PLANTING NOTES. 65 



there the work of planting at least has been successful. The trees composing them averaged at thirty to thirty-five 

 years from the time of planting, not far from 45 feet in height, and measured approximately 2 feet 6 inches in circum- 

 ference, breast high. These measurements vary for different bodies of pine, but are believed to represent very closely 

 the average size at the age indicated, and in many cases the trees are considerably larger (see measurements of 

 growth on page 88). This growth of pine is of such value that according to competent judges of property in that 

 region, much of the land that without the pine would be worth only $3 to $10 per acre, is worth with the standing 

 pine $50 to $75 or more per acre according to location. 



Upon visiting these different groves and conversing with men who had planted some of them, it was found 

 that opinions and practice were quite variable, both as to time and manner of planting. Mr. S. E. Hall, of Rayn- 

 ham, who has had long experience, states that he has set the White Pine successfully every month in the year. 

 The young trees, t to G inches, or even a foot high, are taken up with a piece of sod on their roots and set out in a 

 wet time. These two conditions were particularly emphasized by Mr. Hall, who says that if they are observed the 

 trees "will grow anywhere." He plants 10 feet apart each way and recommends this as the best distance, which 

 is, however, not good forestry practice. In a grove set by him forty years ago the trees were set in rows at the 

 above distance and had made a vigorous and healthy growth. In another grove, planted about the same time, 

 the trees stood 8 feet apart each way and were apparently doing quite as well as in the first one. On the other 

 hand, Mr. Spencer Leonard, of Bridgewater, after many years of practical trial and observation, states that having 

 formerly set out pine trees 10 feet apart, he is now setting them at a distance of 15 feet, with a view to reduce the 

 expense of planting and because they soon became crowded if planted closer. He, too, sets out the trees with a 

 Bod, simply plowing a furrow and setting the seedlings at the right distance. Mr. Hall digs a hole for each tree, 

 but says that the work can be done very rapidly, aud that he has himself set an acre a day. 



One of the many plantations in southeastern Massachusetts known as "Leb. Pratt's grove," is within less 

 than a mile of the village of North Middleboro. It was set out forty-two years ago. The trees were set in rows 

 10 feet apart each way. The grove twelve years ago even was practically impenetrable by reason of the dead 

 interlocking branches that had never been removed. 



Four trees of average size were measured in 1886 and showed diameters of 7 to 9 inches. Some were of larger 

 and others of smaller size, though the growth was fairly even. The average height wae estimated at 40 feet; the 

 branches were dead three-quarters of the way to the top, the remaining one-fourth, say 10 feet, constituting the 

 crown, was green and healthy. The soil was poor, that passed over from the road in reaching the grove being light 

 sand with some gravel. 



Another grove, some 3 miles northward of North Middleboro, was visited in 1886, and a greater number of 

 measurements made. According to Mr. S'. Hay ward, near whose farm it stands, this grove was set out rather more 

 than thirty, not more than thirty-five, years ago, but had not made quite as good a growth as some others have. 

 The trees are in rows, 7 to 8 feet apart each way, and are quite uniform in size. Beginning with the third from 

 the north side, a fair average row, the following measurements were made of the trees taken in order as they stood. 

 The circumference, breast high, was : 



Ft. Ins. 



No.l 2 10 



No.2 2 6$ 



No. 3 2 9 



No.4 2 44 



No.5 2 6 



No.6 2 1 



Ft. Ins. 



No.7 2 6 



No.8 2 11 



No..9 2 10 



No.lOa j 1 5 



10 10 



No. 11.. ..20 



a Two main stems and bad lost a third. 



The largest tree measured in the grovo was 3 feet 1 inch in circumference or 1 foot in diameter, breast high. 

 A very few have been choked out aud have died after living fifteen or twenty years. An average tree on the south 

 side measured 45 feet in height. All the trees of the grove that were still living seemed healthy and vigorous. The 

 lower branches had died at an earlier age than in the preceding grove and the trunks were free from them for some 

 8 feet or more. Above this line the dead branches still remained on the trees, only those of the crowns being green 



and living. 



Near Bridgewater, Mass., a piece of land had been sown with pine seeds some thirty-five years before, the seeds 

 being sown broadcast and dragged in. The trees were slender and too much crowded, the smallest ones dying out. 

 Thev seemed much in need of proper thinning. Some of the best specimens measured 2 feet 7 inches in circumfer- 

 ence breast high, but they were very uneven in size, and did not impress one nearly as favorably as those in the 

 groves that ha<f been regularly planted at a distance of 8 or 10 feet apart. 



This second growth pine finds a ready market at the box factories of Bridgewater, Halifax, Taunton, and 

 various other towns in this part of the State. Six dollars per cord is the price paid at present (1886 ; now $8 to $9) 

 for logs delivered at the factory. Logs are accepted down to 8 inches in diameter, and in establishments where 

 staves are made a smaller size is taken. There is no trouble in obtaining all that is wanted, there being an 

 abundant supply of pine for box boards, staves, and the like in the immediate vicinity of the towns where they are 

 manufactured. 



A few notes on plantations made on the Western border and outside of the natural range of 

 the White Pine will show the adaptability of the species in those regions: 



There is an instructive plat of White Pines in the forest plantation of the State University of Illinois. This 

 institution is located at Champaign, about 200 miles south of Chicago and much beyond the natural range of the 

 20J33 No. 22 5 



