PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 265 



tracks under the new rail, where he can identify them at any time. The old 

 ties were taken out because they were too thin for the large spikes now used, 

 but not one was rotten or broken. He lays particular stress upon the fact that 

 he has never seen a broken Catalpa tie, while many of the oak ties were found 

 to be broken when taken out. He says that they hold the spike very well, 

 and are not decayed or broken away from corrosion where the metal comes 

 in contact with the wood. 



Mr. Wheeler can also point out many telegraph poles still in good condi- 

 tion where they have been since the line was built. 



Many prominent railroad men have entire confidence in Mr. Brown, and 

 faith in his methods, among whom I will mention Mr. Fish, president of the 

 Illinois Central ; Mr. Smith, president of the Louisville and Nashville, and Mr. 

 Kittredge, chief engineer of the Big Four, all of whom have had plantations 

 started on lands belonging to their respective companies. 



The Illinois Central has the Harahan plantation of two hundred and fifty 

 acres near New Orleans, and also a plantation of two hundred acres at 

 Duquoin, 111. 



The Louisville and Nashville has established a large plantation near 

 Pensacola, Fla. : another at Newport, Ky., near the mouth of the Licking 

 River; one at Shawneetown, 111.; one at East St. Louis, as well as several 

 others at various points in southern Illinois. I am not informed as to the 

 acreage of the Louisville and Nashville plantations. 



The Big Four has a young plantation near Indianapolis. The B. & M. and 

 the B. & A. have started plantations in New England. 



The Southern Pacific has several small plantations in Texas. The N. 

 O. & N. E. has several small plantations on their lands in Louisiana and 

 Mississippi. 



The Mexican Central has recently begun a number of small plantations 

 in Mexico. 



President Diaz, of Mexico, who is deeply interested in the subject, has 

 ordered several plantations for the government of Mexico. 



All of the plantations just mentioned are under the general direction and 

 management of Mr. J. P. Brown, whose services are free for the advancement 

 of the cause, and all are planted 8x8 feet. Unfortunately for the purpose of 

 this report they are of too recent planting to prove what Mr. Brown's method 

 will accomplish in producing trees for cross-ties, but it seems evident from 

 the growth of the street trees in various places and those in farm rows, which 

 have in twelve to eighteen years attained both girth and height sufficient for 

 cross-ties and poles without the slightest attempt at cultivation, that these 

 plantations, under careful and intelligent management, will show results 

 far in advance of those obtained by methods of close planting, which has 

 proved a failure in every case, save in producing fence posts. 



In starting a plantation it is of the greatest importance to secure the 

 right seed or young plants. Neither bignonioides nor hybrids will produce 

 strong, upright growth, no matter which method is followed. Judging 

 entirely from what I have seen, I believe that proper cultivation and pruning 

 will insure good results. 



