294 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



to grow. It would then be well to write to the forester 

 of the United States Department of Agriculture, stating the 

 ultimate purpose in making such a plantation, what the gen- 

 eral soil conditions are, and something about the lay of the 

 land, its area, and to what use adjoining lands are put. He 

 will thereby secure the best of professional advice as to his 

 best course, and without charge. 



As a rule, it is good policy to make use of native varieties 

 when planting ; and, on the whole, it is cheapest to use 

 seedlings rather than seed. There are a few trees other 

 than natives which will do well here under proper soil con- 

 ditions ; and among them may be mentioned the European 

 larch, which is a more rapid grower than white pine, and 

 which makes a fine, strais'ht-ofrained and lio;ht building 

 timber. The western hardy catalpa (CcUaljM speciosa) is 

 another tree which it is believed has great possibilities in 

 this region. This again is a rapid-growing tree, making 

 good railroad ties, posts, etc., in sixteen years from the 

 seed. It has already been demonstrated by a western rail- 

 road that catalpa ties outlast all others, their life in mud 

 ballast being over thirty years. In low, wet places the 

 white willow (SaJix lucida) is a valuable tree. A growth 

 of eight years makes charcoal stock, and anything up to 

 four inches in diameter is available for the powder mills. 

 White or swamp maple {Acer dasycarjjum) is another good 

 tree for low ground, and its wood is in demand for last- 

 making. Both the willow and the maple sprout vigorously. 



While it is much to be desired that the waste places on 

 the farm should be made to yield a wood crop, it is hoped 

 that the existing wood lot will not be neglected. It is most 

 important that it should be improved and perpetuated. It 

 would be a needless waste of space to enter here upon a dis- 

 cussion of the methods of planting or cutting, since the 

 Federal Department of Agriculture has prepared an excel- 

 lent little pamphlet of forty-eight pages on these subjects. 

 This pamphlet is known as " Forestry for Farmers," and a 

 copy can be secured by any one who will address a postal 

 card to the Secretary of Agriculture at Washington. Every 

 farmer in Massachusetts should secure a copy, read its pages 

 carefully, and keep it on his shelf for reference when he has 



