78 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



We have carried it on the third yeav, and we raise our own 

 trees, because it is cheaper. We raise them for $3 a thou- 

 sand, and cannot buy them for less than $15. We have our 

 nurseries there, and the first thing w^as to establish an ample 

 system of protection. We have been able to control forest 

 fires, and nothing serious has happened. Then we have 

 planted out a large amount of various mixtures, and we have 

 been trj^ing hard to bring down the cost of raising. We 

 have taken existing wood lands, and they have been thinned, 

 and the trees left given a bettor opportunity for growth. A 

 forestry man believes in planting the trees where he can see 

 them. We give the young trees care for a few years, and 

 then set them out. We have an exhibit here to-day, in the 

 rear of the hall, to show the size of stock in the various stages 

 and sizes used for planting, and photographs which show the 

 work in operation. 



Question. What proportion of those trees you plant 

 will succeed? 



Mr. BoRST. We have 65 per cent. 



The Chair. It has been suggested that the Agricultural 

 College have some one to teach forestry. Perhaps jVIr. 

 Draper, one of the trustees, can tell us about the facilities 

 for teaching it there, 



Mr. James Draper (of Worcester). During the lecture, 

 when the suggestion was made that a nursery be established 

 at the State's expense, it occurred to me at once that it 

 might be done at the Agricultural College. We have the 

 necessary land, and a professor capable of teaching forestry. 

 We have young men who no doubt would like to be instructed 

 in a more liberal line of forestry than at present, and I believe 

 we have an equipment sufficient to grow and furnish young 

 nursery stock to the best advantage. I went over the State 

 nursery grounds at Boylston^ the past sunmier, to Avhich Mr. 

 Borst has referred, and was particularly interested in the 

 planting. We were shown the method of reforestation, and 

 a model nursery managed in a practical way. I was sui*- 

 prised to see what a large per cent of plants were grown 

 there so successful!}-. If the State is to start another nurs- 

 ery, I want to put in a strong Avord for the college nursery 



