24 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[February, 



land growing into value again from the very 

 start. Even land that is" good enough for 

 grazing can be planted- with trees if the' cattle 

 are kept otl' until the young trees are too large 

 to be destroyed by tlieni. Any kind of grass 

 that loves shade can be sown in sucli places, 

 and make nearly if not quite as much pasture 

 as if it had the benelit of full sunshine. The 

 trees should, of course, not be planted quite as 

 close as when it is not intended to be pastured. 

 But shall we plant the tree-seeds where we 

 want the trees, or shall we plant young trees 

 out of the nursery rows ? If we do plant the 

 seeds where the trees are to grow, at what 

 time shall we plant V 



In any place where cattle cannot get, and 

 where they will not be injured through other 

 causes, plant the seed on the laud the trees 

 are intended to occupy and plant thick, for 

 then there will be enough strong seedlings 

 that will take care of themselves, and besides 

 some seeds may be imperfect, or the young 

 seedlings may be destroyed through sun-scalds, 

 insects or other causes. 



As to the time of planting the seed, observe 

 when they fall. That is nature's own time to 

 plant, and you will not go far wrong in follow- 

 ing her. If you cannot plant at this time, 

 walnuts and other hard nuts should be buried 

 in the gi-ound a few inches below the surface 

 until spring opens, so that they will have the 

 advantage of alternate freezing and thawing ; 

 chestnuts and other seeds that have a soft 

 shell may be jireserved in moist sand. The 

 growing of seedlings can best be made known 

 in an article by Mr. Hiller, or some other 

 nurseryman, as to get them to transplant well 

 requires a manipulation that I am not compe- 

 tent to describe in all its detail. 



When planted with the object of growing 

 timber for building purposes, a man must look 

 a long time ahead" fur the full reward of his 

 labor and outlay, as even the fastest growing 

 trees require almost a lifetime before they are 

 in a fit condition to cut into boards, planks 

 and joists. But this need deter no one from 

 planting such trees, for the land on which they 

 grow becomes more valuable every year, and 

 if put up at public sale, after a lapse of years, 

 ■woidd show an increase in prices over land 

 not so planted that would fully satisfy any 

 person who has been in the habit of receiving 

 only legal interest. 



At the head of all timber trees for building 

 purposes stands the white pine, and second to 

 it only, and often more valuable, is the yellow 

 pine. The latter is the species now so exten- 

 sively planted in parts of Virginia, where 

 land being so cheap the original outlay is very 

 light, indeed, towards what it would be should 

 land of the same quality be purchased for 

 this purpose in the Middle or Eastern States. 

 In all cases it must be borne in mind, that 

 such trees only as are suited to the climate 

 should be planted. For this reason the yellow 

 pine is the favorite in Virginia and south of 

 that, while in Massachusetts the larch seems 

 to be the choice, it being a tree essentially 

 suited to its colder climate. The hemlock is 

 a northern tree, of pretty rapid growth, but 

 is very little planted for timber, as far as 1 can 

 leam, probably on account of the poor quality 

 of the timber it furnislies and the low price 

 at which the lumber sells. 



For machinery, implements and fancy and 

 ornamental work, there are many trees suit- 

 able for planting, and the timber of these 

 sells at much higher prices than those used 

 mostly for building purposes only. Wild- 

 cherry, walnut, niajjle antl cedar are in good 

 demand from cabinet and furniture makers, 

 and such as make fancy or household ma- 

 chines. For machinery and implements, 

 hickory, white oak, ash and tulip-tree (called 

 poplar in many parts,) are wanted, and bring 

 very good prices at a medium size. The osier 

 willow is oftentimes very profitably planted 

 on the margins of streams running through 

 meadows, where it would not be advisable to 

 plant trees of larger growth, because they 

 would throw too much shade. There is usually 

 a good demand for the osiers from local basket 

 makers, or they can be readily sold in any 

 town. 



