1 (V2 



THE CANADIAN H0KTICULTUKI6T, 



np to $1,200, 726 trees to the acre 

 would be worth the round sum of 

 .«;2,000, which is $272 more than the 

 wliole outlay would have amounted to 

 at six per cent, compound interest for 

 twenty years. This plantation, Mr. 

 Slade reported from peisonal observa- 

 tions, covers a sterile ridge of sand and 

 gravelly loam. What surprised him 

 most was the number and extent of the 

 ))ranches; beginning near the ground, 

 each tree seemed to vie with its neigh- 

 bor in throwing them out horizontally 

 in every direction, from five to fifteen 

 feet in length, interlocking so as to 

 form in many places an absolutely im- 

 penetrable jungle. The conviction was 

 irresistible that had the trees been pro- 

 perly trimmed from time to time (and 

 the wood would have paid the expense), 

 the present value would have been at 

 least one-third more. There were said 

 to be 10,775 trees, and could the whole 

 growth have been thrown into the 

 trunks, they would at a moderate esti- 

 mate have been worth 25 cents each, or 

 a total of $2,6;>4, exclusive of the land. 

 J. D. G. Williams, Raynham, set a 

 piece of pine in 1850, the value of the 

 land being $10 per acre, and the cost of 

 setting $5 per acre, and after twenty- 

 tive years' growth, the standing wood 

 was sold for $150 per acre, affording a 

 very large profit, and leaving the land 

 in good condition to set again. Mr. 

 Williams also set a piece of pine in 

 1841 on land of the same value, the 

 cost of setting being $G per acre. This 

 is, perhaps, one of the earliest experi- 

 ments of the kind ever made in Biistol 

 County. The trees apparently came to 

 maturity in 1876, having made no per- 

 ceptible growth since that time. They 

 were set in rows, from six to nine feet 

 apartand fromfourto sixfeet in the rows. 

 The lot has an eastern exposure, and 

 the trees on the eastern side were evi- 

 dently set for a wind break, being not 

 moie than four feet apart. They are 



large, with many strong angular 

 branches, resembling in shape an oak 

 as much as a pine, and contain as much 

 timber as those less exposed, but it is 

 not so valuable. In 1876 an experi- 

 enced lumberman estimated this wood 

 at seventy-five cords to the acre, two- 

 thirds being suitable for box boards, 

 worth at the mill, three miles distant, 

 six dollars per cord. No arithmetic is 

 required to show this to have been a 

 profitable investment. 



The late Richai-d Sampson, of Mid- 

 dleborough, set pine trees on a piece of 

 land too poor to cultivate, which are 

 now thirty-one years old, and estimated 

 to be worth $150 per acre, and would 

 probably bring a much higher figure. 

 This piece contains about ten acres, 

 and is remarkable thrifty, and its 

 growth during the next ten years will 

 greatly increase its value. 



The above instances of rapid growth 

 and profitable results are not excep- 

 tional, but are selected because their 

 history could be given more in detail 

 than others. Plantations of pines from 

 five to thirty years old may be found in 

 Norton, Mansfield, Taunton, Raynham, 

 Easton, Randolph, Middleborough and 

 the Bridgewaters, all giving promise of 

 remunerative results. 



THE YELLOW TRANSPARENT. 

 Of all the early varieties of apples 

 adapted to our high latitude the above 

 named Russian, is, all points being con- 

 sidered, the most desirable of anything 

 that I have ever fully tested. It is as 

 hardy as the Duchess, and as thrifty ; 

 comes early into bearing ; fruit medium 

 of size, and in quality good; tree a regu- 

 lar bearer; the apple at its best about the 

 middle of September ; the tree being 

 very upright in its growth will admit 

 of its being set very close in the orchard. 

 The great abundance of light green fol- 

 iage of the tree, and its fruit of marble- 

 like appearance makes a very fine con- 



