



PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 297 



It cannot be the beech, which decays in three years but requires fifty 

 times that period for its production. 



Is it the cypress, whose wood is so much in demand for its longevity? 

 This cannot be for six hundred years are required to grow a tree four feet in 

 diameter. 



The cedar of the north valued for making most ideal telegraph poles. 

 This may be the tree? But no, count the rings which mark the annual increase 

 on any telegraph pole, and you will be tired of counting before you have 

 finished. 



Is it the red cedar? The same argument is offered against planting 

 this tree, that so long a period must elapse before any benefit can be received 

 by the planter. 



What tree then can be grown from which there may be a harvest within 

 the lifetime of the planter? Of course the tree must be of economic value. 

 It must be suited for lumber manufactures, house construction, cabinet wood, 

 or for paper, or perhaps for cross ties and telegraph poles. 



There are very many trees which are valuable for ornament, for shade, 

 for street, lawn and park planting, trees variegated in foliage, beautiful in 

 flower, majestic in stature, and possessing every known quality for these 

 purposes, but what we are seeking is a tree of economic value in manufactures 

 or in commerce. What tree will fill the bill? 



Possibly the cottonwood or some form bf the poplar family. Here we 

 have rapidity of growth, but lack durability of wood. A tree of large dimen- 

 sions, but unsuited for most uses as lumber. Yet one valuable quality it has, 

 the rapid production of pulp and paper. If we want that one quality, we can 

 and should plant cottonwood, especially where sufficient moisture is available. 



What of the pines? The yellow pines of the South and ponderosa of the 

 West should be protected where they are growing naturally and where they 

 have made some progress. 



This is very important to protect and perpetuate these natural growths, 

 but if we are to plant trees with a view to having a return bearing even a 

 small interest on the investment, no one would think of planting any of 

 these trees, the period of whose growth is beyond a century. 



There are many places in the semi-arid regions, however, where from 

 want of summer rains deciduous trees will not grow without irrigation. In 

 such locations the bull pine and other native coniferous trees should be 

 extensively planted. 



The white pine presents another fe.ature. This is a tree of rapid growth, 

 succeeds in the far North, as well as in the middle states, grows upon rough 

 land, among rocks, or in level sand tracts. In fact, is almost universal in its 

 habits. Much may be said of white pine, and is mentioned at greater length 

 elsewhere. It is a most valuable wood for many uses, but it is unsuited 

 for ties or telegraph poles. It has no beauty of grain and is thus not fitted 

 for cabinet purposes. 



And so we might enumerate the eucalyptus, useful in tropic regions; 

 the chestnut, valuable for ties, poles, rough lumber, fence posts and fuel ; 



