16 



grown better than the smaller ones; and this indicates that it 

 pays to buy first sizes of yearling trees. 



This plat also shows the value of rapid growing dense-shad- 

 ing trees. Among the two-year-old box elders mentioned the 

 latral branches were cut back in June, so as not to interfere 

 with the cultivator, but by September the branches were 

 slightly interlaced, and the ground was so shaded that no weeds 

 grew, though the more open parts of the plat, with the same 

 cultivation, supported a considerable growth of weeds. 



The white pine is practically a failure. While there are 

 forty-nine pines alive, none have made over five inches of 

 growth in the three seasons they have stood in the plat. The y 

 merely send out a new tuft of leaves in the spring. Possibly 

 they will do better after a few years, but from their action thus 

 far they cannot be recommended. A few Colorado Blue Spruce 

 were set last spring where pines had failed, and these have be- 

 come well established. 



The yellow birch has made satisfactory growth the past sea- 

 son, and no trees of the species have died since the first season. 

 Being a native of much cooler and moister regions, it was feared 

 this tree would not stand here, but thus far it has done well. 

 The specimens that stand among the largest box elders are not 

 doing as well as those that stand where they have more sun- 

 shine. The birches are light-demanding species, and succeed 

 best in full sunshine. 



SUMMARY. The plat contains 877 box elders, those two years 

 old when set now average nine feet high, the tallest being 

 eleven feet. Yearlings when set average four feet high. 

 Greatest growth of box elder for the year, 57 inches. Average 

 growth for year 36 inches. 105 Yellow birch, average height, 

 54 inches; tallest. 8 ft. 2 inches; average growth, 30 inches. 

 Forty-nine white pines; very little growth in three years. 

 Eight Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungerns), set spring of '91. 

 Total number of trees in the plat, 1039. 



