24 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



J.usr. 



waving scores of feet above them in the upper 

 air. 



Two modes may be practiced in starting a 

 forest. 1 : By sowing the seed where the 

 trees are to remain, — and 2d. By raising the 

 plants and transplanting them. 



The young plants are quite tender, and if 

 sowed in the open ground must have some 

 protection in order to make them entii'ely suc- 

 cessful. But the gain made in not disturbing 

 the tap root, will be a partial compensation for 

 this trouble. 



If a niu-sery Is desired it should be made in 

 a forest. Select a spot inclining to moisture 

 rather than dryness, and where the sun will 

 find its way through the surrounding branches. 

 Cut away the underbrush, rake off the dry 

 leaves, and then stir the surface with the rake 

 until it is fine and moist. Upon this sow 

 broadcast many varieties of small seeds, such 

 as pine, elm, maple, birch, arborvitse, &c., and 

 cover slightly. If the seeds are good, nearly 

 every one will come up and grow well. Most 

 of the plants from these seeds will be extreme- 

 ly small at first and will scarcely be recognized 

 as germs of the towering elm or pine. No 

 weeds must grow among them. In such a 

 place few, if any, will appear. If the branches 

 of the trees around the plants are too open, 

 they must be protected from a too hot sun. 



It is said by some that nursery trees which 

 have the tap-root taken off, and which have 

 been transplanted two or three times, succeed 

 just as well as those having the entire tap-root 

 upon them. This does not seem to us a cor- 

 rect theory. The oak, walnut, chestnut, &c., 

 extend their tap-roots deep into the earth, 

 which undoubtedly furnish large supplies of 

 nutriment to the tree as well as greatly assist 

 in holding it firmly in its place. 



Forests not only furnish us with fuel and 

 timber, but they improve the climate by their 

 condensing power and the shelter they afford ; 

 and the beauty of the scenery is heightened by 

 covering barren rocks and bleak hills with the 

 verdure of woods. 



THE MOUNTATN" ASH. 

 Two or three of these fine ornamental trees 

 are near us, as we write, filled with their dark, 

 reddish or scarlet-colored fruit. The fruit 

 hangs In large bunches all around the outside 

 of the tree, and when the sun glances upon 



them, and the branches are slightly moved by 

 the wind, the sight is a gorgeous one. "Were 

 the fruit not molested, it would remain on the 

 tree aU winter, but the troop of robins which 

 have been reared In the thick Norway spruces 

 and arborvitaes near by through the summer, 

 always linger about us until most of the berries 

 of the mountain ash are gone, or extremely 

 cold weather sets in. 



This Ash Is quite common in this State, and 

 Is one of our most beautiful ornamental trees. 

 Its habitat is low, moist places or mountainous 

 situations, but it thrives well on most soils. It 

 makes a height of fifteen to twenty-five feet. 

 The leaves are of a soft green color, and a lit- 

 tle pale underneath. Young trees may be ob- 

 tained of most nursery men, or may be raised 

 from the seeds. The tree is hardy, requiring 

 no unusual care, and will remain in fine con- 

 dition for many years. No grounds that are 

 ornamented with trees or shrubs should be 

 without it. The leaves as well as flowers are 

 ornamental. Even when both leaves and fruit 

 are absent, the fine, spray-like branches are 

 graceful and pleasant to look at. 



PENTSrSYIiVANIA AQRICULTUBAIi COIi. 

 LEGE. 



The statement which we recently copied from 

 the Country Oentleman, to the effect that this 

 institution had fallen so low that the Instruction 

 of Its students is committed to the care of y, 

 single farm hand, is pronounced incorrect by a 

 correspondent who claims to have been officially . 

 connected with the coUege for three years. 

 He states that President Allen, who retires t/> 

 private life. Is succeeded by Professor Eraser, 

 a graduate of the University of Edinburgh, &a^ 

 lately Brigadier General of Volunteers. - 



Other changes wIU be made in the Faculty, J 

 which. It is believed, will greatly add to the | 

 ability and efficiency of that body — changes | 

 consisting both in the appointment of new Pro- ' 

 fessors for chairs already In existence, and for 

 new Professorships ; and the best men that can 

 be had will be put In these places. 



In relation to the charge that the farm of 

 four hundred acres, though situated in Centi'e 

 county, one of the best agricultui-al districts of 

 the State, did not pay expenses, this writer 

 remarks that during the present year the wheat 

 crop, which is one of the most important on 

 the farm, hardly yielded the seed again — and 



