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Subject for discussion in the forenoon — "The Durability 

 of Different Varieties of Timber and its Adaptability to 

 Farmers' Uses," opened by Charles J. Peabody and Baxter 

 P. Pike of Topsfield, in a very interesting and instructive 

 manner. Mr. Peabody quoted largely as his authority » 

 the report of a State Commission to examine into the for- 

 estry of Massachusetts as far back as 1837. He divided 

 his subject into four classes — woods for farm buildings, for 

 implements and vehicles, for fences, and for fuel. 



The principal building timbers are pine, hemlock and 

 spruce, the latter not abundant in Essex County, and all 

 three of about equal value for building purposes. 



The Essex County pine brings from three to seven dol- 

 lars more per thousand than hemlock, one reason being that 

 hemlock is very much harder to work than pine. 



Of woods for farm implements and vehicles we have the 

 white, yellow and other varieties of oak, five varieties of 

 walnut or hickory, and two of maple. These hard woods 

 are very slow in growth and it is said that it takes 150 

 years for the oak to get its growth. 



Timber that is cut from the last of August to the middle 

 of October seasons the best for the reason that the leaves 

 continue to draw the sap from the trees after they are felled. 



Most of the speakers who followed took occasion to speak 

 of the durability of hemlock, while all agreed that it was 

 harder to work than pine. 



Mr. Edmund Hersey of Hingham, substantially confirmed 

 what Mr. Peabody said for the best and worst time to cut 

 timber, but named August as a good month and said it was 

 not necessary to let the leaves remain on to season the 

 wood. On his soil he found stakes would last one-third 

 longer with the top end in the ground. 



He would cut pine for timber of about forty years growth, 

 when it is apt to be from twelve to twenty-four inches in di- 

 ameter and could see no reason for letting it grow longer. 



In the afternoon Mr. Edmund Hersey of Hingham, gave 

 his experience in the application of plant food. Mr. Hersey 



