HOW PLANTS ARE PROPAGATED 359 



which are free from attacks of diseases and insects, and 

 which produce the least amount of objectionable waste 

 matter (such as the woolly substance on the leaves of the 

 sycamore or buttonwood). A tree on which the leaves 

 come out early and hang till late autumn is also desirable. 

 The particular locality will determine which trees possess 

 these characteristics. 



Trees which send their roots into sewers, cisterns, and 

 wells should not be planted, for they will always cause 

 trouble. The poplar, willow, and buttonwood are of 

 this type. 



246. Forest Trees. The American people have been 

 too wasteful and careless in cutting trees and are now 

 beginning to realize the loss thus incurred. The lumber- 

 men are being advised as to the best methods of caring for 

 the young trees. The waste limbs are being thrown into 

 heaps to prevent the spread of destructive forest fires. 

 Young trees are often planted where old trees are cut 

 down, so that the forest is renewed. Many paper mills 

 own the forests from which the soft wood is obtained for 

 making paper and they have the wood cut at the season 

 when the most new sprouts will grow from the stumps of 

 the trees. Then in 10 to 20 years they can cut over the 

 same ground again. Soft wood grows rapidly. 



The United States Department of Forestry has control 

 of thousands of acres of forest land and trained men, called 

 forest rangers, travel about in these forests to indicate 

 what trees ought to be cut and to care for the young trees 

 and also to prevent forest fires. 



Every farmer or large landowner ought to have all 

 waste land covered with trees, if possible. Where there 

 is no waste land or land unfit for cultivation, at least 10 

 per cent of the farm should be growing trees. Pasture 



