FOREST TREE PLANTING. 47 



forest now covers ni}' hundred acres. Being sown broadcast, they 

 have come up too thickly, and I have trimmed out hundreds of 

 loads for fuel, yet those taken out are hardly missed. My neigh- 

 bors on the Cape plant with a hoe, — that is, cut a place in the 

 sod and drop the seed ; others run light furrows, 6 or 7 feet 

 apart, and drop the seed in the furrows at like intervals, and 

 cover lighth', or even not at all, as you may judge b}' mine being 

 scattered on the short grass or moss. The object in planting by 

 their method is the saving of seed, and, moreover, knowing where 

 the seed was dropped, they can see whether it has failed to come 

 up. Some of the seed may not start or be visible for a year or 

 two. Where you are, I suppose White Pine is a natural growth, 

 and would do well. Seeds of the different pines can be procured 

 at most of the Boston seed-stores. I would recommend the 

 American Red Pine (Pimis resinosa) ; but the seed is very scarce, 

 and not readily found. It is the Norwa}' Pine of New Hampshire, 

 and a ver}' tine and valuable species, the wood somewhat like the 

 Southern Yellow Pine. You will see from what I have written 

 that my work has mainly been in pines grown from seed sown 

 broadcast, involving the least possible labor and expense. I have 

 planted Chestnuts, which have made a very satisfactory growth, 

 and would advise planting them, and Black Walnuts, if you have 

 good soil and rocky land. 



" I have planted man}' thousands of other varieties, covering a 

 large surface, among which are the Scotch or Eluropean Larch, 

 Scotch Birch, English Sycamore, Norway Spruce, Willow, and 

 White Ash, all of which have done well. In sowing pine seed 

 broadcast improve the time after a light snow in March or April, 

 so that you can see where the seed falls, that the planting may be 

 uniform and not too thick. If the land is not too poor, Black 

 Walnuts, Butternuts, and especiall}- Chestnuts, planted from the 

 seed, would I am sure prove profitable investments. The seed- 

 ling Ash, if planted 3 feet by 3 even, would in a few 3'ears 

 yield salable hoop-poles, amply pa3'ing cost and interest," 



The foregoing statement plainly shows what has been done in a 

 quiet wa}-, involving but little labor and expense, by one having 

 the will and energy to do it. 



Mr. Frederick Matthews, of Yarmouthport, Mass,, states that he 

 has during the last 40 years planted for himself and neighbors 

 about 3U0 acres of Pitch Pine. This tree is of slow growth ; 

 yet some of the older plantations seeded by Mr, Matthews 



