FORESTRY. 221 



a capital tree, with a fine head, excellent foliage ; and when 

 the tree is ^VelI-establishcd it produces a sub-acid fruit, 

 which is almost as luscious as the strawberry. It is within 

 the power of anybody, anywhere in Massachusetts, even upon 

 our hill-tops, to cultivate that tree and have an abundance 

 of its luscious fruit, which is as large as the blackberry ; not 

 equal to it, but, as a substitute, wdiere the blackberry cannot 

 grow, there is nothing better. 



I believe that the least a speaker can do, on an occasion 

 like this, is to be well prepared and give proper attention to 

 his topic. That I have not been able to do, having been 

 called upon quite unexpectedly, and that will be my excuse 

 for not occupying more of your time. 



The Chairman. The audience are certainly very much 

 obliged to Col. Wilson and would have been glad to listen 

 to him longer. 



Mr. Manning. I would like to say a word about the 

 catalpa. It is a tree that grows well and rapidly. When 

 planted in rich land it bears one of the largest leaves you 

 will lind anywhere, unless you count the cabbage leaf. I 

 have seen them ten inches in diameter. 



Mr. Grinnell. Is it hardy? 



Mr. Manning. I don't think the young tree is perfectly 

 hardy ; it will kill back a little. I set out one about seven 

 feet high and it died down perhaps four inches, and the next 

 year sent up shoots from half a foot to seven feet. I moved 

 it in November and every bud started out. It is safe to 

 move it any time either in the fall or spring. I believe when 

 they get well established they are hardy. Mr. Douglass has 

 planted several hundred acres of the white ash, the catalpa 

 and some other trees, along railroad lines. He has taken a 

 contract to plant nine hundred acres for one railroad com- 

 pany. They plough the land for him and he puts in the 

 trees after it has been cultivated for one year. He tills that 

 land for five years, and sets out twenty-seven hundred trees, 

 and is to guaranty two thousand trees to the acre. He does 

 that for the most marvellously low price you ever heard of. 

 It is less than $20 an acre, the whole thing. 



Mr. Slade. Is there any more difficulty in transplanting 

 the holly than any other evergreen? 



