LEHIGH UNIVERSITY TREE PLANTING 



IN the spring of 191 5 Lehigh University started an 

 experiment in tree planting for the purpose of show- 

 ing the development of different species of trees best 

 suited for forestry in Eastern Pennsylvania. A tract of 

 land, five and a half acres in extent, on a hill back 

 of the University campus was used for the planting, the 

 details of which were described by Dr. N. M. Emery, 

 vice-president of the University to members of the Penn- 

 sylvania Forestry Association at Foxburg, Pennsylvania, 

 in June, 1915. 



In order to have the most expert advice obtainable in 

 developing this project President Henry S. Drinker, 

 of the University, conferred with two men who had 

 for years given unstintingly of their time and energy to 

 the consideration of problems affecting forestry condi- 

 tions in Pennsylvania and throughout our country, men 



tree plantation is located on a gently sloping mountain 

 side of approximately 900 feet elevation ; at places the 

 soil is good, at other places it is thin or rocky. The land 

 is entirely unsuitable for agricultural or even grazing 

 purposes, and is typical of thousands of acres of Penn- 

 sylvania mountain land waiting to be reclaimed by scien- 

 tific reforestation. 



All of these features, together with the prevailing 

 winds and the relative position of the highway, were 

 taken into account by Dr. Rothrock and Mr. Elliott in 

 making their plan. 



The following trees were planted: 500 jack pine, 

 400 scotch pine, 500 white pine, 500 pitch pine, 400 red 

 (or Norway) pine, 400 western yellow (or bull) pine, 

 400 European larch, 500 Norway spruce, 100 red spruce, 

 100 hemlock, 100 yellow birch, 400 bur-oak, 300 black 



DEMOtfSTPATIOtf TRCC PLAN/lATlOrL 



AT LCHIOH UNIVCESITY 



of international reputation of whom all foresters are 

 fittingly proud Dr. J. T. Rothrock, of West Chester, 

 first Commissioner of Forestry of Pennsylvania, and the 

 late Hon. S. B. Elliott, of Reynoldsville, of the Forestry 

 Reservation Commission, the Nestor of the foresters of 

 the State. These two men cheerfully and enthusiastically 

 undertook the task of determining how this tract could 

 best be laid out for the desired purpose. 



First of all a careful survey was made, the tract was 

 cleared of the scrub growth, and a mesh wire fence 

 erected around the entire property except the side im- 

 mediately adjoining the University's Arboretum, the posts 

 being obtained from the scattered trees which had to be 

 removed in order to put the plan into operation. Inci- 

 dentally it is interesting that enough was realized from 

 the sale of cordwood to meet the expense of clearing 

 the ground, and of planting the new trees. 



The land which was set aside for this experimental 



oak, 100 pin oak, 300 white oak, 400 sugar maple, 600 

 tulip poplar, 600 basswood,. 700 white ash, 300 wild black 

 cherry, 100 elm, and 300 honey locust, a total of 8,000. 



In order to make the experiment scientifically valuable, 

 seedlings of the same age were secured, most of them 

 being furnished by the State nurseries. This experi- 

 mental tree plantation was the beginning of a practical 

 scientific experiment, so far unique in this country, which 

 is bound in ten, twenty and fifty years to be productive 

 of information of great value to the forestry interests 

 of Pennsylvania and of the country at large. 



Mr. S. B. Elliott said of the work: "The main cause 

 which led me to recommend the establishment of a 

 Demonstration Plantation of trees that are of economic 

 importance for the production of needful forest products 

 was, that thus far, in this country, we have been with- 

 out practical knowledge of forest growth, and the adapta- 

 tion of species to locations and environments ; and hence. 



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