REFORESTATION IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



SYLVICULTURE, CHARACTERISTICS OF TREES RECOMMENDED 

 FOR PLANTING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



White Pine (Pinus strobus) . This species is placed first, 

 both because of its marked adaptability to growth in this 

 State and because of the universal demand for its lumber. It 

 is but fair to say that the white pine blister rust offers some 

 menace to clear plantations of this species, especially in Berk- 

 shire and Essex counties; but by making mixed plantings, and 

 by eradicating currant and gooseberry bushes in the vicinity, 

 white pine may be relied on to do its part in the conquest of 

 the waste-land problem. Even the two-needle pines suffer from 

 another species of blister rust (the alternate host being sweet- 

 fern), and the owner must expect to lose a few specimens of 

 whatever species he may use through disease, insects, winter- 

 killing or dry weather. The present system of planting pro- 

 vides for more trees than are ultimately necessary on each 

 acre of ground, as well as for thinning, both natural and arti- 

 ficial. A plantation in which white pine represents the expecta- 

 tion crop, but in which enough trees of other varieties have 

 been planted to provide for any emergency, is, in our judgment, 

 the practical and ideal undertaking. 1 



The white pine may be found growing in all sorts of situa- 

 tions except in extremely wet soil. This does not mean that 

 the tree grows equally well everywhere, for it undoubtedly pre- 

 fers well-drained loamy sand, and there reaches its best de- 

 velopment. Ideal conditions exist on the slopes and at the 

 bottoms of old glacial deposits, so numerous all over the State. 



Reproduction is by seed, which is produced at intervals of 

 from three to seven years, called " seed years." 



As regards size and rate of growth, white pine compares 

 favorably with any of our eastern trees, and far exceeds most of 

 them in these respects, reaching the best merchantable size in 

 about fifty years. If left to grow undisturbed it reaches a size 

 excelled only by trees of the Pacific coast, specimens having been 



1 Many of our lumbermen and most of our nurserymen, from their observations and expe- 

 rience, are still of the opinion that they will continue to plant white pine in pure stands as well 

 as in mixed. Likewise, from correspondence and consultation with many of our leading plant 

 pathologists and foresters as to diagnosing the future results of the white pine blister rust, the 

 prevailing impression is that the presence of this disease does not warrant undue fear or exag- 

 geration, or the abandonment of the white pine for reforestation purposes. 



