26 DAKOTA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 



Robert Douglass, one of the leading practical foresters of the 

 United States, strongly advises the planting of green ash in the west, 

 rather than white, because the former species ranges farther west nat- 

 nrally and is therefore presumed to be better adapted to the climate. 

 While smaller than white ash, the green ash is yet a timber of the 

 highest value for almost all farm uses. No species has given a better 

 stand on our grounds, and none have shown better foliage or stood 

 transplanting better. The seed does not germinate as readily when 

 sown in spring as box elder (see experiments in germination of forest 

 tree seeds), but with fall planted seed we have had quite as good 

 success with the ash as with the box elder. 



The ash is not as good a lawn or street tree as elm. It grows 

 slower in grass and does not make as fine a top. 



WHITE AND YELLOW BIRCH. These species seem to do about 

 equally well in the Station grounds, so they are considered together, 

 though the yellow birch (Betuta lutea) is by far the more desirable 

 timber tree, on account of its greater size. 



The dry weather of last fall and winter showed the weak point of 

 the birches. Nearly all the trees winter-killed very badly, both in 

 the lawn and in nursery rows. A few specimens in the lawn were un- 

 injured and these made a fine growth during the summer. The trees 

 that killed back ( from ^ to f of each tree was killed) have put out 

 strong new branches, and the new growth is perfectly healthy. The 

 birch trees are found native far north into Manitoba, so it could not 

 have been the cold that killed our trees. Both species are beautiful 

 lawn trees, and doubtless they are safe to plant in the lawn; but the 

 -experience of the past year is not favorable to their general planting 

 in timber belts. However, they should receive a further test before 

 being discarded. 



EUROPEAN LARCH. This species also shows the effect of a dry 

 fall and winter. The lawn trees have made very little growth this 

 season. The trees set in the plantation last spring made a fine start 

 and all seemed to be growing; they were set earlier than the other 

 .sorts and before they had begun to grow. But a few weeks of bad 

 weather in May killed quite a n amber of them, and the remainder 

 have made only a moderate growth. Further trial is necessary before 

 .any estimate can be formed. 



GOTTONWOOD. Our young trees of this species, one year old when 

 transplanted last spring, have made a growth that fully explains the 

 popularity of the tree for timber-claim planting. It is being found 

 by experience however, that the cottonwood does not succeed in so 



