152 BARNSTABLE SOCIETY. 



seventeen. The surface is uneven, and covered with moss, 

 and, excepting a few acres, has not been cultivated for many- 

 years. The soil is mostly a gravelly loam, and is not what is 

 generally called a pine soil. The trees on the north side of the 

 two acre lot were planted in April, 1833, and now average 

 thirteen feet in height, and measure one foot from the ground, 

 four and a half inches in diameter. Those on the south side 

 were planted the next year, and average twelve feet in height, 

 and four inches in diameter. The seventeen acre lot was 

 planted in the years 1840, 41, and 42. Nearly all of the trees 

 are of the last planting, and they average nearly four feet in 

 height. 



The exact number of trees on each acre I cannot state, but 

 I estimate that the average is much greater tlian is required by 

 the rules of the Society. There are some open places, but on 

 most of the ground there are as many trees as it would be 

 profitable to allow to remain. On one acre, where the soil is 

 much better than on the rest, and in the bottoms, there are no 

 trees. The pitch pine will not grow in stiff greensward; 

 and where the surface is a loose, barren sand, it does not 

 flourish. 



^eed. — The last of October is the best time to gather pine 

 balls. Select those that are of the growth of the present year, 

 spread them on a tight floor — a chamber, having windows open 

 to the south, is a desirable place — and, before spring, the action 

 of the sun and of frosts will open most of the cones, and the seed 

 will drop out. The cones that remain closed may be put 

 into pans, and placed in a warm oven to open. Before planting, 

 the wings should be rubbed ofl" the seeds, and all extraneous 

 matter carefully winnowed out. A bushel of good balls will 

 yield three pints of cleaned seed, which is a sufiicient quantity 

 for three acres. 



Cost of Planting. — Previously to 1842 I planted, by plough- 

 ing furrows lengthwise of the field, eight feet apart, and drop- 

 ping and covering the seed by hand, in the bottom of the furrows. 

 A small part was planted with a hoe, without first ploughing. 

 But both these methods are too expensive, if a large quantity of 

 land is to be planted. In the spring of 1842, I had a machine 



