Additional Notes on the Pine. 

 BY JOHN ROBINSON. 



BEFORE the regular publication of the BULLETIN a 

 number of extras of the above paper were sent out. 



The very kind reception which it has met and the 

 interest manifested, both by the press and private indi- 

 viduals, make it seem of importance to add a few notes 

 and corrections suggested by gentlemen more familiar 

 with the practical side of arboriculture than the present 

 writer. 



As suggested by Mr. J. J. H. Gregory and others, it 

 would be better in referring to the number of cows pas- 

 tured per acre on certain poor land in the county, to say 

 one cow to four acres, in order to more forcibly represent 

 the average condition of things. 



Mr. Jos. S. Fay of Wood's Holl, who has given many 

 years' attention to the cultivation of forest trees, suggests 

 that the statement regarding the roots of the pine, al- 

 though applicable to the White pine, is not so in the cases 

 of the Red or Pitch pines. These, he says, 



"Have tap roots or large single roots extendiug deeply with a few 

 lateral, but not superficial roots." 



Again, regarding the quotation from Emerson where he 

 says : 



"The soil natural to most pines is that formed by the crumbling of 

 granitic rocks," 



Mr. Fay writes : 



"I think this is far from correct. .The soil of Cape Cod is drift* 

 very sandy, and yet its forests are largely of pine. The White pine 

 certainly grows largest in good bottom land or loamy soil." 



Mr. Fay is also of opinion that when sowing the pine 

 seeds in pastures, the bushes should be mowed down to 

 prevent the young plants from being smothered ; a much 

 better thing to do would be to collect young seedlings for 

 this purpose. These could be raised in prepared laud, or 

 purchased. He says : 



" Small seedlings would do well if planted with a spade among . 

 bushes, because their heads would come to the air, and soon get above 

 their neighbors." 



(145) 



