46 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



acre as they were years old. A natural growth of birches would 

 follow their removal, and would mature with the pines. 



Emineut medical authorit}' assures us that where pines are 

 grown to any considerable extent ihe atmosphere becomes satu- 

 rated with a sort of resinous vapor, peculiarly adapted to soothe 

 and alleviate the sufferings attendant on pulmonary complaints. 

 As nearly all lung diseases are supposed to be the legitimate prod- 

 uct of the climatic influences of iS'ew England, not onh' our inter- 

 ests but our dut}' to humanity should stimulate our efforts to 

 further this industry. 



Thus far I have spoken chiefly of the White Pine because it is 

 well adapted to all worn-out, sandy soils away from the sea-shore, is 

 easily propagated, grows rapidly, and at 30 years of age repre- 

 sents more value than any other forest tree in New England. 

 Experiments are not wanting where other forest trees of various 

 kinds have been grown from seed, giving satisfactory- results. 



One instance is that of Mr. Zachariah Allen, of Providence, 

 R.I., where an old pasture, containing 40 acres, and valued at 

 $15 per acre, was seeded to a variety of forest trees. An accurate 

 account current was kept, showing that the lot, for a period of 

 57 3'ears, paid 6 -^^;j per cent per annum on the original invest- 

 ments. 



Mr. Joseph S. Fay, of Wood's Holl, Mass., late a member of 

 the Board of Agriculture, has very kindly given me some of his 

 experience in forest tree planting, briefly stated, which I here in- 

 troduce. He says: '"The greater part of a place I bought at 

 Wood's Holl some j^ears ago was made up of hill}* pasture land, 

 — worn-out, sandy, gravelly soil, with many bowlders. It was 

 exposed to high winds from Buzzard's Bay, and was of very 

 little value for cultivation. I began by trying some seed of the 

 native Pitch Pine, sowing it broadcast on the surface in the spring. 

 I afterward bought seeds of the Scotch Pine, and some other 

 varieties, and sowed it from time to time, until I had covered 

 about 100 acres. I used some White Pine seed; but this kind 

 is not suitable to the sea-shore, and unless sheltered from the 

 salt water does not thrive. The native Pitch Pines did well for a 

 time, but they seem of late to be taken with a blight, that has 

 destroyed many of tbem. The Scotch Pines have done ver3- well, 

 and will make good fuel, though I am doubtful as to Aeir value 

 for timber. I suppose my planting for the last lo^fears will 

 average 15 feet in height, which is 1 foot a year, and a thick 



