FORESTRY AND ARBORICULTURE. 61 



made here ; and the Douglas fir, to which attention was 

 called in a previous paper* (in a small plantation in the 

 eastern part of the Statef), has shown promise of rivalling 

 some of the native conifers by its strong growth ; but the 

 seeds and young plants of this species must of course be of 

 Colorado stock to succeed in this climate. 



Of the deciduous trees, the hickory, ash, -chestnut and 

 rock maple are the most desirable for us. They furnish a 

 sufficient variety of this class and are sure to produce timber 

 of marketable value. To reduce this list still further, the 

 farmers of Massachusetts arc safe if they centre all their 

 effi:)rts on the white pine, ash, hickory and chestnut. 



The ash thrives here in perfection, and as its wood must 

 always be in demand for tool handles, for which purpose 

 alone immense quantities are annually used, it is a most 

 important and valuable tree for our plantations. 



The hickory, also used for tool handles and wagon wheels, 

 is no less important, and as good hickory wood, like ash, is 

 growing scarcer every year, it should be planted whenever 

 possible. 



The chestnut is a tree of rapid growth and is, for various 

 reasons, the most desirable species to plant here for the pro- 

 duction of fence posts and railroad ties. To be sure, these 

 trees require good soil, but they could be planted by the 

 roadsides and along division walls and fences much more 

 than at present. 



Too much cannot be said to urge our farmers to plant 

 each year some hickory nuts or chestnuts, or to care for the 

 natural seedlings of these trees. This is the simplest form 

 of forest tree culture, the easiest and the least expensive. 

 It would occupy but little time, and if generally pursued the 

 value of the farms of Massachusetts would be immensely 

 increased. 



By enclosing any young natural plantations, protecting 

 them from fire and from browsing animals, and weeding out 

 worthless over-topping trees, a sure profit may l)e obtained 

 from thousands of acres of land in Massachusetts now prac- 

 tically of no value. 



* Ornamental Trees for Mass. Plant. Rep. St. Bd. Ag. 1880, p. 23. 

 t Estate of Mrs. John C. Phillips, N. Beverly, near W^enhare Lake. 



