10 



but grows more rapidly once it *gets established. The trees in 

 plats 1 and 8 were planted the same day. Those in plat 8 have 

 made the best season's growth, Max. 25, Av. 14, and Min. 6 

 inches. In plat 1, the growth for the year is, Max. 19, Av. 11, 

 and Min. 4 inches. The soil in these two plats is very similar 

 in quality and elevation. Plat 8 has the better leaf canopy, not 

 so much on account of the varieties of trees, as of uniformity 

 of growth. This may account for the better growth of pines in 

 this plat. In plat 30 the pines are tlie tallest trees, and have as 

 yet no shelter. They have made poorer growth the past season 

 than did those in plats 1 and 8, which had shelter the oonv- 

 sponding season after planting. This is the most promising 

 evergreen growing at the Station, both for forest plats and for 

 lawri planting. 



BOX ELDER. 



This most valuable nurse tree, is making best growth in plats 

 4 and 5, in which it constitutes three-fourths of the original 

 planting. In plat 4, about one-half the Box Elders were two 

 years old when set, the other half being trees of one year's growth. 

 The two-year olds have made much the better growth from the 

 first, and now average 12 ft. 6 in. in height, with a diameter of 

 2 to 3 inches one foot from the ground. These trees are past 

 the stage of cultivation, having permitted the germination of 

 actually no foul seed beneath their shade this season. Their 

 growth has been remarkably even and their leaf canopy, during 

 the past summer, was perfect. They have made an average 

 growth this season of about 40 in., directing upward fine, 

 straight boles, so that the plat now assumes the appearance of 

 a fine young forest. Already a tendency to self prune is noticed, 

 the lower branches being very weak and slender, and bearing 

 few leaves, except at their ends, which, in their search for light, 

 reach out and fill every opening thus making the shade more 

 dense. 



Though the Box Elder themselves are making fine growth, 

 it must be borne in mind that they are only the temporary 

 trees, to act as nurses to the Birch and White Pines, planted 

 among them. Their shade seems to make very little difference 

 with the growth of the pines, but, already, the Birches are 



