PROPERTIES OF THE WOOD. 



The wood is soft, weak, light, close-grained, creamy- white, with a 

 thick sapwood scarcely distinguishable. Its principal use is as firewood, 

 although occasionally it is utilized for interior finishing, woodenware, 

 cheap furniture, and paper pulp. Maple sugar is occasionally made 

 from the sap. 



SOIL AND SITE. 



The deep, moist soil in valleys and on the borders of swamps and 

 lakes is best suited for the Boxelder. A sandy loam with the water not 

 more than 20 feet below the surface, even though far removed from 

 streams, is also well suited for this species. Although it succeeds best 

 in moist soil near running water, the Boxelder tolerates great variations 

 of climate and soil, and will bear severe exposures and thrive on rocky 

 slopes, or on the semi-arid prairies. The best development is attained 

 in the valley of the lower Ohio and its tributaries. 



PROPAGATION. 



The seeds ripen in early autumn and are usually produced in great 

 abundance. They may be gathered as soon as ripe and planted 

 immediately in the nurse^, or stratified in sand during the winter for 

 spring planting. Collecting in mild climates may even be delayed 

 until winter, as the seeds hang on the tree until spring. Collecting 

 may be done by the local planter, or seed may be purchased at 35 to 

 50 cents per pound. Although produced in abundance and apparently 

 sound, the seeds give an average germination of only 40 to 60 per cent. 

 Often a tree apparently loaded with fruit will have no vital seed what- 

 ever. 



The best way of propagating the Boxelder is to grow the seedlings in 

 nursery beds on rich, well-tilled soil, and when one year old transfer 

 them to the plantation, Spring planting is usually most satisfactory 

 and may be done as soon as the ground becomes warm and dry. The 

 seeds should be sown in rows 3J feet apart for horse cultivation, or 2 

 feet apart for hand cultivation. In the rows the seeds should be 

 planted 1 to 5 inches apart, covered three-fourths to 1 inch deep, and 

 the soil over them gently firmed down by a roller, or pressed with a 

 board. If carefully planted and thoroughly cultivated, the seedlings 

 will attain a height of 10 to 14 inches the first season. No shading of 

 the young plants is necessary. 



Close planting is advised for the Boxelder because of its tolerance of 

 shade and tendency to form a spreading head. In pure stands, 4 by 8 

 feet would be none too close. In a forest plantation it is often more desir- 

 able to plant the tree with more valuable species such as White Elm, 

 Hackberry, locusts, European Larch, Green Ash, and Black Walnut, 



