22 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



DESIRABLE TIMBER TREES. 



®NE of the most valuable native trees is the White Ash. The wood of this 

 tree is always in good demand for oars, tool handles, etc., on account of 

 its lightness, elasticity and strength, while its beautiful grain commends it 

 for interior finish. It is a rapid grower on moist soils, and succeeds even on poor 

 soils. A growth of ash has been known to realize for the planter a clear profit of 

 $600 to $700 per acre on tracts of ten to twenty acres, from trees only twelve 

 years old. As this would amount to more than fifty dollars per acre per year» 

 aside from other considerations, the profit is a good one. Surely the rocky, hilly, 

 and otherwise unprofitable lands could be, in this way, turned to a very profitable 

 account. The only drawback would be having to wait for twelve or fifteen years 

 for first returns. But they would then come with compound interest. The trees 

 may be readily produced from seed, although the young trees of this and all 

 other kinds needed for timber culture may be obtained from most of our larger 

 nurserymen at very reasonable prices in large quantities. 



The Catalpa is a soft and fine-grained timber. It is very popular on account 

 of taking a beautiful polish. It is one of the most durable kinds of timber. It 

 is a rapid, vigorous grower, with rather straggling habit when alone, but straight 

 and upright when grown in groves or close plantations. Cabinet makers are 

 learning its desirability for their work, and are using it to a considerable extent. 

 Of the different species, the Catalpa speciosa is the hardiest and best adapted to 

 the North, producing large white flowers, which give great beauty during the 

 time of bloom. 



The Willow is considerably planted, and can be grown profitably in situations 

 too moist for the successful growth of other timber. It will, however, grow on 

 poor or hilly spots. Its growth in such places may be not quite so rapid, yet it 

 equals most other trees in similar situations. Its wood is used for furniture, for 

 ox bows, for handles, and many other uses (especially basket-making) where 

 strength, lightness, and toughness are desirable ; its closeness and evenness of 

 grain admits of a handsome polish. Its bark is in demand for tanning, ' and the 

 charcoal from its wood is used in the manufacture of gunpowder. 



The European Larch has been but little grown in this country, being a native 

 of the Alps, the Tyrol, and other European mountainous regions. In point of 

 extreme hardiness there is nothing to be desired, while it is a very rapid grow- 

 ing tree on land which is thoroughly drained, as are hilly and mountainous 

 districts. 



It is scarcely necessary to write at length of the profits to be gained in plant- 

 ing the American Sweet Chestnut and Black Walnut ; both trees, besides pro- 



