522 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



The tree of this species, of which we give an illustration, stands two hundred and ninety 

 feet in height, and ninety-six feet in circumference. It has been broken off at a considerable 

 distance from the top, as will be seen by the size at the point broken. By an accurate esti 

 mate the tree before being broken must have been about four hundred and fifty feet from 

 the base, and higher than any now standing. The tree represented at the left in the illus 

 tration, is a gigantic English oak that measured forty-eight feet in circumference. The one 

 at the right, the old Boston Elm. They are both drawn on the same scale as the redwood, 

 and show by comparison, the immense size of the latter. 



Where to Plant Trees. Trees for shade should be planted almost everywhere, or 

 rather, anywhere that they may be either ornamental or useful; on the lawn around dwell- 

 ing-houses, about other farm-buildings, by the road-side, in groups in the pastures to serve as 

 shade for stock during the sultry summer weather, in fact, in any place that can be rendered 

 more attractive, comfortable, or healthful by their presence. 



Where to plant for timber-culture is also an important question. As a general rule, we 

 would say, plant on land not well suited to cultivation. There are tracts of what are now 

 almost useless lands, in almost every section, both North and South, that the planting of trees 

 would not only render more healthful, but would greatly improve the soil, besides producing 

 valuable timber. On every farm there are lands which are not as desirable for the cultiva 

 tion of the common agricultural crops as others, and which would be admirably adapted to 

 this purpose. A hillside is a good location. There are many such lands that if cultivated, 

 would soon be washed to the extent that they would Become nearly barren, which if planted 

 with trees and sown with grass suited to the purpose, would become both a source of profit 

 and ornament to the farm. 



It is well to plant a belt of trees for shelter on the north and west sides of orchards, or 

 exposed fields, for the cultivation of crops. It has been stated by good authority, that if one- 

 fifth of the prairie land in the Western States were covered with forests, they would produce 

 as much wheat as when the entire land was sown, or rather, the warmth and protection 

 secured by the forest would increase the wheat crop to such an extent, that its present yield 

 would be produced on four-fifths of the land now devoted to it. 



Tree-Planting from Seeds. Trees may be planted from the seed, in the place they 

 are intended to grow, or may be planted in a nursery or garden, and transplanted when three 

 or four years old. Transplanting is the better method, since it secures more uniformity, 

 and obviates the evils attending the too common practice of sowing the seed too thickly. 



The following are some of the most common causes of failure in producing timber 

 trees from seed: the use of poor seed, or that which has become too old or dry to germinate; 

 insufficient preparation of the soil; covering the seed too deep, and lack of sufficient shade for 

 the young plants. It is important that the seed be gathered at the right time, that is, when 

 it is fully ripe. 



The following directions on tree-planting from seed, taken from the columns of the 

 Country Gentleman, will be found valuable and interesting: 



&quot; In planting such large fleshy seeds as chestnuts, acorns, horse-chestnuts, and beechnuts, 

 the most common cause of want of success, is allowing them to get too dry. As soon as 

 they ripen and fall, therefore, which is usually about the middle of autumn or soon after, they 

 should be gathered and kept slightly moist and fresh till they germinate. They might be 

 planted at once, and the surface of the ground protected from drying winds by moss or ever 

 green branches were it not for mice, which show much skill in finding everything of the 

 kind. A light covering of straw is still more certain to attract them. The safest way, there 

 fore, is to pack them in damp sand or slightly damp moss, and place them in a cold cellar or 

 other cool place till early spring planting. As they sprout very early they need not be planted 



