32 REFORESTATION IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



It bears a crop of seed each year, but the crop varies in abun- 

 dance. 



The tree is quite intolerant, but, as it grows more rapidly 

 than the other hardwoods with which it associates, it has little 

 trouble in getting all the light it wants. 



The chestnut, in common with the hardwoods, is of course 

 eaten by the gypsy moth, but it has few insect enemies peculiar 

 to itself. It is, however, gravely affected by a fungus called 

 the chestnut bark disease (Diaporthe parasitica) , which has 

 killed practically every chestnut tree within twenty miles of 

 New York. The tree is severely injured by fire, on account 

 of the lightness and inflammability of its bark. 



The wood is light, stiff, strong, and very durable in contact 

 with the soil. It is used for ties, poles, building material, posts, 

 slack cooperage and furniture. The wood is distilled, and pro- 

 duces a tanning extract used in the place of tan bark. The cut 

 of chestnut has increased nearly 100 per cent, in the past decade. 



The Oaks, White, Red and Black. 



For their best development our native oaks require a rich, 

 moist soil, situated in cover or on the lower slopes of a hill. 

 With the exception of the swamp white oak, they will not grow 

 on wet land; and, on the other hand, they make a fair growth 

 on the top of dry, exposed ridges. 



They require considerable sunlight for their best develop- 

 ment, but the black and red oaks will stand some shading. The 

 white oak is quite intolerant. 



The white oak bears seed nearly every year, but the trees of 

 the black oak family require two years to mature the acorns. 



The oak is a slow-growing tree, requiring at best seventy-five 

 years to obtain a tree of saw log size. The black and red oak 

 grow more rapidly than the white in early youth, but the 

 white oak maintains its growth for a longer period, so that at 

 the age of maturity there will be little to choose between them 

 as to size. 



Brown-tail and gypsy moths seem to be particularly fond of 

 oaks, but, as they eat other species very readily, this preference 

 is not of great importance. The " saddled prominent " (Hetero- 