For fencing we need hardly mention more 

 than two species, the chestnut and the locust, 

 both being fast growers and durable, particu- 

 larly the latter. Sassafras and cedar are also 

 durable, but their slow growth forbids tlieir 

 being planted to any extent. I think there is 

 no tree which brings in greater returns in a 

 short time than the locust, for it always brings 

 a high price and is always salable. Chestnut 

 probably woidd bring more money in fifteen 

 or twenty years than locust, providing the 

 former sprouted up from the stumps of trees 

 just cut down, but when both grown from 

 seed the latter will make a dollar's worth of 

 posts sooner than the former will rails to that 

 amount. 



Fuel, though not the object, will be abun- 

 dantly 'provided by any of' the trees already 

 mentioned, in the way of thinnings, dead trees 

 and oflal. If planted especially for fuel, I do 

 not know of any trees that furnish it in a 

 shorter time than the white willow in moist 

 places, and the pitch pine in dryer situations. 

 The wood does not make as good fuel as many 

 others, it not throwing as much heat, nor for 

 as long a time ; but when more heat is needed 

 we have a ready source in our coal mines, 

 where good fuel can be dug cheaper than it is 

 in our power to grow of the same quality. 

 Coal is much better, cheaper and handier for 

 heating purposes and regular cooking; but 

 there is many a time, particularly in the sum- 

 mer, when for a short time only a little fire is 

 wanted, and that quickly, that light, free- 

 burning wood answers better in every way. 



Our people are generally known as one who 

 take up a new idea very quickly, and the more 

 so providing there is money in it ; but when 

 the idea is so very radical as to require them 

 to plant timber trees where they have been 

 used to cutting down, as did also their fathers 

 and forefathers, then it may be that the idea 

 would better be quickened into active life by 

 awarding prizes, not for the largest number 

 planted, as is in some cases done, but accord- 

 ing to the number planted. This awarding of 

 prizes should not be left to be borne by agri- 

 cultural societies, but should be done by the 

 State, as it is ultimately for the good of the 

 whole country. It may be claimed that the 

 State has no right to engage in such matters 

 as the giving of prizes to individuals. As far 

 as making new offices for this purpose is con- 

 cerned, we do not believe that it would be 

 policy 'for the State to have anything to do 

 with it, nor, perhaps, even the paying of the 

 prizes themselves, but laws could be enacted 

 requiring oui supervisorsof roads to pay them, 

 and thus each section of country would be 

 liable for all improvements of this kind. A 

 law was passed, a few years ago, requiring 

 supervisors to pay a certain sum, yearly, for 

 each water-trough put up and kept in repair 

 along the public roads, and I do not see that 

 it has been interfering with their other duties, 

 neither would that of paying for trees do so. 



The preservation of the forests is a subject 

 which has received the attention of the law- 

 makers of many European countries, notalily 

 tliat of France and Germany, wliere a man 

 may not cut down a tree on his own land 

 without a warrant from the forest master, and 

 the latter uses his judgment without fear or 

 favor as to the advisability of cutting, not 

 with regard to its being profitable to the owner, 

 but as "to being the best for the country at 

 large. There are certain rules and regulations 

 maTle governing the master, by wliich he must 

 abide, and he has very little chance of annoy- 

 intJ those with whom he has dealings, as long 

 as^they conform to the law ; as civil service, 

 without the reform, is the law of the land, 

 each officer finds it his interest to conform 

 strictly with the law. 



