FOBEST PLANTING IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



25 



SILVER MAPLE (Acer saccharinum Linn.). 



Silver maple is a rapid-growing tree, probably ranking next to 

 cottonwood in this respect among the species discussed. It is also 

 very hardy and comparatively free from serious insect or fungous 

 attack. The tree, which reaches maturity in from 35 to 40 years, 

 forms a rather crooked, twisted bole, and so yields very little lumber. 

 Its chief value is for cord wood, or to insure a windbreak in a short 

 time. Silver maple is occasionally used for posts for temporary 

 fences, but is not durable in contact with the soil, and unless treated 

 with a preservative, will not last more than two or three years. 



Since silver maple is easily and cheaply propagated, it is a good 

 tree to plant for the production of cordwood in the Middle Western 

 States, and probably also in any part of the Northeast, provided the 

 plantation is made on well-drained soils which are not subject to 

 excessive drying out. A spacing of 6 by 8 feet is close enough. 



In Table 4 $2.50 per cord has been assumed as the average stump- 

 age value for the species. 



TABLE 4. Yield and value of silver maple (Acer saccharinum). 



EUROPEAN LARCH (Larix europaea deC.). 



European larch has been planted quite extensively in Illinois and 

 Iowa, and to some extent in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massa- 

 chusetts. Results, however, do not bear out the claims made for it 

 (see Table 5). This is in part because plantations in this country 

 have not been made in situations similar to the native habitat of the 

 species which is in the higher, cooler altitudes; the trees have not 

 always been properly spaced, and the cost of planting stock has 

 often been excessive (in one case $51 per thousand and in several 



1 The complete record kept of the amount of cordwood cut each year accounts for the large value of 

 the products for this plantation. 



