Proceedings of tee Farmers' Club. 397 



now make good building timber and fence posts. The American 

 tulip tree grows very large and about as rapidly as the chestnut, but 

 the wood is not durable when exposed to the weather. Other valu- 

 able timber will require a much longer time to grow. 



Mr. J. B. Lyman. — I am glad that farmers are turning their atten- 

 tion to this subject. In speaking as I did of the value of rough-bark 

 hickory, I was aware, as Mr. Pettit suggests, that it does not last when 

 exposed to the weather, but, on account of its great toughness and 

 value for machinery, I recommended the planting of walnut trees. 

 The constimption of tough wood for wheels, axles, levers, &c., is verj 

 great and increasing. On this account, I cannot but think farmers 

 will do well to spare all young white oaks and ash and hickory trees, 

 and to plant them in soils adapted to their growth. With regard to 

 the average duration of fence rails, I obtained the information Mr. 

 Pettit speaks of by asking a great many farmers in different States 

 how long their rails last. The average of the periods thus mentioned 

 was found to be from fifteen to twenty years. My object in bringing 

 out the information collected in those papers, was to induce farmers 

 and railroad men to use some preserving process in timber exposed, 

 and to take means to keep up the supply of valuable wood. 



Mr. A. S. Fuller. — At length after a provoking lethargy, I rejoice 

 to see a waking up to the importance of forest tree culture. Years 

 ago I wrote a book on the subject. Kobody said much about it, and 

 few would read it. In this club, nearly ten years since, I read a 

 paper on the subject. It fell on a drowsy public ear. IN^ow people 

 are waking up, and I am glad. Why, I can make as much money by 

 planting locust as I can by planting corn ; just as much, acre for acre. 



Dr. Snodgrass. — In addition to the list of trees suggested by Mr. 

 Lyman, I beg leave to name the ailanthus. True, the smell is not 

 agreeable, but it grows very fast, and the wood is as valuable for 

 many uses as black walnut or maple. It burns well, and I have 

 found it quite useful for kindling wood. 



Models of Anevials and Plants. 

 The Chairman then introduced Dr. F. G. Lemercier, a French scien- 

 tific gentleman. Upon a table, and on a pyramidal support were pre- 

 sented to the audience a great variety of clastic models, or preparations, 

 representing various natural objects, among which were the anatomy 

 of the horse, composed of apparently solid pieces, but which are 

 readily separated into many pieces, each of which shows some impor- 