No Legislature in the United States, wonld 

 yet dare to pass a forest law that would pre- 

 vent a man from cutting down any tree he 

 pleased, standing on his own land, as it would 

 be regarded as infringing on individual rights, 

 but Thave no doubt that laws with regard to 

 this and many more matters, curtailing the 

 action of individuals, will be made and 

 1 thought only as a matter of course. Califor- 



nia has passed a law forbidding the cutting 

 down of the famous " pines," but as they are 

 on land still bell 

 lature had a per 



— _ — , , ...---_ _j — ^ 



on land still belonging to the State the Legis 



rfect right to pass such laws as 

 it .saw fit 



they 

 LeL- 

 laws as 



Besides planting for timber and fuel there 

 are other reasons for such a course, both in a 

 useful and an ornamental sense, but as it 

 would make the article too long another time 

 must answer for a further covisideration. — 

 A. B. K. 



HOEING WHEAT. 

 Oxford, Oakland Co., Miehiaran, 1 

 Feb. 6, 1878. J 

 Prof. S. S. Rathvon — Bear tiir : I take a 

 fancy to your paper and inclose you a dollar ; 

 send me the paper as long as you can afford 

 for the money. 



I have a word to say in regard to hoeing 

 wheat, which I think will be a benefit to farm- 

 ers in general. 1 believe that this matter of 

 giving our wheat ground a good loosening in 

 the spring is a matter of the greatest import- 

 ance. As we harrow the wheat, with an ordi- 

 nary harrow, it simply stirs the very surface 

 of the ground in a very imperfect manner, 

 without penetrating to a depth suflicient to 

 give the roots of the plant any benefit what- 

 ever, and packed as solid as the most of our 

 ground is left by the freezing and thawing of 

 the winter, it seems almost a. miracle that the 

 jilant can make any headway at all, and I be- 

 lieve that if we are going to try to increase 

 the yield of our wheat crop, one of the most 

 important tilings is to be able to thoroughly 

 stir the ground in the spring. And the 

 nicest thing I know of for this purpose 

 is the machine manufactured and patented 

 by A. B. Travis, Brandon, Oakland 

 county, Michigan, on which he received 

 a prize medal and diploma at the Cen- 

 tennial Exposition at Philadelphia, in 187G. 

 Several of the largest and most influential 

 farmers in the county tried the Travis hoe 

 last spring,and all agreed that it improved the 

 crop at least 25 per cent., judging from the 

 appearance of tlie heads at harvest. They 

 were longer and broader, and the kernels 

 standing out much more prominent, on ac- 

 count of their size and plumpness. 



We had a trial of the Travis hoe in our 

 neighborhood last spring on the farms of one 

 of our best men, and was witnessed by several 

 of our largest farmers; among them were 

 those that had 200 and 240 acres of wheat on 

 the sround, and it was pronounced a complete 

 succ-ess. By this trial I have learned that 

 wheat can be hoed with horses as readily as 

 corn, and looks as much improved as a corn- 

 field when well cultivated. The machine is 

 very simple and adjustable ; one man can 

 handle it with great nicety and drive the team. 

 "With it wheat can be hoed. as fast as it can be 

 put into the ground with a drill, as it is the 

 same width aiid number of hoes and space of 

 drill. I think it would be an advantage to 

 farmers to drill their wheat farther apart in 

 order that a large tooth may be used. Some 

 of our farmers that have narrow drills left out 

 every other tooth, calculating to use a large 

 tooth in hoeing, and give a thorough cultiva- 

 tion. , , 



Hoeing wheat is a new idea, and there is a 

 great deal to be learned. I would like to hear 

 Uirough your columns the best methods and 

 results. 'l shall take particular pains to give 

 wheat hoeing a fair trial on my own farm, 

 and will give you the results by measure.— 

 Fours, etc., P. K. Bnnta. 



rWe refer our correspondent to an article 

 on the same subject in the November No. of 

 The Farmer, i877,a copy of which we have 



mailed him.] 



^ 



THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE 



OF DAIRYING. 



The annual convention of the American 

 Dnirymen's Association, of which ex-Governor 

 Sevraour is the President, was held at Cleve- 

 land, Ohio, Jan. 8, 9 and 10. The following 

 is from the address of Mr. J. H. Keall, of 

 Philadelphia, who has for many years taken a 



