

 ing ainotig the trees, and as a majority of these visitors have strongly recommended 

 tli'.i pruning of the trees, I would here urgently caution the company, so that they 

 will not be led into the great mistake and very expensive exijcriment of pruning 

 tlieso trees. Tliey were planted closely to avoid the necessity of pruning. The trees 

 will prune each other. Even the trees but six years planted are now 20 feet high on 

 the best land, and have their side branches smothered and dead up to over half their 

 height, so that it would bo a great waste of time, if nothing worse, to prune them 

 the hrst 10 feet from the bottom ; and it must be apparent to any one that it would 

 bo costly to prune them up to the next 10 feet, but iu thi-ee more years the next 10 

 feet will bo pruned by the same process as the first 10 feet. 



The sifle branches are a great advantage to the trees, support the trunk, fill up 

 and sliade the space between the trees, shading out the weeds, and retaining the 

 moisture. 



These trees are making height so fast that by measurement wo found leading slioots 

 of some of the three-year old trees over G feet long, and shoots from some of the four- 

 year old trees 7 feet long, showing that they need all their side branches to support 

 the stem; and it may bo noticed that trees with the most and strongest side branches 

 are the strongest and the tallest. 



It is true that to an ordinary observer looking in among the trees, the dead lower 

 branches will have a ragged appearance, and aside from this, there will bo some mis- 

 shapen and crooked trees; but these are better standing than if removed, as they af- 

 ford shade for the trunks of the afljoining trees. They cost the company nothing, 

 and there are over 2,000 perfect trees to the acre Avithout them. 



There will always bo cull-trees, even in the nursery, and such trees, with the best 

 of pruning, will still be culls. I would not bo understood as olfering the foregoing 

 remarks as an apology — very far from it — as it is a surprising success. This plantation 

 is on a larger scale than any other iu the country (unless it be the one nearly adjoining, 

 that we lately planted for Mr. Hunnewell), and I would most urgently advise that the 

 trees bo allowed to stand uiulisturbed, except to trim up the outside row, where the 

 branches extenil o)it into the forest roads, which is already tho case with the first 

 plantings, until tho first planting is at least ten or twelve ye-ars old ; but in the mean 

 time, if fence-posts be requiied within the time, they can be thinned out as wanted, 

 without damage to the plantation. 



If trees arc required for planting at any of tho stations on the company's road, or 

 for parks or other purposes, thousands can be taken out of the three-yf'ar old trees 

 near the section-house without injury to the plantation; and they are now of the 

 very best size and condition for that purpose. 



iVould suggest that if aj)y are required for such purpose, au experienced man 

 should be employed to see to the proper digji;iiig aud planting, as this would not only 

 be the most successful but tho most economical way the work could be done. 



* Uueven. 



Owing to tho very wot Keason probably tho white ash, the bl.ack walnut, and butter- 

 nut trees ha\o held their leaves well and made a much strougcr growth than ever 

 before. 



