FOREST PLANTING IN OHIO 65 



freeze back in heavy soils in low exposures of northern Ohio. It 

 is quite tolerant of shade, and may be used to fill gaps in open 

 woods. 



Black locust, Robinia pseudacacia. Black locust is a very 

 rapid grower in youth, the wood of which ranks second to osage 

 orange in durability. It tolerates all Ohio soils excepting the 

 heavy wet clays. Plantations produce posts in from 12 to 18 

 years, depending on soil. This species is subject to attacks by a 

 boring insect which injures and sometimes kills the trees. In 

 some sections the trees are apparently immune from attacks, or 

 infestations are too light to be harmful. The tree is valuable for 

 reclaiming eroded and worn out lands and especially pastures. It 

 may be planted among other trees where the stands are too thin, 

 providing it is not overtopped by them. It is intolerant and should 

 not be planted in woods where it will be shaded. 



Hardy catalpa, Catalpa speciosa. Hardy catalpa is a rapid 

 growing species on fertile, moist soils. It is best adapted to the 

 western half of the State. The tree is quite sensitive to soil con- 

 ditions and will prove disappointing when not adapted in this 

 respect. The wood is quite durable, light, tough and strong. 

 There are two species of catalpa of which only the hardy catalpa 

 should be planted. 



Other species for forest planting may include such species as 

 burr, swamp, white, and pin oaks, which are adapted to poorly- 

 drained, heavy soils/ but not swamps. The pin oak is a rapid- 

 growing species but its lumber is sometimes defective because of 

 knots, resulting from the persitance with which the species retains 

 numerous small lateral branches. 



CONIFERS AND EVERGREENS 



This group contains some of the most valuable species for 

 reforestation purposes. The pines in particular are rapid grow- 

 ing, adapt themselves to the thinnest, driest and most depleted 

 soils. They thrive and produce timber on sites which are too poor 

 to support the more valuable hardwoods. The pines are especially 

 promising for reforesting the abandoned fields and waste lands in 

 southern Ohio. For windbreaks and shelter belts the evergreens 

 excel on account of the barrier afforded by their compact habit of 

 growth, and the fact that they are in foliage the year 'round. 



In general the planting of evergreen species for timber pro- 

 duction is not advised for the west half of the State, particularly 

 in the heavier limestone soils. This would apply generally to the 



