FORESTRY. 211 



rows each way, filling in with the white birch. The white 

 birch seemed to aid and protect the white pine as they grew 

 up together. 



Mr. Slade. Do you sow white-birch seed? 



Mr. CusiiMAN. I have never been compelled to gather 

 any white-birch seed and sow it. I have always had an 

 abundance of white birches springing up on the edges of the 

 woodlands ; and I could go and collect a cartload and set 

 them out, and do it cheaper than I could get them by sowing 

 the seed. So I do not know anything ai)out raising white 

 birches from the seed because I have never been obliged to 

 turn my attention in that direction. But in from twelve to 

 fifteen years from the time of setting, I can begin to cut the 

 wood, which is valuable for many purposes. White-birch 

 wood is very good firewood when treated properly. It 

 makes the very best of coal wood. There is always a mar- 

 ket for white birch. And when the white birch is planted 

 with the white pine, there is no necessity of pruning the pine ; 

 the white birch seems to force the pines up into the air ; 

 whereas, if there are no white birches, as was remarked by 

 Mr. Slade, the limbs are thrown out horizontally. So that 

 by planting the white birch and the white pine together we 

 secure a better growth of the white pine and better shaped 

 trees. I cut last winter, and I am to cut this winter, a white- 

 pine forest that I played in when a boy ; and my father told 

 me many times, that a year or two before my birth he raised 

 corn on that land, and sowed white pines just before my ap- 

 pearance. It seems almost incredible to me how rapidly 

 those trees have grown. I cut fifty-three cords of logs from 

 a very few rods over an acre ; and those of you who are 

 good at guessing can tell how many years they have been 

 growing. So it is certainly an industry that is worthy of 

 our attention. 



I believe the white pine is the very l)est tree for us to 

 grow. My experience in selling wood to wheelwrights has 

 not been very flattering. I cut my wheelwright wood — hick- 

 ory and oak — and carry it to tlie mills, and pay the sawyer's 

 bills, and then I am plagued to find a market ; I have to 

 keep it a year, and then perhaps make a barter trade. But 

 the white pine has a cash value any day in the year. There 



