FOREST TREE PLANTING. 14a 



their wood, but must have time for the heart wood to ripen,, 

 in order to become of the highest value. A black-walnut 

 tree at the age of fifty years will have a certain value ; at 

 the age of a hundred years it will be five times more valua- 

 ble, simply from age, which ripens the heart wood. That 

 has been demonstrated beyond peradventure, and has been 

 determined by the very highest authorities in forestry. 



We will assume that we have selected a location that is fit 

 for wheelwright stock. I do not care to raise lumber the high- 

 est use of which is for boxes. I do not care to engage in 

 the lowest grades of labor. I do not believe that community 

 is the wisest and best that encourages men to depend upon 

 the pick and shovel solely for an income. Consequently, I 

 would not raise timber for box boards when I can raise it to 

 make pianofortes. Now, we will suppose that our soil is 

 adapted to the raising of fine hardwoods. We want to plant 

 the seeds. Do not buy your trees ^of the nurseryman ; raise 

 them yourselves. It is just as necessary for the perfect suc- 

 cess of forestry that the trees should be planted in a nurs- 

 ery where they are to grow, as it is in any other thing ; con- 

 sequently, you want to start your nursery ahead. Don't 

 sow your seed broadcast. Don't trust to luck for the seed 

 to come up. Select your seed carefully and plant them as 

 thickly as you would for orchard trees. After one or two 

 years — one year is better — plant them out in the land you 

 have prepared by ploughing and cultivating properly. 



Now, as to planting. Men talk about setting out the trees 

 ten feet apart. True, the matured trees ought to be ten or 

 twenty feet apart ; but what we want to get is trees up in 

 the air, tall and straight ; you do not want spreading pasture- 

 trees. Consequently, they must be planted near together, in 

 regular rows, so that they can be cultivated. The best success 

 is attained by planting the trees from three to four feet apart, 

 making a thicket of them. They will stretch upward for the 

 sun and air and you will get a straight shaft in a short time. 



The trees should be cultivated. They should be planted 

 in rows, so that you can run a cultivator through them if 

 necessary. It may be that the weeds will not trouble you ; 

 but the bushes and the rubbish that will come in must be 

 cleaned out. You understand that these plants are young ;. 



