MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 663 



and thawed during the winter. In localities where the weather in 

 winter is very changeable, all kinds of hardy trees seeds may be 

 safely preserved in the following manner: Select a tight, strongs 

 box ; in the bottom of this place a thin layer of sand ; on this put 

 a layer of seed ; then a little more sand, and so on alternately until 

 the box is full ; nail on the cover, and then bury the box in the 

 open ground, covering it a foot or more deep. A dry, sandy 

 knoll is the best place, if handy ; if not, set the box on the ground, 

 and make a lai'ge mound of earth over it. The common sweet 

 chestnut is generally thought to be a difficult seed to keep through 

 winter, but, buried in saud as I have described, it will usually be 

 as fresh and sound in spring as when first gathered from the 

 tree. I have also preserved the chestnut and similar seeds by 

 packing in damp moss, and then placing them in a cool cellar. 

 Rats and mice are very fond of most kind of tree seeds, and they 

 should be placed beyond the reach of these pests of the farm and 

 garden. 



Value of Different Kinds of Timber. — It is scarcely neces- 

 sary for me to call your attention to the fact that forest tree cul- 

 ture can be made a profitable business, even more so, in many lo- 

 calities, than any of our ordinar}- farm crops. Neither will you 

 expect me at this time to designate the best species of varieties 

 for culture, inasmuch as soils, locations and markets differ very 

 widely, and each may demand a particular kind. For instance, 

 the common white birch is usually considered one of the most 

 worthless species of native trees ; still, near some of our manufac- 

 turing towns, where its wood is used for making spools, it com- 

 mands a much greater price than oak, hickory, chestnut and many 

 similar kinds of timber. Even the much despised alianthus for 

 some locations and soils is a most valuable tree. It grows rapidly 

 even upon poor light soils ; and although it does not attain a ver}' 

 large size, still its wood is well adapted to many other purposes 

 besides that of fuel. There are man}' other similar instances that 

 might be named where the local value of a species is far a)bove its 

 general one. But all these things will be learned in time, and the 

 most we can expect at present is to call the attention of the 

 masses to the importance of the subject, for we know full well that 

 when our people become aware that there is a rich field open to 

 them they are ready to occupy, and make it yield a full return. 

 We have to regret that the art of planting forest trees has not re- 

 ceived that attention from our people which its importance de- 

 mands. 



It may be said that, as it is a branch of horticulture, it is en- 

 couraged by nurserymen and all others who are engaged in 

 the cultivation of trees. But I do not believe that arboriculture 

 will ever reach the high position which it deserves until it is stu- 

 died and encouraged as a separate profession. Witli your per- 

 mission, I will at some future time give a few practical hints as to 



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